Sustainable travel and holidays are about more than skipping flights. It’s about our behaviour before, during, and after a trip, how and when we travel, and where we spend our money.
So, how do you do it?
Choose alternatives to flying
Most of us know that we need to reduce our flying drastically. Transport during holidays accounts for 49% of global tourism’s carbon footprint – and flying is the biggest problem.
When travelling within, for example, Europe, choosing alternative modes of transport, such as trains. Train journeys sometimes requires more planning and an extra day of travel (some companies now offer climate perks such as an extra day off when travelling sustainable – check if your place of employement have any perks) But it is a great option! At the same time, travelling by land allows for a different kind of travel experience, where transport becomes part of your experience, not just a route to your destination.
For those who cannot avoid air travel, experts advise only doing a shorter trip every three years and a long haul every eight years.
Today, it is popular to use so-called carbon offsets. However, supporting an environmental project does not actually mean your carbon emissions magically disappear.
Flying is often the cheapest option. But if you skip stressful weekend trips and instead go on a longer journey by train, for example, it can be better for your wallet and the climate, plus you have time to unwind and see more!
Choose off-peak instead of peak season
Many popular destinations experience huge numbers of tourists during the high season. Overcrowded tourist attractions, fully booked restaurants, and high accommodation costs.
So, why not visit a destination outside its high season?
Spend your money locally
Several studies show that tourists can influence the sustainability of a destination by spending their money in the local community.
For example, could you choose an accommodation run by a local company? Today, several companies, such as Intrepid, work with local guide companies to allow tourists to experience the culture and history of a place beyond the charter bus tour. Visit shops, cafés, and restaurants run by local entrepreneurs, not global companies like H&M.
Accommodation
How and where you stay during your holiday can significantly impact the local community. Check if a local family runs the accommodation or if that big hotel that markets itself as eco-friendly has implemented climate-smart and sustainable changes. How is the hotel working to reduce its carbon footprint? Do they buy local products, reduce single-use plastics, and pay salaries that cover staff living costs?
Remember that as a tourist, you can make a difference through your behaviour. For example, you can conserve water at your accommodation. In many other countries, access to water is limited. That’s why it’s important to follow the existing guidelines, such as not flushing every time you go to the toilet, taking a shorter shower or reusing your towels for an extra day.
Various European certifications, such as the EU Ecolabel and the Nordic Swan Ecolabel, indicate whether an accommodation fulfils specific economic, social, and environmental criteria.
Another tip is to book your accommodation directly rather than through booking sites, which often charge a high commission. Use alternative booking sites, such as Book Different.
Packing reusably and reducing plastic
Many people recognise the feeling of walking around a hot and crowded city and suddenly feeling exhausted, thirsty, and hungry all at once. It’s easy to panic and buy plastic bottles and products packaged in plastic.
But did you know that many tourist destinations struggle to cope with the large amount of rubbish during the high season?
So, try to be prepared instead. Bring a reusable bottle filled with water. Pack a fruit in your bag and fill up your snack bags!
Respect local traditions and culture
For many, travelling is an opportunity to discover new cultures, meet different people and experience something beyond everyday life.
However, to travel sustainably, tourists must respect local culture and traditions. Please research before travelling: for example, specific gestures or words we use at home may mean something different in another culture; in some countries, photography is not always appreciated. Learn some greeting phrases. Pay attention to where and how you behave in religious places and contexts.