How to Choose Sustainable Tours & Activities
2020 is definitely going to go down in history as a year that changes travel forever. Sadly many tourism businesses may not live to see a post-covid world, and individuals are having to rethink how they travel and explore the world in a more responsible way. Gone are the days when we hop on a plane for a quick 36 hour trip or choose a busy European destination in summer time (can you say hotbed for coronavirus?!)
But regardless of the overarching reason, there’s no denying that the tourism industry was in desperate need of change. More and more people are traveling these days and destinations are getting overcrowded. We are seeing places become overrun with tourists and destroyed - such as Maya Bay in Thailand or Boracay - both of which had to literally be SHUT DOWN to tourism. Two fabulously beautiful places. Talk about depressing.
Sustainable travel and responsible tourism have recently become big areas of interest for me - as I try to adapt better habits all around. I’m not gonna say I’m an expert or say that I always make the 100% right call. But I am committed to learning and incorporating good habits as much as I can.
There isn’t much we can do to offset flying (which is the biggest aspect of our carbon footprint when traveling) - apart from just taking direct flights as much as possible or choosing road travel for shorter distances. I’m personally making conscious efforts to address sustainability with my accommodations (2nd biggest carbon footprint where travel is concerned), activities and general habits in a destination. It’s a journey - and one that I hope you’ll join me on.
Today I wanted to share a few ways you can choose sustainable tours and activities - that limit the negative impact of tourism and benefit the destination you’re in. Let’s get into it!!
1. Choose tours that focus on culture and nature!
When places start to become known as a tourist destination….a lot of activities and tours will pop up that really don’t have anything to do with the specific location. Carrying out these activities takes up time, space, and resources in the city – but doesn’t preserve the local culture or natural environment. One of the best ways to combat this is to choose companies and tours that educate visitors about local areas, culture, wildlife, and conservation.
Specific types of tours that are great to look out for would be:
Food tours – which helps preserve and appreciate local cuisine
Tours that center around a traditional occupation or craft – such as visiting a weaving factory and learning about textile heritage
Visiting a national parks, nature & wildlife – hiking, learning about flora & fauna, conservation efforts, etc.
Voluntourism – activities that center around volunteering your time to help with a local initiative, such as cleaning up a beach (be careful here that it isn’t just a feel good activity for tourists however!)
Language classes –Often times it’s entirely on the locals to learn English. But if you can show your love and appreciation for their culture by learning a bit of their tongue, it goes along way!
2. Hire a local guide or choose tours that employ locals
Another great way to ensure that your tourism dollars are supporting the local economy and people is to hire local guides or use tours that employ locals. Sometimes as destinations gain in popularity, they will bring in outsiders who have a stronger command of English (or are native speakers). But this just adds to the overcrowding in cities and denies the locals jobs and wages. So do your best to select companies that hires locals. It’s also great if they provide training to locals as well – skills open the doors for greater opportunities throughout life! (A great example of a positive impact of tourism!)
3. Go on walking or bike tours
Transportation is the biggest guzzler of fossil fuels when it comes to travel. So I recommend trying to walk and bike anywhere you can! Not only are walking & biking tours great for the environment – they are also one of the best ways to get a feel for the city you’re in AND you’ll be getting your daily exercise at the same time. So it’s a win win win!!!
4. Focus on small group size tours
Oh my gosh, who wants to groan and die at the thought of a big bus tour?! (Me). Small group tours are more enjoyable for 100 reasons, but one of which is that they are way more sustainable. It takes less fuel to travel a small group in a van than a giant bus. When traveling with fewer people, you’re also able to get to know one another more and connect with people from different places, backgrounds and cultures. It’s special sharing your trip with others – and often times you walk away with new friends after a tour as well!
5. Choose less popular tours or more off the beaten track
One of the tenets of sustainability is not taking up too much space in the place you’re in – as overcrowding leads to competition for resources. One of the easiest ways to accomplish this is to choose less popular destinations and tours. As if we didn’t need more reasons to get off the beaten road, right?! I love exploring spots that other people don’t think to go to – it feels like it’s my little secret and that makes it all the more special.
6. Research the companies you choose to tour with
Not all tour companies are created equal. Some really commit to living by sustainable practices, while others may use greenwashing to attract customers (misrepresenting how environmentally sound their practices are in advertisements). The only way to really know for sure if the company you’re looking at has sustainability at it’s core is by reading and researching.
Great places to start are the companies own website – see if they include anything on their homepage or in the ‘About’ section. You can also go to TripAdvisor and do a search for “sustainability”, “eco-friendly”, “responsible tourism”, etc. (try various terms as people sometimes use them interchangeably). Do they reduce plastic and CO2 consumption? Invest in reforestation projects? Give back to the local community? All these are great things to note – that can make you feel good about giving your money to them!
7. Make sure the tour is sensitive to social, culture, political, and economic circumstances
Another really important aspect of responsible tourism is being respectful to the local culture and people of the place you’re in. Some things are commono sense – i.e. don’t walk into a church carrying on a loud conversation with your friends. While other things may represent a shift from the norm (i.e. blowing your nose in public in China!)
Remember what’s acceptable at home, might not be accepted abroad. Especially pay attention to the dress code - you wouldn’t want to wear something revealing in the Middle East or enter a Southeast Asia temple with your shoulders bare.
So don’t be an ignorant traveler, do your due diligence as to the appropriate customs and traditions.
8. Avoid activities where animals are taught to perform in an unnatural way
Sadly, many animal ‘sanctuaries’ are nothing more than a tourist trap where animals are expected to perform in unnatural ways for the benefit of tourists. The back story of this is that the animals are often drugged or their spirits broken in order for them to be safe around humans.
Any time activities with animals are involved, a red flag should go up. Ask yourself if the animal is being asked to perform in a way that goes against it’s natural behavior – if the answer is yes, avoid that activity.
An example of a bad animal activity choice would be elephant riding, killer whale shows, posing with tigers, etc. An example of acceptable animal activities would be observing animals on safari or learning about sea turtles from a conservation center.
9. With voluntourism, make sure the local community is benefitting
If volunteering abroad, make sure you’re working with a local NGO to ensure that the needs of the community are actually being met and it isn’t just a feel good experience for the tourist.
Also avoid activities with orphanages – I’ve read many stories about most of the kids have parents alive but are paid to pose as orphans to get money from tourists. This pulls kids away from their parents, potentially inflicting long term damage.
10. When in doubt ASK
Truly responsible travel businesses are transparent about their practices and will be happy to answer questions that you have. So don’t be afraid to show interest, inquire, and learn more! This makes us more educated and responsible travelers!
Well I hope you found these tips around how to choose more sustainable tours interesting and useful! Feel free to share as you see fit!! xo Lauren