Sustainable Travel: What Does It Mean?

Sustainable travel is where travelers make choices that reduce the negative impact tourism can have on the physical environment and local communities. These actions – supported by the efforts of hotels, tour operators, and service providers – also lay the groundwork for longer term benefits for people and planet.

Traveling sustainably includes the method of transportation, favoring independent businesses, avoiding exploitative wildlife experiences, and eating seasonal produce. The notion, overlapping with responsible and ethical travel, paves the way for future generations to travel.

Environmental practices

Reducing your carbon footprint is the natural starting point for sustainable travel. This includes the choice of travel: avoiding air travel wherever possible and prioritizing public over private transport. Taking the train is one of the most luxurious ways of traveling in some parts of the world. Embarking on a river boat cruise is another excellent means of exploring parts of Europe from both a sustainable and sightseeing perspective.

It is also important to reduce waste while traveling by avoiding single-use plastics, being mindful of water consumption, and heeding local recycling regulations.

Choosing locally-owned accommodation

Wherever possible, it is advisable to choose an independently-owned hotel or guest house. This supports the local economy while also carrying the perk of a more authentic travel experience and getting to connect with the local culture. Properties vary from boutique hotels to deluxe cabanas at beachfront resorts. Not being part of an international chain doesn’t result in a loss of luxury!

Ethical wildlife experiences

Traveling is a wonderful way to encounter exotic wildlife, provided it is done with the animals’ best interests at the forefront. There is a growing awareness that such activities as riding elephants, posing for photos with large cats, and holding vulnerable creatures like sea turtles are unethical. Instead, travelers may seek experiences where actions do not interfere with the animals. Taking a walking safari or going gorilla trekking are ethical options where education about conservation takes center stage.

Avoiding hotspots

As social media drives travelers to trending locations, consider looking beyond the hotspots. Spending longer in a destination's “second city” is one option, as is choosing a city usually considered a gateway. That might mean opting for Porto over Lisbon, Naples over Rome, or Bordeaux over Paris. A personal travel consultant is best placed to advise on remote and up-and-coming destinations as yet to catch on in the mainstream.

Mindful actions and slow travel

Sustainable travel also means forging a connection with the local community. Taking the time to sit down and connect with those living in a place facilitates a meaningful experience whereby you’ll exchange cultures and gain an authentic perspective. Slow travel – spending an extended period in a given location – supports these moments although connection can also be made possible by following any of the previous suggestions.