What is eco-friendly travel? To travel in a way that is good for the environment, you need to be aware of how tourism affects the environment and use good practices to reduce the bad effects.
There aren’t a lot of resources on Earth, and mass travel puts their survival at risk. So, sustainable travel is a way to keep nature from being turned into a tourist attraction.
What is sustainable (eco-friendly) Travel?
The World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) says these things about sustainable tourism:
“Tourism that takes full account of its current and future economic, social, and environmental impacts, addressing the needs of visitors, the industry, the environment, and host communities.”
Sustainable travel is when people use sustainable methods to make sure that tourism has as few bad effects as possible and as many positive effects as possible.
Sustainable Travel: 8 Best Practices
Staying in Eco-friendly Accommodations
The effect of tourism on the environment is lessened when people stay in places that are good for the environment. Eco-friendly lodgings focus on protecting the environment and have good effects on it, like using renewable energy sources and bio-architecture. But that is not all. Staying in tourist hotels that are good for the environment also helps the local income. In fact, most places to stay that are good for the earth offer healthy food with a zero-kilometer range.
In this way, Ecobnb is a website that helps visitors find and book eco-friendly places to stay. At least 5 of the 10 factors below for sustainability are met by at least one of our sites.
Using the Environment’s Resources in the Best Way Possible
Using the environment’s resources in the best way possible protects natural assets and wildlife. The biggest problem is that we use up more natural resources than they can replace, which causes climate change and the loss of species.
In this way, the ecological footprint is a way to measure the damage to the world caused by using too many natural resources.
Public Transportation
Taking public transportation helps clean up the air and eases traffic on the roads. By taking public transportation, less carbon dioxide is put into the air and there are fewer cars on the roads. In the same way, fewer cars on the road means less traffic.
Respecting the Culture of Local Communities
Cultural and artistic heritage is kept alive by respecting the customs of local groups. Getting to know the locals is one of the best parts of sustainable travel, and it helps keep traditions alive that have been passed down from generation to generation. Traditions are an important part of a community’s identity and help people feel like they belong to a similar group.
Supporting Local Businesses
The local economy is helped when people buy from and support local businesses. But this isn’t everything. Locally made goods don’t have to be shipped, need less packing, and create more jobs.
Slow Travelling
Slow travel is better for the environment and saves you money. For example, taking the train instead of other forms of transportation is cheaper and better for the environment. But this isn’t everything. When you go slowly, you can also enjoy the sights along the way.
NO to Use Plastic
Saying NO to plastic that is only used once cuts down on waste. When fossil fuels are used to make plastic, carbon dioxide is released into the air. This contributes to climate change.
Promote and Eating Local Food
Local food is more likely to be fresh and helps local companies. In fact, locally grown food doesn’t need to be shipped, so it is fresh and full of nutrients. Eating local goods also helps the local economy and adds jobs and money to a community (this is called the “tourism multiplier effect”).
If you love to know eco-friendly traveling in the USA then check out: Nature-Lover’s Paradise: America’s Best Eco-Tourism Destinations Unveiled!