5 tips on travelling more sustainably

What time is it? It's SUMMER TIME

We can taste the summer feeling and the holidays around the corner. And who are we kidding, this Hong Kong heat is definitely a great reminder that the summer season has officially arrived. Summer is synonymous to travelling, right? But unfortunately, holidaying is also linked to higher carbon footprints. However, this is not to discourage you from living your main character moment in Greece or wherever your heart desires to go to. The rise of sustainable tourism means that we get to maximise our travelling AND minimise our environmental impacts. And we’re here to give you a few guidelines on how to achieve this.

The impacts of travelling

First things first. Why do we have to care about our travelling behaviour? The World Travel & Tourism Council states that the travel industry is one of the world’s most significant industries; it provides 10% of the world’s total employment. That’s HUGE. And just think about the complexity of the tourism industry and its broad supply chain - transport, food, accommodation, etc. The inherent complexity of the industry means there are substantial negative side effects attributed that are difficult to control. For example: surplus number of visitors adding strain on cities, the lack of tourism income returning back to local communities and the large amount of carbon emissions from airlines. Luckily, because we can identify the harmful impacts of tourism, we can in return identify the solutions. With this being said, let’s explore the concept of sustainable tourism and how we can travel more responsibly. 

The rise of sustainable tourism

So what does sustainable tourism actually mean? Here at CHOMP, we believe that living a holistic lifestyle is important. Aside from doing small changes in our everyday lives, the same can be applied into our travel plans. Did you know that sustainable tourism extends beyond reducing our ecological impacts? It actually aims to achieve a balance between economic growth, social well-being and ecological integrity in the host destination. In simpler terms, its focus is to reduce tourism’s negative impacts, all while preserving or improving its benefits for local communities, ecosystems, and our planet. Sustainable tourism or responsible tourism ensure that the short-term impacts of tourism do not cost the long-term provisions of the host destination. Green or eco-conscious travelling is a rising trend (just be careful not to fall into the trap of “greenwashing”). With increasing pressures from governmental and international regulation bodies, more and more countries and tourism stakeholders are reacting to the urgency of sustainability in their operations. YOU can also play a crucial role in improving the industry by demanding more responsible and sustainable amenities/activities when selecting your destination.

1. Choose a destination and accommodation that prioritise sustainability

We'll start this point with a statement by Jim Sano, WWF's vice president of Travel, Tourism, and Conservation: “destinations that value their natural and cultural heritage elevate the quality of a traveler's experience and support the livelihoods of those that work in the travel industry.". Selecting a conservation-minded destination is probably one of the most important factor you can incorporate in your holiday planning. By doing so, you are encouraging and empowering communities to better manage and benefit from their lands. As the consumer, you are highlighting the significance of the destination, hence emphasising the significance of conservation in the area. Check out the Environmental Performance Index for a list of countries that rank highest in terms of sustainable nations.

The same theory applies to your accommodation. Consider how your stay can have an impact on the local ecosystem. For example, look out for accommodations that have a zero-plastic policy, or community-driven projects, or even (for those feeling more adventurous), completely off the grid. Whether you are deciding to take a walk on the wild side or to stay in more comfortable hotels, sustainable accommodations can really contribute in reducing your carbon footprint during your holiday.

2. Consider your mode of transport

It comes to no surprise when we say that flying is the most polluting mode of transportation. For most of us, plane travel is often the only way we can reach the world's amazing destinations. One of the easiest ways to offset our carbon emissions is by choosing an eco-friendly airline (such as United, KLM or Qantas). Another option is opting for trains as they generate up to 10 times less CO2 emissions than aviation. Or even consider a boat cruise that can take you to corners of the world that are inaccessible by land. Whatever floats your boat (get it?), it's all about balance and consciously choosing greener alternatives.

3. Support local economies, and choose sustainable activities

Want to hear a crazy fact? According to the World Tourism Organisation, only $5 of the $100 spent on a trip is returned to the destination. This highlights the massively missed opportunity for tourism to support the local economies! Relating back to the first point, make sure that wherever you go you are actively seeking out destinations that encourage local leaders or locally-led expeditions, as well as environmentally and ethically conscious activities. For example, avoid at all costs wildlife interactions such as riding elephants or petting baby lions.

4. Actively say no to plastic and reduce food waste

Avoid single-use plastic wherever you go, it really is as simple as that. Travel smart by bringing your own reusable water bottle and reusable shopping bags. You would be surprised by how much waste you can reduce by doing so. Based on a study carried out by Travelers Against Plastic, adventure travellers use almost 30,000 single-use plastic water bottles annually; CEO, Shannon Stowell states "plastic often ends up in nature, poisoning the environment and even directly killing wildlife, but we can greatly reduce the waste being generated with reusable bottles and filtration systems.”. This leads onto our final point.

5. Leave a place better than you found it
Why not incorporate a volunteering excursion to the local community in your itinerary? By participating in local community projects, not only are you directly giving back but you are also immersing yourself locally and seeing the true culture of the country. You can also opt to collaborate with initiatives such as Pack for Purpose where you dedicate a little space in your suitcase for important donations that can go a long way. You can also help by selecting travel outfitters that automatically have a donation built into the trip price. Lastly, spread the word to your family and friends. Educate them by sharing your experience and become an advocate for the local communities and the environment!