The Importance - and Benefits - of Sustainable Tourism
When your dream destinations give you the experience of a lifetime, how can you not want to give back? I spent some time working with a local cruise line in Tobermory, Ontario, and had the pleasure of serving as a member of the sustainability committee, which was aimed at ensuring our company was as eco-friendly and sustainable as possible. I learned so much about being safe and smart when travelling, and many of these are lessons I’ll never forget
What is Sustainable Tourism?
Sustainable tourism is simple in concept and achievable in practice. When travelling sustainably, the aim is to make as little negative impact as possible, while also leaving behind positive contributions. Sustainable efforts can be made in terms of your destination's environment, economy, and local culture. Travelling sustainably makes travel more than just an experience - it turns it into an incredibly meaningful one.
How Can I Practice Sustainable Tourism?
Travellers can support sustainability in many ways. A key principle of sustainable travel is “know before you go”, so researching ecosystems and local plant and animal life can help travellers avoid unintentional harm. Knowing things like how to protect local endangered species - of both plants and animals - can be helpful to the ecosystems in place where you’re going.
Another good way to travel sustainably is to see what the community you’re staying in is in need of. Oftentimes, especially when travelling to developing countries, tourists will bring gifts like basic hygiene products, toys, clothes, and snacks to donate to local agencies and people in the immediate community. For example, when I visited Havana, I brought a suitcase full of hygiene products, children’s toys, socks and baby clothes, and non-perishable snacks to distribute to families in need in the community I was staying in. This experience was not only helpful for the community, but fulfilling to me personally as well.
Finally, basic environmental care is key. Things like keeping waste to a minimum and using reusable water bottles and containers are both things that can greatly reduce your environmental impact when travelling. Additionally, when booking your stays, think of local homestays or hostels as opposed to large hotel chains. Not only will this help the economy of the place you’re going, it will oftentimes be more financially responsible as well.
Where Can I Find More Information?
There are many places to find more information about travelling sustainably. Consider visiting the Global Sustainable Tourism Council for all things sustainable tourism, or visit websites local to the places you’re going. Reaching out to a homestay host or travel company to see what the community is in need of could also be beneficial. I was so fortunate in Havana and my Airbnb host told me exactly what the community needed and where to send it. The Canadian Biosphere Regions Association has a fantastic PDF with more information, and UN Tourism also has a bunch of great articles available.
Final Thoughts
Sustainable tourism is something that’s made my adventures so much more impactful and meaningful for me personally, and I hope all travellers can be inspired to practice this travelling method as well. Remember, we don’t need every traveller to practice sustainability perfectly, but if everyone does what they can, we can make a huge difference.