What is sustainable tourism?

Why is sustainable tourism important?

Humans have already had a hugely detrimental impact on our world - through industry, farming, deforestation, pollution, and, yes, tourism. All of which have contributed to climate change - the biggest threat our planet now faces.

Around two billion people travel each year for tourism purposes. And according to the World Travel & Tourism Council, tourism accounts for an estimated 8-11% of global greenhouse gas emissions (worse than construction). Aviation alone causes around 17% of total travel carbon emissions.

So, sustainable tourism is extremely important in stopping further damage, and possibly reversing it. It will not only help lower carbon emissions, but it also works to counter the many other negative impacts of tourism:

• Damage of wild habitats and nature.

• Weakened resilience to natural disasters.

• Landscape and scenery ruined by buildings.

• Deforestation.

• Overuse of water due to influx of people.

• Air pollution due to traffic congestion.

• Wildlife relocating due to increased noise levels.

• Higher consumption of energy.

• Plastic pollution in the ocean affecting sea life.

• Damage to indigenous societies and cultures.

The benefits of sustainable tourism

It’s clear that sustainable tourism really is the only way to go for those of us who want to travel responsibly. Apart from minimising the negative impacts of tourism, travelling sustainably comes with many positives. It can:

• Generate direct and indirect local employment - and so strengthen local communities.

• Improve infrastructure including buildings and transport.

• Help preserve local culture and conserve the heritage of a destination.

• Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic development.

• Minimise environmental impact and favour sustainable development.

• Reduce animal poaching.

• Create natural parks and Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

• Reduce numbers in animal poaching.

• Improve water quality.

• Increase funding for nature conservation and protection.

Eco-friendly travel tips

Wouldn’t it be good to know that your trip to your favoured tourist destination wouldn’t damage it in any way, and possibly even enhance it. Here are a few ways you can do your bit:

Pick a sustainable travel destination

Avoid the more crowded popular destinations and be smart about where you choose to travel to. Many countries are working towards becoming carbon neutral - for example - Bhutan is the first country to become carbon negative!

Book responsible hotels

If you’re planning on staying in hotels - look for those that are involved in green travel programs, or donate a percentage of their profits towards environmental action. For instance, Marriott is only using bulk dispensers in bathrooms to eliminate single-use plastic. Or, you could bring your own environmentally-friendly toiletries, rather than using the hotel’s products.

Travel light

It’s a start. Packing lightly and thoughtfully is a small, yet effective way of helping with sustainable travel. The heavier our luggage, the more fuel planes, trains, and automobiles will need.

Watch your water

Tourists tend to use far more water than the locals, as we can often have a slightly carefree attitude while on holiday. But with a growing number of places experiencing water scarcity, make sure you don’t squander it. Maybe make do with less showers and forego a daily change of sheets and towels during hotel stays.

Use an ethical tour operators

Every stage of your trip -  logistics, vendors, transportation and hotels - can impact the environment - positively or negatively. So if you're using a tour operator, pick one that prioritises the environment, uses resources efficiently and respects local culture.

Shop locally

Find local markets for food and goods that are sourced locally. This is different from the big supermarkets that import food via planes, so contributing to carbon emissions.

Avoid animal entertainment

Riding elephants, swimming with dolphins or feeding the birds - all fun and entertaining experiences for us! But sadly, 75% of all wildlife tourism has a negative effect on animals. So try to avoid it.

Say ‘no’ to  plastic

Gasping for a drink - it’s so easy to pop into a shop and buy a bottle of water in a plastic bottle. But think twice. Single-use plastic items can take more than 1,000 years to degrade. So take reusable bottles and bags wherever you go, you can help ensure there’s less plastic waste in the ocean and other habitats.

Leave places as you find them

We visit beautiful parts of the world because they are just that - beautiful. So let’s keep them that way. Put any rubbish in bins to avoid litter, and don’t remove or alter anything without permission. The best mark you can make on the world is to make no mark at all.

WorldRemit makes life abroad easier

Many of our customers travel the world to find a better life for themselves and to support their families. At WorldRemit, we do all to support this enterprise and make their lives abroad easier. And so, we’ve put together a whole host of blogs to help, including these two on travelling abroad:

• Tips on travelling on a budget

• How to find cheap flights

This article has been all about making a positive impact on the countries we visit through sustainable tourism. Of course, another way to have an impact abroad is to send money home to those you love with WorldRemit. We offer an excellent, low-cost, online money transfer service; one that allows you to send fast and secure transfers.

So, why not sign up to WorldRemit, and make a money transfer today?

The contents of this blog post do not constitute legal or financial advice and are provided for general information purposes only. If you require specific legal and / or financial advice you should contact a specialist lawyer or financial advisor. Information true at time of publishing.