Tips on Environmentally Conscientious Travel

Tips on Environmentally Conscientious Travel

(Big words but totally do-able)

‘Eco-tourism builds environmental and cultural awareness of a region while minimizing the impact of visitors’.

Travelling to foreign destinations or even to another city on holiday is described as a period of relaxation, minimum effort and is usually accompanied by aggressive littering, wasting of energy and polluting the environment. People’s concern for the environment seems to decrease proportionally with the increase in distance away from home. Why bother to clean up after myself, if I am never coming back here? Why spend an hour on the internet figuring out where all the recycling spots are, then spend another hour trying to find these spots just to recycle 12 beer cans, 4 glass wine bottles, a cardboard box and some random empty packets made of plastic? The task is hardly worth the effort for a holiday maker or a traveller. But being environmentally conscious does not necessarily mean finding a recycling point or recycling bins for that matter; you can simply reduce your garbage/waste and energy consumption whilst travelling. It takes minimum effort and it can even save money and time. Here are a few tips on how to be a responsible and sustainable traveller:


* Just because the water and electricity in the hotel room is included in your accommodation fees does not warrant you to use these utilities in a reckless manner e.g. Leaving the heater/air conditioner on in the room when you are away the whole day or leaving the tap running whilst answering a 30 minute phone call


* Use reusable bags, tableware and containers rather than paper plates & cups and packaging that can only be used once and have to be repurchased


* Buy fruits, vegetables etc. without packaging or plastic bags


* Keep ash from campfires away from water sources to protect the water quality


* Let the hotel/lodge room service know that you do not require that your sheets and towels be changed every day; unless you wet your bed of course.


* Use public transportation instead of hiring your own taxi. Not only do you get to mingle with the locals and have a better understanding of the city but this creates less pollution in aggregate.


* Return glass bottles to shops for re-use


* Share newspapers/magazines you have already read with others. Leave it in the lobby or hand it over to a fellow traveller for a read


* Take photographs, but avoid disposable cameras. They are expensive, wasteful and do not last.


* Do not steal "souvenirs" from natural areas, historical areas or hotels however tempting it may be. Rather take a photo and live with the memory of it; there will be others after you who would also like to see.


* Leave only your finger- and foot-prints in a natural resort; Take out everything that you brought with you so others can enjoy the area in the same way that you did.


* Protect endangered species and avoid purchasing products such as tortoise shell, ivory, animal skins or feathers. Each country has its specified list of endangered species to be protected. Is it really worth trading some exotic feather for a criminal record?


So there you have it, just a few ideas to get you started on thinking about looking after the environment whilst travelling. And if you do want to find those recycle bins for 12 beer cans, 4 glass wine bottles, a cardboard box and some random empty packets there is always our good friend ‘google’ to help you find out where.