A Guide for the Eco-Conscious Traveler

Summer is on the horizon, and many of us are packing our bags for our first big trips since the pandemic. Tourism plummeted 73% in 2020, and while those numbers certainly haven’t returned to pre-pandemic levels, more and more people are ready to start traveling again. While travel has many benefits, such as widening our understanding of the world and providing escapism from the quotidian, jet-setting around the world unsurprisingly has an impact on the environment. As stewards of the environment, it is important for travelers to know how our tourism impacts the environment, so that we can become sustainable and culturally conscious travelers.

View from an airplane window. Photo by Eva Darron on Unsplash.

How does tourism impact the environment?

One of the biggest impacts tourism has on the environment is the pollution it creates. It is no surprise that airplanes are a significant contributor to climate change. Commercial air travel accounts for 3 to 4 percent of total US greenhouse gas emissions. Despite efforts by airlines to create more sustainable practices, there is still a long way to go. While more and more companies, such as Textron and Boeing, are investing in electric aircraft, they are not at a place yet where they could undertake long-haul flights.

Furthermore, tourism produces a lot of waste. We don’t always have access to many resources when we’re traveling, which can lead us to use more disposable items than we do when we’re at home. Also, our suitcases sometimes can get heavy with souvenirs, which can lead to us offloading even more waste, such as toiletry items or clothes, to keep our bags light. In some places, tourists produce twice as much waste as the local residents, and this can cause a strain on local waste management. For example, in the villages at the base of Mount Everest, the locals had to create a waste management system to cope with the amount of trash tourists and climbers left behind as they scaled the famous peak. 

Another environmental impact of tourism is on the wildlife. When we travel, we want to see nature that is untouched by society, but in doing so, tourists can disturb wildlife, especially if tourists touch or feed animals. In the past decade, so much of tourism has become about capturing that perfect picture, which can cause tourists to often risk their own safety by getting too close to dangerous animals. While one of the major benefits of wildlife tourism is that it promotes conservation (if tourists want to see pandas eating bamboo in China, there needs to be a bamboo forest!), it is important for tourists to follow the mantra of “take nothing but pictures, leave nothing but footprints.” As well, be mindful to keep a safe distance from wildlife, because doing so protects both them and us.

The Restoration of Maya Bay

Maya Beach, before and after. Photo from Channel News Asia.

At Maya Bay in Thailand, the local government is prioritizing the conservation of their natural landscapes and wildlife over tourism. Maya Bay was made famous by the 2000 film The Beach starring Leonardo DiCaprio, and before 2018, 5,000 people were visiting the beach a day. The sharp increase in visitors had significant negative effects on the beach, such as much of the coral reef dying. As a way of allowing the ecosystem to recover, the beach was closed to visitors in 2018.

It worked! The coral reefs have regrown, the water has cleared, and the sharks have returned to the bay. Maya Bay reopened to visitors in January 2022, but with new restrictions to ensure the protection of the bay. Only 375 visitors are allowed to the bay each day and boats will only be permitted to dock at specific locations so that they don’t damage the reefs. Maya Bay shows how tourism can damage the natural ecosystems of the beautiful places we want to visit, but how through being respectful of the environment and the local people, these beautiful places can continue to thrive without being disturbed.

Eco-Friendly Travel Tips

As tourists, we want to see the most beautiful places and make unforgettable memories, but there is a way that we can do so while still being respectful to the environment. Check out these tips on how to be an environmentally friendly traveler!

Be a slow traveler. Although time and money don’t always allow this, when you can, travel slow. This means don’t try to visit as many places as you want in a short time. Instead, pick one or two places and spend all your time there, really exploring the culture and environment of your destination. Slow traveling emits less carbon, because you are staying local to your destination instead of traveling great distances.

Use the most sustainable form of transportation. Taking an airplane is often unavoidable when traveling long distances, but once you arrive in a city, make sure to use the most sustainable form of transportation. Take the train, the bus, rent a bicycle, or walk! One of the best ways to discover a new city is by walking, and it also is one of the most environmentally friendly ways to get around a city.

A safari. Photo from DW.

Coordinate your packing. If you are traveling with others, each person doesn’t need to bring their own bottle of shampoo, body wash, etc. Bring one bottle for everyone to use, or find out if your accommodation will provide toiletries and leave yours at home. By coordinating packing, you can pack lighter which means less waste will hopefully be left in your destination.

Bring your own water bottle. If you are flying, just make sure to empty it before going through security and then refill it before boarding your flight. If you are going to a city or country with questionable water quality, bring a water bottle with a high quality filter.

Support the local economy. One of the major benefits of tourism is the economic support that smaller cities and countries receive through tourism. Eat at local restaurants and buy locally made souvenirs. Stay at locally owned accommodations as well, instead of at large resorts.  

Be respectful of the wildlife. Be mindful of instructions such as “don’t feed the animals” or “stay 100 feet away from wildlife.” These instructions are not just for our safety, but also for the safety of the wildlife! When booking wildlife tours, avoid tours that allow you to touch, cuddle, or ride the animals.