How to Become a Sustainable Traveler

Sustainable travel is all about finding behaviors that you can use to maintain tourism without harming cultural and natural surroundings. Sustainable travel ought to be able to reduce the negative impacts associated with tourism while at the same time being of benefit to the regions where it occurs.

The Pillars of Sustainability

As a concept, sustainability has three main pillars. These are known as the Three pillars of sustainability. They include:

The Environment Pillar

It’s a pillar whose sole focus is on minimizing negative effects on wildlife and the environment when traveling. It involves reducing your carbon footprint when traveling, especially when flying, not disturbing wildlife, plastic waste, packaging, and water usage. Carrying reusable items is a great way to travel.

The Social Pillar

It deals with the impact that tourism has on local communities and people. It includes doing your best to support the businesses being run by the locals, supporting local people and community charities, and social enterprises.

The Economic Pillar

Normally, this is a pillar that refers to enterprises being lucrative for them to be sustainable. When it comes to sustainable travel, this is a pillar that can be applied by using our own funds to assist in making a positive impact on local communities. Be sure to visit the Holiable sustainable travel guide for more information on the Three Pillars of Sustainability.

How Can You Become a Sustainable Traveler?

Always Look for the Most Sustainable Type of Transport to Take You to Your Destination

Depending on your destination, you are likely to have various options, e.g., to take a coach, train, drive, or fly. When traveling as part of a group, sharing a car is likely to be the most reasonable option. It’s also likely to be more sustainable as opposed to taking a train or flying.

Choose to Stay in Locally Owned Hotels or Motels

Staying in a locally-owned hotel or accommodation center is a great way to support the local businesses. It can include staying in Airbnb & B&Bs, or guesthouses. The about pages on motel and hotel websites will provide you with a good idea of who runs a given facility. It’s always more sustainable when the money you are using on accommodation helps to contribute to the community of that area instead of being redirected outside of that local economy to foreign-owned resorts and hotels.