For many years after the introduction of commercial air travel, holidays followed standard patterns. Hordes signed up for fly-and-flop deals while others took typical tourist trails around established destinations. However, amid reports of sites being damaged by spiralling visitor numbers and the growing global focus on sustainability, the general approach to travel is changing.

 

Holidaymakers are increasingly investing in doing their bit, to reduce their overall environmental impact and safeguard the communities they visit. Discover the best ways of supporting sustainable tourism when you travel, for an experience that’s more moral, purposeful and rewarding.

 

1. Choosing your destination

You can travel more sustainably just by choosing your destination with care. Avoid the most popular spots which suffer because of visitor numbers and instead look at places off the beaten track where your money could make a real difference in bolstering local communities. Getting an authentic flavor of a country or region can be just as, if not more, rewarding than seeing the most famous attractions – and you get to enjoy experiences without the crowds.

 

If you’re tempted by the top destinations, visiting outside of peak season can help to minimize any negative impact. You can enjoy the very best the world has to offer without contributing to congestion and will be extending the tourist season, helping local businesses earn and operate more sustainably.

 

2. Exploring alternative transport

Transport often creates the largest share of your holiday carbon footprint, and small adjustments can make a noticeable difference. Choosing trains over planes where possible won’t add too many more hours to your journey when you factor in waiting time but will save a lot of fuel, especially with electric rail routes. The world’s best rail journeys are experiences within themselves, providing unrivalled views of otherwise inaccessible landscapes.

 

Taking buses and shared transfers rather than taxis, or even hiring bikes for city exploration, will all contribute to a reduced carbon footprint, too.

 

3. Supporting sustainable initiatives

Sustainable tourism becomes tangible when you consciously back organizations that are helping to protect environments and support communities. Many tour operators and accommodation providers reinvest profits into local projects covering everything from education efforts to wildlife protection and restoration. When you book with them, your spending directly funds those efforts.

 

For more active involvement, consider a stint of volunteering, being sure to check that you’ll be working with a reputable company. Philantourism is a trending alternative, connecting tourists to eco-initiatives through life-changing experiences that enable visitors to give back without interrupting their itinerary. One of the best examples of this is luxury safaris in Rwanda to see mountain gorillas and similar wildlife-spotting experiences, which are carefully curated with the advice of knowledgeable guides and conservation programs to ensure visitors, wildlife and locals all benefit.

 

4. Prioritizing local businesses

Where you spend your money matters if your aim is to benefit local communities. Aim to stay in independent guesthouses and eat at family-run restaurants where possible, rather than relying on the comfort of familiar chains.

 

Follow the same practice when shopping, too. Buying from markets and craft shops attended by small-scale producers gives you direct access to traditional and authentic country specialities and means you’ll be supporting those who rely on tourism to sustain their work. In a small way, your purchases will help to preserve skills that might otherwise disappear.

 

5. Minimizing environmental impact

Your everyday habits can either strain or support the places you visit, so be conscious of minimizing your use of resources as you go. Simple swaps are all that’s required, like carrying a refillable water bottle to reduce reliance on single-use plastics, taking shorter showers and turning off the air-conditioning at night once the room is cool. Especially in places with limited infrastructure, these actionable changes are vital.

 

Be mindful of natural spaces when you’re out exploring too, by sticking to marked paths and following local guidance. When you snorkel or hike, your behaviour directly affects fragile ecosystems. Using reef-safe sunscreen or avoiding litter protects environments that others will come to enjoy after you. These choices don’t require much effort, but they help maintain the quality of the places that drew you there in the first place.