In my eyes, travel is one of the most important things we can do to better ourselves. Not only do you see amazing monuments and meet colorful people, you learn different ways of overcoming issues and grow as an individual. As a traveler, I’ve always tried to support the local community I was visiting, However, it wasn’t until I ventured to Asia did I fully see the importance of sustainable travel. From supporting local companies that give back to the community to just making a positive impact with everyone you meet, sustainable travel is fulfilling and much easier than a lot of travelers think.

Why book a tour with a sustainable travel company?

I get it, travel can be expensive and a sustainable tour only costs more, but when you meet your local hiking guide or scuba diving instructor, I personally love to know they are paid a decent wage for guiding me for a day or two.

For example, during my time in northern Vietnam, I booked an overnight tour through the cascading rice terraces around SaPa. When I traveled through SaPa, only two trekking companies were known to give back to the locals in the area – SaPa O’Chau and SaPa Sisters.

I eventually settle on SaPa O’Chau and even though their guided trek around SaPa was a little more expensive, I was assured the extra money goes straight to the guides and owners of the homestay. As soon as I met my guide Xuan (pronounced swan) I was so glad I knew she was getting paid well. It made me feel like a better traveler.

Xuan doubled as my homestay owner, and not only did her family cook for our small group of four hikers, a comfortable bed for a good night’s rest was provided. If I contributed to many companies in the area that possibly pay their employees an unfair wage for guiding a trek all day, I would’ve felt terrible. Let along interacting with her wonderful family knowing that the guides were underpaid.

Sustainable travel is incredibly important to the locals who depend on the industry to survive. However, traveling responsibly comes in many other forms.

Book a tour /guide with a company that cares for the environment

Travel is amazing because it’s able to bring so many people together from different cultures and walks of life. Learning about not only the local area but your fellow travelers as well. Protecting our environment so others can enjoy the beauty we sometimes take for granted.

Once again, Asia opened my eyes to the importance of education and action when it comes to the environment. Growing up in Australia I always had a profound respect for the oceans and the marine life within it. When I traveled through Asia it became obvious the same environmental concerns were not present.

Education is such an important aspect of environmental protection. I saw many locals toss empty water bottles into rivers as if it were the bin. For the most part, it is not knowing them plastic bottles take so long to decompose. That’s why I love supporting companies who not only educate why preservation is important but also initiate beach and ocean clean up days.

In 2018 I visited Thailand to learn how to scuba dive, it was every bit as amazing as I hoped. While some beaches are incredibly beautiful, with clear waters and golden sands, if you explore a little further it’s not hard to see one where all the rubbish piles up. From hundreds of flip flops and water bottles to Styrofoam and toothbrushes. It can be hard to stomach.

After diving, my love for the water only grew and I put a decent amount of effort into researching companies that care for the ocean. I found Princess Divers on Phi Phi Island. With great guides and stunning underwater scenery to work with, I loved diving with them. However, it was their love for protecting the water that made them my sole recommendation for diving on Phi Phi Island.

Not only do they organize regular clean up of the beaches in the area, but the education they provide about the ocean is also second to none. From identifying unique marine life and how to respect their environment, to choosing products, like sunscreen, that doesn’t negatively affect the ocean and marine life within.

Making a positive impact with everyone you encounter

Traveling sustainably and ethical comes in many forms. Just engaging with a local or another traveler can be an easy way to enrich travel experiences. Hanoi is one city where a simple conversation can help a local more than you might think. Every weekend, the small park around Thap Rua closes the busy streets and families flock to play games and talk. Many young kids and university students will spark conversations with tourists to practice their English. It’s even part of some university courses to practice their English with travelers.

Not only does engaging with locals help them, but it also makes travel more fulfilling for you as you learn more about local ways of life. Fulfilling travel doesn’t need to expensive and engaging with the locals is an amazing way to get more from your time on the road without spending a dime!

Travel is my favorite thing to do. Full stop. Making sure you leave a positive impact on every place you visit not only helps you evolve into a more satisfied traveler, the effect of choosing ethically minded companies and even just interacting with locals can create such a profound change to people and the environment. This is why travel is such an important thing for all of us to do.