Sustainable travel is important for each and every traveler. But it is much more complicated than you might think, but the consequences are real none the less – just take a look at the closure of Maya Bay in Thailand. Season traveler, Rohan, from the blog Tales of a Bookpacker talk about how detrimental tourism can be to our planet.
Why is sustainable travel so important
With the current spotlight on climate change, it’s hard not to consider how we can travel more sustainably. Not only to preserve the environment but also the cultures, religions, and traditions of the places we’re visiting. Thankfully there are lots of really simple ways to travel more sustainably and reduce your impact on the earth.
The first way to make some more sustainable changes is when you’re packing. Look for some reusable items you can pack which means you can turn down plastic alternatives in the places you visit. Make sure you have a reusable shopping bag, drink bottle and coffee cup (if you’re inclined to get it take-away). There are also lots of great options for reusable cutlery and straws if you’ll be eating street food or takeaways often.
These items don’t take up much extra space in your backpack but they do help to significantly reduce plastic waste which is especially important in countries with poor recycling and waste management systems. You could also consider getting a water purifier for travel. This means you can drink the tap water in most places around the world by sterilizing it on the go – no more plastic bottles!
Travel is all about seeing, hearing and tasting the places we visit so what better way to travel more sustainably than by eating, shopping and staying local. This means looking out for locally owned hotels and making sure to shop for handmade souvenirs or buying local brands. When it comes to eating out, eating what is produced locally rather than searching for home comforts reduces the environmental impact of your meals. It also connects you to the local culture and a restaurant packed with locals is a far more interesting experience than dining with tourists in an international chain.
Of course, the biggest crux of traveling sustainably is the terrible impact flying has on the environment. There are several ways to mitigate this such as carbon offsets but the best thing to do is travel overland. Not only is this way more eco-friendly it can also be an incredible adventure and the journey often becomes the best part of the trip. Next time your planning a trip or if you’re on the road look at train routes in the area your traveling or get a group together for a road trip. Overnight transport options are also a great way to travel long distances without losing a days’ travel, saving some money and most importantly having a minimal impact on the environment.
Traveling more sustainably doesn’t have to be difficult or expensive. A few small changes and being prepared can mean that the earth stays around for future generations to keep exploring.
About Tales Of A Bookpacker Blog
Rohan and her partner Max have been traveling for years most recently on a two-year journey from Germany to New Zealand. They are currently building a home base in the form of a tiny house on wheels and split their time between teaching, building and blogging over at Travels of a Bookpacker. They try to live as sustainably as possible and are currently elbows deep in homemade bread, electric cars and plastic-free alternatives.
About the Travel Tip Tuesday series
Each Tuesday, a new voice will add a different perspective and voice to Horizon Unknown – after all, we all learn by communicating with one another. You can find a huge post of detail tips for travel here.
Check out all the posts in the Tuesday Travel Tip Series!
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Thanks for reading,
Happy and safe travels!
