Travel and tourism is one of the world's largest industries, attracting billions of people each year for family visits, holidays and business trips. The sector accounts for a staggering 10 % of the global economy, supporting millions of jobs and benefiting countless communities. It is also a key source of revenue that helps fund 202,000 protected areas worldwide. While travel has many positive impacts, almost all forms of it impact the environment and communities, from putting a strain on fragile ecosystems and culturally significant sites to contributing to greenhouse gas emissions that trap heat and warm the planet. The good news is that you don\u2019t have to ditch your suitcase altogether; travelers can minimize their ecological footprint while contributing to local communities.<\/p>\n
Planning your trip with sustainability in mind<\/strong><\/p>\n The first step to responsible travel is careful planning. When choosing destinations<\/strong> Consider fewer longer trips and trips to less popular destinations. You can create a destination \u201cbase camp\u201d with day trips, which is often a more relaxing, immersive, and refreshing experience that requires less packing and unpacking. Prioritize sustainable destinations<\/strong>, which are aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals and are certified according to the internationally recognized criteria of the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC). GSTC accredited certification bodies include Green Destinations, EarthCheck and Vireo.<\/p>\n Regarding mode of transport<\/strong>, try to avoid flying if possible, as it is a particularly high-carbon mode of transport. Travelling between some destinations by public transport, such as buses and trains, is often more relaxing than the hustle and bustle of airports and crowded planes. If you are travelling by car, the more passengers the better, as driving with one passenger can in some cases have a greater impact on the climate than flying. If flying is unavoidable, minimise your carbon footprint by choosing direct flights, newer and more energy-efficient aircraft, traveling in economy class and packing light<\/strong>When selecting flights, you can use the abbreviation NERD: N<\/strong>ew (new), E<\/strong>conomy (economy class), R<\/strong>egular (regular), D<\/strong>irect (direct). Some online booking agents and airlines even display carbon emissions for each flight. Also consider paying a premium for alternative aviation fuel if the airline offers it, or for carbon credits if alternative aviation fuel is not available, helping to fund climate solutions. Choose travel companies that have set science-based zero climate change goals.<\/p>\n When choosing accommodation, travel agencies and tour companies<\/strong> Be wary of greenwashing, as there are over 350 \u201ceco-travel\u201d labels, many of which are false or misleading. Choose sustainable tourism companies that are verified by independent auditors, such as accredited certification bodies GSTC or B-Corp certification. Check that the travel agency has a sustainability section on its website with a detailed action plan, science-based climate targets, sustainability practices and initiatives, and transparent annual reports. Effective packaging<\/strong> also helps minimize the impact of: pack light for air travel, bring a refillable water bottle, use a toiletry kit with refillable soft containers and avoid using hotel toiletries and soaps, wear quick-drying clothing to avoid using the dryer, and apply reef-safe sunscreen<\/strong> (sunscreens that do not contain oxybenzone and octinoxate). Also carry an ultra-light, packable backpack or shopping bag.<\/p>\n During your journey: Minimize impact, maximize benefit<\/strong><\/p>\n Continue to behave responsibly during the trip itself. Minimize consumption<\/strong> single-use plastic bottles and containers and bring a refillable water bottle and reusable containers for toiletries. Reduce food waste and choose locally sourced, sustainable foods. Save water: let hotel towels air dry and reduce requests for bed linens. Recycle where possible and never throw away trash<\/strong>.<\/p>\n Regarding energy<\/strong>, try to walk, cycle or use public transport. When leaving a room, turn off the lights, heating and air conditioning.<\/p>\n At interaction with wildlife<\/strong> Book experiences that contribute to biodiversity conservation and support local communities, especially those that rely on tourism for their survival. Avoid experiences with captive animals unless the facility is certified by internationally recognized animal welfare organizations. Never touch or feed wild animals.<\/strong> for your safety and the safety of the animals. If you are in the water, do not touch or step on corals, and always use sunscreen suitable for reefs. In protected areas Follow park regulations, tread carefully, and follow the "Leave No Trace" policy<\/strong>.<\/p>\n At shopping<\/strong> support local artisans and community businesses and pay a fair price. Do not buy animal, coral, shell, hardwood, or live plant products<\/strong>, as it is difficult to determine whether a product is illegal or sustainably sourced.<\/p>\n Show respect for community and culture<\/strong> by learning about the history, culture, customs, and etiquette of your destination. This includes information about religious practices, appropriate dress, local laws, and more. A great place to start is the State Department website or the website of an encyclopedia of world culture. Always ask permission before taking a photo of a person<\/strong> and be aware of photography restrictions at some sacred sites and government buildings, look for signs to help you.<\/p>\n After returning home: Share and support change<\/strong><\/p>\n After returning home share honest insights and constructive feedback<\/strong> with your family, friends, fellow travelers, and travel agency owners. Don't be afraid to highlight the good points and gloss over the bad ones, as word of mouth is the best source of business for travel agencies, and social media can drive behavior change. Finally, support local and international organizations that protect the natural and cultural integrity of the destination<\/strong>, creating livelihood incentives for people to value nature and culture. Responsible travel is a continuous process of learning and adapting that allows us to explore the world while protecting it for future generations. Spring<\/strong> (More at worldwildlife.org)<\/span><\/a><\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Travel and tourism is one of the world's largest industries, attracting billions of people each year for family visits, holidays and business trips. The sector accounts for a staggering 10 %<\/p>","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1,27],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-36926","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-znizovanie_co2_cdr_ccs_ccu_dac","category-udrzatelnost_uhlikova-neutralita"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.co2news.sk\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/36926","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.co2news.sk\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.co2news.sk\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.co2news.sk\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/7"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.co2news.sk\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=36926"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.co2news.sk\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/36926\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.co2news.sk\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=36926"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.co2news.sk\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=36926"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.co2news.sk\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=36926"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}