A practical guide to practice sustainable tourism
Tourism plays a huge role in our lives. It enriches us with a newfound appreciation of the culture, experiences, environment, and people we encounter on our trips, filling our lives with wonder. It serves as a refreshing bridge between cultures in the age of globalization, a welcome respite from daily life. Beyond this, as a billion-dollar industry, tourism employs millions of individuals.
However, while it can be argued that tourism is embedded in our society and is fully recognized as a major economic driver, it is also concerning that several tourism practices are detrimental to culture and nature, such as environmental degradation, pollution, destruction of the ecosystem, and excessive use of resources, to name a few (just look at what they did to the Chocolate Hills).
It is still possible to mitigate these effects and create environment-friendly practices and solutions, however. This is where sustainable tourism comes in.
The United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) describes sustainable tourism as “tourism that takes full account of its current and future economic, social and environmental impacts, addressing the needs of visitors, the industry, the environment, and host communities.” While this is a huge undertaking, individual tourists can also carry on with their travels all while practicing sustainable tourism on their own.
Educate yourself
It is important for travelers to study the places they are to visit and the activities they are to do. One should be aware of the boons and banes of some tourism-related activities. This task might seem common sense for some. Unfortunately, numerous environmentally detrimental tourist activities are borne of ignorance.
For example, you might be enticed to join daytime baby sea turtle (hatchling) release activities in hopes of contributing to their “preservation.” However, this is questioned by a number of marine experts. According to them, turtle release activities done in the morning lessen the chances of survival for the hatchlings. In daylight, the turtles can be clearly seen by predators. At night, when they usually waddle toward the sea from the shore, the baby turtles can move under the safe cover of darkness.
The city of Amami in Kagoshima, Japan, stopped its sea turtle release activities in 2023 due to this concern. Instead, the city government decided to conduct sea turtle observation tours to explain the inappropriateness of sea turtle activities to children.
Mindful planning and purchasing
As you create your itinerary, it is wise to pick eco-friendly accommodations as these reduce the environmental effects of tourism. You would want to check if they use renewable energy sources, such as solar energy, and if they support the local economy by making sure that they’re accessible to public transportation. Commuting is also helpful in decongesting the roads, which in turn helps combat air pollution.
If it fancies your interest, you may also opt to consider including spots that practice ecotourism in your itinerary, which would not only offer you a great time but will also raise your awareness with regards to being a responsible tourist. Examples of these destinations are Batanes Island in the Philippines, Jeju Island National Park in South Korea, and Komodo National Park in Indonesia.
One should also be careful of the items they purchase, especially with products that utilize animal parts, such as snake leather and animal fur (like cloud rat fur fashioned into a hat). Aside from the ethical concerns surrounding these items, the manufacture and proliferation of such products may also harm the ecosystem in the long run.
Deep dive into the local tourism scene
One of UNWTO’s tenets of sustainable development in tourism involves respecting and conserving the socio-cultural authenticity of host communities. With your role as a traveler, it is advisable to engage with the area’s local communities to gain a grasp of their culture, practices, and traditions on a more personal level. It helps in understanding the local’s sensitivities, aiding you in your travels especially with the dos and don’ts in the community with regards to their culture, traditions, and heritage.
You may opt to join cultural immersion trips if they are available in the area of your interest. In the Philippines, such trips are held in order to explore and learn about the areas where indigenous people live. Such services are available in the cities and municipalities in the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) in Luzon, such as Buscalan, Batad, Banaue, and Sagada.
Lessen your plastic usage
Tourism, unfortunately, is a great contributor to the growing dilemma with plastic waste in the world. The industry’s tendency to overproduce, especially in packaging items for tourist consumption, leads to a substantial amount of wastes, which, in turn, leads to pollution. This also puts a strain on the local communities, especially with their waste management systems.
One Planet Network reported that 80% of tourism activities take place in coastal areas. These rates result in the sector being a huge contributor to plastic pollution. Moreover, a huge percentage of waste generated from tourist-related activities is disposable and not recyclable.
Within your own means as a traveler, it is helpful to pack refillable water bottles to lessen the consumption of water in plastic bottles. You may opt to bring reusable bags, rather than plastic bags, for your purchases to at least lessen your own plastic consumption. Try to avoid using single-use plastics. Instead, invest in reusable products.