Becoming a conscious or sustainable traveller is simple: make sustainable choices, support the community you visit, protect the wildlife and the environment.
It is all about doing your research and making the most respectful and responsible decision possible and we’ve got all the tips, hacks and information you need to help you make changes to the way you travel.
Make sustainable choices
Consider taking one long holiday rather than several short ones and travel by train, rather than by plane, where possible. Tally your carbon footprint and buy offsets to match.
Help rehabilitate turtles in the marine environment you are visiting, offset your flights, buy seasonal produce, avoid single-use plastics and #take3forthesea
Visit an operator’s website to assess its credentials by reading its policy on sustainable tourism practises.
Plan wisely for your consumption when visiting a fragile environment: avoid single-use plastics, skip the straw, eat less meat, avoid coffee pods, and use reef-friendly sunscreen.
Be community-minded
Responsible travel extends to investing in the economy of the destination you’re visiting to support local entrepreneurs and spend money in the communities where it is needed.
Join community groups that actively address environmental issues in the destination: pick up litter on a beach in Bali or connect with wilderness in northern Australia while eliminating noxious weeds.
You can also make a difference by supporting local sustainable tourism operators that invest money where it is most needed and empower members of the community.
Be a wildlife supporter
Do your research: make sure the wildlife experience you sign up for is ethical and doesn’t adversely impact on native animals or habitat. Never ever feed, attract or chase wildlife.
Travel within wildlife conservation parks that help maintain critical habitat thanks to much-needed income from visitors. Voluntourism activities include fostering an orphaned elephant or interning at an anti-poaching organisation in South Africa.
There are animal sanctuaries around the world that let you help make a difference: sign up to protect rescued wildlife or collect data for marine conservation.
