Sustainable Tourism: How to Travel Responsibly in 2023

The global pause in travel during recent years offered our planet a moment to breathe—Venice's canals cleared, wildlife returned to tourist hotspots, and air quality improved in major cities. As we embrace the joy of exploration once again, we have a unique opportunity to rebuild tourism more thoughtfully and sustainably than before.

At Sunset Meadow, sustainability isn't just a buzzword—it's the foundation of our approach to travel. We believe that tourism, when done responsibly, can be a force for good: preserving cultural heritage, protecting natural environments, and creating economic opportunities for local communities.

In this comprehensive guide, we'll share practical strategies for making more sustainable choices at every stage of your journey, from planning to returning home.

Understanding Sustainable Tourism: Beyond "Eco-Friendly"

Sustainable tourism balances three essential pillars:

• Environmental sustainability: Minimizing negative impacts on natural resources, wildlife habitats, and ecosystems
• Social and cultural sustainability: Respecting and preserving local traditions, supporting communities, and ensuring tourism benefits residents
• Economic sustainability: Creating fair economic benefits that are distributed equitably among local populations

True sustainability requires considering all three dimensions in our travel choices. Let's explore how to put these principles into practice throughout your journey.

Before You Go: Sustainable Planning

Choosing Destinations Thoughtfully

Not all destinations are equally prepared to handle tourism sustainably. Consider:

• Overtourism concerns: Rather than adding pressure to overcrowded hotspots like Venice or Barcelona, consider less-visited but equally rewarding alternatives (Bologna instead of Venice, Valencia instead of Barcelona)
• Destinations prioritizing sustainability: Some places are leading the way in sustainable tourism development. Examples include Slovenia (the first country declared a "green destination"), Costa Rica (with its pioneering Certification for Sustainable Tourism), and Bhutan (with its "high value, low impact" tourism model)
• Traveling in the off-season: This reduces strain on infrastructure, minimizes crowding at attractions, and often provides a more authentic experience while supporting year-round employment for locals

Transportation Choices

Transportation typically accounts for the largest portion of tourism's carbon footprint. Consider:

• Reducing long-haul flights: When possible, explore destinations closer to home or combine multiple destinations in one longer trip rather than taking several short journeys
• Flying responsibly: When air travel is necessary, choose direct flights (takeoff and landing create the most emissions), pack lighter (reducing fuel needs), and consider airlines investing in modern, fuel-efficient fleets or sustainable aviation fuels
• Carbon offsetting: While not a perfect solution, quality offset programs help mitigate unavoidable emissions. Look for Gold Standard or Verified Carbon Standard certifications
• Ground transportation alternatives: Once at your destination, prioritize public transit, walking, cycling, or rail travel between cities rather than domestic flights or private vehicles

Selecting Accommodations

Your accommodation choices have significant environmental and social impacts:

• Eco-certifications: Look for credible certifications like LEED, Green Key, EarthCheck, or BREEAM that verify environmental practices
• Locally-owned properties: Small, locally-owned hotels, guesthouses, or homestays typically keep more tourism dollars in the community than international chains
• Key questions to ask: Does the property employ local staff in management positions? Do they source food locally? What water and energy conservation measures do they practice? How do they manage waste?

During Your Trip: Responsible Practices

Supporting Local Economies

How and where you spend your money significantly impacts communities:

• Local guides and operators: Choose tour providers that employ local guides and pay fair wages. These guides offer authentic insights while keeping tourism benefits in the community
• Artisan crafts and markets: Purchase souvenirs directly from artisans or cooperatives. This supports traditional craftsmanship and ensures makers receive fair compensation
• Local cuisine: Dine at locally-owned restaurants serving regional foods rather than international chains. This reduces food miles while supporting local agriculture and culinary traditions

Respecting Cultures and Communities

Cultural sensitivity is a cornerstone of sustainable tourism:

• Research cultural norms: Before arriving, learn about local customs, appropriate dress, and behavioral expectations, especially when visiting religious sites
• Photography ethics: Always ask permission before photographing people, respect "no photos" signs at sacred sites, and consider whether sharing certain images on social media could have negative impacts
• Learning basics of the local language: Even mastering a few phrases demonstrates respect and enhances cross-cultural connections

Minimizing Environmental Impact

Small daily choices add up to significant environmental benefits:

• Reducing single-use plastics: Travel with reusable water bottles, shopping bags, utensils, and toiletry containers
• Water conservation: Be mindful of water usage, especially in destinations facing scarcity. Take shorter showers, reuse towels, and report leaks
• Wildlife interactions: Choose observation-only wildlife experiences over those involving feeding, touching, or riding animals. Ensure any wildlife tourism supports conservation efforts
• Staying on marked trails: When hiking or exploring natural areas, stick to designated paths to prevent erosion and habitat disturbance

Giving Back: Meaningful Contributions

Beyond responsible spending, consider more direct contributions:

• Volunteering: If interested in volunteer tourism, choose programs carefully. The best options address genuine community needs, create sustainable impact, and don't replace local jobs
• Conservation initiatives: Many destinations offer opportunities to participate in coral restoration, beach cleanups, or citizen science projects
• Community-based tourism: Seek out programs where communities collectively manage tourism activities and directly receive the benefits

After Your Journey: Extending the Impact

Sustainable travel doesn't end when you return home:

• Sharing thoughtfully: Use your social media presence to promote responsible travel practices and highlight sustainable businesses you encountered
• Providing feedback: Leave constructive reviews for businesses with strong sustainability practices—or those that could improve
• Staying connected: Consider ongoing support for conservation or community development initiatives in places you've visited

The Travel Industry's Responsibility

While individual choices matter, systemic change requires industry commitment. At Sunset Meadow, we're taking concrete steps to improve our sustainability practices:

• Measuring and reducing our carbon footprint across all operations
• Training all guides in sustainability principles and best practices
• Partnering exclusively with accommodations that meet our environmental and social criteria
• Supporting community-led tourism initiatives in our destinations
• Eliminating single-use plastics from our tours

We encourage travelers to hold tourism businesses accountable by asking questions about their sustainability policies and practices. Your inquiries signal that these issues matter to consumers and drive positive change throughout the industry.

The Future of Sustainable Travel

The tourism landscape continues to evolve, with several promising trends emerging:

• Regenerative tourism: Moving beyond "doing less harm" to actively improving destinations through tourism
• Digital nomad visas: Encouraging longer stays that create deeper connections and more distributed economic benefits
• Climate-conscious travel planning: Tools that help travelers understand and reduce their carbon footprint
• Indigenous tourism: Experiences developed and led by indigenous communities that support cultural preservation

These developments give us hope that tourism can be a powerful force for positive change—preserving our planet's natural wonders and cultural treasures while creating economic opportunities for communities worldwide.

Conclusion: Small Choices, Meaningful Impact

Sustainable travel isn't about perfection or sacrifice—it's about making mindful choices that enhance rather than detract from your experience. By considering the environmental, cultural, and economic impacts of our travel decisions, we can help ensure that the places we love remain vibrant and accessible for generations to come.

As the renowned anthropologist Margaret Mead wisely noted: "Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has." Through our collective choices as travelers, we have the power to transform tourism into a force for global good.