Following is a list of things that each one of us can undertake in our
lifestyles and travels to help reduce the impact of global warming and
eventually combat climate change. These collective actions are a step
forward, towards a ‘Green Lifestyle’.
Responsible Tourism is about “making better places for people to live in
and better places for people to visit” - Harold Goodwin. Responsible
Tourism requires that operators, hoteliers, governments, local people,
and tourists take responsibility, take action to make tourism more
sustainable. To make India a ‘Sustainable Tourism Destination’, the
traveler, the tourism industry, and the government will need to join
hands for responsible action.
These guidelines have been put together by the Responsible Tourism
Society of India, earlier known as the Ecotourism Society of India. It was
established by senior and committed industry professionals, government
officials, environmentalists, and a parliamentarian in 2008. RTSOI is
recognized by the Ministry of Tourism, Government of India as it’s
‘Sustainability Partner’ through a Memorandum of Understanding in
March 2016. RTSOI is supported by a range of stakeholders across the
travel and tourism fraternity and multiple walks of life.
Planning your Holiday
Give preference for a Responsible Travel Company
Many travel companies conduct their businesses responsibly and
sustainably. Book with them to support their practices and encourage
others to do the same. Responsible Travel company details can be found
on Responsible Tourism Society of India. Explore destinations and get
acquainted with nature and biodiversity. Check for certifications and
their safety pledges. Make your trip experiential and adventurous and
use ‘green’ transportation that is fuel-efficient, safe, reliable, and
feasible. Prioritize activities such as cycling, hiking, and walking where
possible.
Give preference to Hotels with Responsible Practices
Many chains and independent hotels operate in-house green programs.
Check their websites to see what kind of ‘green’ practices they follow.
Choose a hotel that has a positive impact on the community and
destination. Ask them how they dispose of their greywater and if they
compost. Inquire about bathroom fixtures and toiletries, in-room
recycling bins, and the origin of the restaurant food. Ideally, food items
should be purchased within 150 km of the hotel location and offer
organic cuisine. Some may be accredited by certification programs such
as STCI by the RTSOI, the LEED certification, or other similar ones.
Ideally, a ‘green’ hotel should support the three pillars of sustainable
tourism: environmental, social, and economic.
In ecologically fragile and protected area destinations lookout for
ecolodges or homestays and support their conservation efforts.
When leaving home for your holiday
Don't leave without preparing your home for a holiday. Turn off light
switches and unplug all electricals other than the fridge, freezer, and
any other electrical appliances that need to stay on. Unsubscribe daily
newspapers and download your e-ticket instead of paper printouts.
As you Travel
Choose your Mode of Transportation
If travel time and physical issues are not a major concern, select a mode
of transport that allows you to offset carbon. One can use an Adventure
Travel Trade Association or United Nations carbon calculator to offset
the carbon footprint. On a road, journey try and share a vehicle.
Travel Light
Packing efficiently helps to reduce carbon emissions from aero planes.
The lighter the aircraft, the less fuel it burns, and hence decreased
carbon emission.
At the Destination
Bring your supplies
Carry refillable bathroom toiletries instead of using the mini amenities
provided in hotels/rented accommodation as they are generally nonbiodegradable.
Hotels should adopt refillable glass/ceramic containers
that are secured to the wall. This will help reduce waste and one-time
plastic.
Dispose your waste Responsibly
While travelling by road, do not throw your plastic or paper waste
anywhere. Plastic will not degrade and both plastic and paper may be
consumed by grazing animals. Carry your waste back where it can be
segregated and disposed of responsibly.
Eat local
Support a local entrepreneur/business and try local dishes to
appreciate the local culture and support the local economy.
Cut Down on Waste and Conserve
Use insulated stainless-steel tumblers. To avoid single-use plastic, refill
your tumblers/flasks during your journey from hotels/guest houses
where they have reverse osmosis and/or UV filtered water available.
Conserve water and electricity as these are scarce resources. When not
in the room, switch off the lights. Reducing energy use helps to decrease
power plant emissions and combating climate change. At hotels/guesthouses, towels, and bed linen should be reused and not
put into the wash on a daily basis.
Decline non-reusable straws, coffee stirrers, and cutlery that are made
of one-time plastic. Encourage your fellow travellers to minimize their
waste and water usage on a trip.
Shop Local
Promote and purchase handicrafts, souvenirs directly from the local
community, or non-profit cooperatives. This would support destinations
and encourage people to retain their local culture. Do carry, a reusable
bag for purchases. Protect wildlife and habitats and do not buy products
made from protected and endangered plants or animals such as
seashells, shahtoosh shawls, etc. A detailed list is available on Traffic
and WWF.
Protect your Planet
Reduce your environmental impact by being a guardian of natural
resources, and all habitats including forests and wetlands. Respect
wildlife and its natural habitat. In protected areas, access only the
places open to visitors and avoid disturbing fragile environments and
locations such as coral reefs and archaeological finds. While in the
water, wear sunscreen that does not cause harm to the marine
ecosystem.
Leave only a minimum footprint.
Leave No Trace
Anything you carry in, you should carry out. Pack reusable items such as
bags for shopping and drinking straws. Follow the recycling rules of the
destination.
Animal Welfare
Be aware of tourist activities that could potentially harm wildlife.
Prioritize animal welfare by being ethical and choosing tours and
attractions that do not cause suffering or abuse to animals. Wildlife SOS
recommends no elephant rides, lion petting, tiger selfies, snake
charmers, dancing monkeys, and bears. The process of domesticating
wild animals and especially elephants is inhumane. Don’t support
bondage animal tourism. You should also make sure to visit attractions
that do not capture animals from the wild. Animals in captivity should
have amenable living conditions. You should also make sure to not
touch, disturb, or feed any wildlife as this could harm the animals and
impact their ability to survive in the wild.
Respect Cultures
Take time to learn about local customs, norms, and traditions. Be
tolerant and respect diversity. Treat local communities and their culture
with respect. Avoid behavior that can offend the local community.
Gestures have different meanings in different cultures. One should be
mindful of this, especially while visiting religious and cultural sites.
Permission must be sought from local communities before taking
photographs.
Explore Destinations Beyond
Several destinations today are faced with the phenomenon of ‘overtourism’.
Don’t follow the crowd. Excess only hurts the destinations and
does not add much to the local economy. Economic and social benefits
from tourism are significant when less frequently visited destinations
also attract visitors. It helps in the sustainable growth of the region.
Explore and taste local food, visit local markets, lesser-known protected
areas, this supports the local economy, inculcates a sense of pride
amongst the local community, and thus incentivizes them to stay on and
not migrate to cities.
On a Wildlife Safari
Use established or existing tracks/paths for nature walks while visiting
a national park/sanctuary. Wear earthy colors, do not converse in loud
voices, and try to enjoy the entire ecosystem rather than looking for
specific species. Be sensitive and respectable towards other fellow
travelers by giving everyone an equal chance to view and photograph
wildlife. Don't monopolize viewing specific spots while on a safari. For a
better experience, carry your binoculars and of course, remember the
golden rule of not littering.
On an Adventure Holiday
Observe the principles of ‘pack in, pack out’ for the management of
waste in remote regions and protected areas. Use established trails
while on a hike or trek.
Camping
A minimum distance of 100 ft should be maintained from freshwater
sources. To avoid pollution of the water source, never wash with
detergents and instead use bio-degradable washing agents.
The campsite should be left in a better state than what it was found like
and all non-biodegradable garbage should be carried back for proper
disposal. Cover all the toilet holes with dry mud and if the terrain allows
cover with grass turf.
Avoid Camp Fires
Local wood that can be foraged, should be left for the local community
for fuel where alternate options are not available for them. In high
altitude or other areas, carry solar lanterns and solar heaters. Whilst
camping, open fires should be discouraged to prevent forest degradation
and reduce carbon emissions. If forests are degraded at the site level,
avoid even purchasing and using firewood for campfires.
Support a Local Community
Support the local community in whatever way is appropriate. Education,
health, conservation is encouraged.
Understand Local Laws
Familiarize yourself with the local laws so that you don’t commit any
act considered criminal by the destination/country visited. Do not buy
products or items that are prohibited by national/international
Get the Next Generation Involved
Our children are the youth of tomorrow and if they see you being
responsible for your environment, they will do the same. They will travel
responsibly, conserve the environment, and respect local cultures.
We need to leave a planet worth living for.
Very well thought out and informative article, very often we forget about the negative aspects of tourism but this article seemed like an eye opener for a thorough traveller like me and I hope it shall for many more! Thank you Rockys Exclusive and Travel x Living for this amazing information and even more amazing information for tour in Sri Lanka.
God bless you!