Green Initiatives Guide to Being a Responsible Traveller

Worldwide, tourism has quickly developed into an industry many countries are dependent on. However, the majority of tourists do not realise the environmental damage they are causing to the countries they visit.

The tourism industry accounts for 4-10% of the total climate change impact of human activity, which rises to up to 20% in developed countries. Air travel accounts for 70-80% of this, from the emissions produced from planes. Furthermore, once untouched landscapes and homes have been turned into tourist hotspots bringing the destruction of land, increased pollution levels and lack of privacy for many.

At Green Initiatives’ 79th film screening in July 2017 we screened Gringo Trails , a film that documents environmental damage caused by tourism in South America, Africa and Asia. It follows separate stories of three travellers as well as interviewing the people living in tourism destinations such as Thailand, Bolivia and the Amazon.

Deeply inspired by the film and the issues it brings out, we have put together a few ways that we can all become a more responsible and environmentally friendly traveller and help reduce the global impact caused by travel and tourism.

We hope that these tips would come especially handy with Thanksgiving, Christmas and year-end holidays not too far away. If you have additional tips to contribute, please send us an email at [email protected]

Reduce waste

• Avoid Plastics

• Dispose Waste Responsibly

• Dispose of Cigarettes

• Buy Responsibly

• Pick Up Litter

• Respect Marine Life

• Leave No Trace

Live like a Local

• Stay Local

• Research Ethical and Sustainable Accommodation

• Try local cuisine

• Learn Something New

• Dress Appropriately

• Buy Local Shop, eat and drink locally.

Reduce your eco-footprint

• Travel Green

• Travel Public

• It’s the Journey

• Choose Greener Airlines

• Why Travel Abroad?

• Say No to Straws!

Be a Good Guest

• Think of Your Behaviour

• Respect Wildlife

• Buy Responsibly Made Products

Turn it Off

• Unplug Your Devices

• Shower vs Bath Tub

A list of websites or platforms that can help you travel better

• www.responsibletravel.com : A website that provides information and tips on how to travel responsibly and sustainably.

• www.couchsurfing.org : A way to stay at local people’s houses and experience their culture, and meet new people – without any cash exchange.

• www.airbnb.com : A way to stay with local people and experience a different culture, as well as meet new people, often more economical than hotels. Also, provides a unique selection of homestays and experiences.

• http://responsibletourism.wtm.com/ : A professional platform for news and advice on engaging in responsible business practices in tourism.

• https://sustainabletravel.org/ : Provides tools required to build knowledge and inspire action at the private, public and civil sector levels.

• https://www.tripsavvy.com/sustainable-travel-4138684 : Provides tips on activities, locations, and principles for seeing the world without leaving a trace.

• https://sustainabletravel.org/ : This website provides examples and advice on how you can travel sustainably and responsibly.

• https://sustainablevisit.com/ : Provides worldwide sustainable travel suggestions.

• http://www.chengduliving.com/sustainable-tourism-development-in-china/ : Provides examples of how one can travel sustainably in China.

Why not enjoy a better, more responsible and unique travel experience by following some or all of these tips? It is bound to help you leave a great impression on local people, support development and economic growth of your destination and encourage larger businesses to generate more sustainable business strategies.

Becoming a more responsible traveler can help make the world we share a better place in the long-term. Small changes can amount to big results, but furthermore, they are simply the right things to do.