What is sustainable tourism? Many of us discovered this concept the first time we entered a hotel room and found specific instructions on how to manage linen and towels, with an invitation to ask for new ones only after a few uses, rather than every day. Reducing the consumption of detergents was, for many facilities and their guests, the first step. Yet today we know that the tourism industry has a significant impact on the planet, in terms of CO2 emissions, pollution, exploitation of natural resources, alteration of ecosystems, and the social and cultural fabric of certain nations. This is why calls for sustainable travel practices are getting louder and more urgent by the day. What can each of us do to travel sustainably? Here are some practical tips.
The basics: choose sustainable transport and reduce waste
Sustainable tourism can be achieved through a combination of good practices, some of which are more popular than others. First of all, we should try to limit air travel, or at least opt for short, non-stop journeys over long hauls. When possible, we should choose to travel by train or coach. When it comes to exploring a new destination, it’s obviously more sustainable to cycle, walk, or use public transport, rather than renting a car or calling a cab. We can also choose to make our stay more sustainable by reducing waste and saving energy just like we would at home, i.e. not leaving the lights on when we leave our hotel or B&B room, taking a reasonable number of short showers (rather than many endless ones, like most of us are tempted to do in hotels), and not wasting food. All this constitutes a good start, but it is not remotely enough.
Choosing sustainable routes
Mass tourism often has disastrous consequences on the natural environment and local communities it impacts. Venice is the perfect example of this phenomenon: for decades, the city has been saturated by tourists to the point of being unapproachable for its own residents. Likewise, throughout the world, entire communities have been adversely affected by an industry that seems to consume resources relentlessly, altering the appearance of entire regions to please an international crowd of careless tourists, while natural treasures such as the coral reef have been endangered by the far from delicate attentions of millions of amateur explorers. In order to travel in a sustainable way, one should first of all refrain from following the itineraries of this kind of tourism. Many sites offer sustainable alternatives, in partnership with agencies that are committed to managing and moderating tourism flows so that they do not harm natural ecosystems and local communities. If you still want to visit the most popular destinations or see the most famous landmarks, it is best to do so in the low season, so as not to contribute to their overload.
Travelling in a sustainable way also means consuming responsibly
Global tourism is among the factors that contribute the most to the destruction of natural and social ecosystems. The presence of certain chains of shops or certain types of services that are “familiar” even to those who come from far away often comes at the expense of local traditions and crafts, creating deep wounds in the cultural fabric. Those who wish to travel in a sustainable way should therefore favour the consumption of local products and avoid mass-produced souvenirs, preferring traditional handicrafts, thus embracing local cultures and generating income for the local population. Under no circumstances should natural elements (such as stones, plants, shells, and animals) be considered as acceptable souvenirs.
Choose accommodation facilities that respect the local communities
When we talk about local communities, we always think of the population of some remote village, with traditional costumes and farm animals coming in and out of their houses. Nothing could be more wrong: the local communities are also the residents of big cities, especially the social groups who normally do not benefit from tourism-generated income. In cities like Rome, London, Venice, and Barcelona, for example, the impact of trends like AirBnB on the lives of the local population has been devastating. In Countries that haven’t issued specific legislation to regulate short-term rentals, it was much cheaper for homeowners to rent for a few days to tourists than to engage in long-term leases. This has pushed residents further and further away from city centres, leading to a very rapid increase in prices per square metre and creating what can be described as “ghost towns” at the heart of most European capitals, where no one really resides and which are populated only by “hit-and-run” tourists and the shops and restaurants that cater to them. This is why some cities, such as Berlin, have placed severe limitations on the possibility of renting out entire flats or houses on AirBnB. What can tourists do to ensure their stay is sustainable? For example, they can choose hotels and B&Bs over private residences, better still, they can seek out certified sustainable facilities. Private residences might still be a sustainable option, however, if they are part of a comprehensive experience that involves taking an active part in the local life.
The future of sustainable tourism
Sustainable tourism is much more than just a range of eco-friendly accommodation options with limited linen changes, or the occasional lunch with members of the local community. It ranges from crowdfunding to support local projects to offsetting the CO2 emissions we produce during a trip, by purchasing “credits” to invest in reforestation and conservation projects. At this stage, the communication between tourists and travel agents is crucial: everyone can and should help protect the planet without having to renounce our natural desire to explore it.