The beginner’s guide to SUSTAINABLE TRAVEL

How to follow the latest trend protecting our planet

We’ve heard the expression, “Leave nothing but footprints, take nothing but photographs,” but in the last few years the philosophy of sustainable travel has really taken off.

From long-haul air travel that causes harmful CO2 emissions, to holiday resorts built on top of natural habitats, tourism and international travel is far from sustainable for the earth. Our planet has many stunning destinations, from beautiful rainforests to breathtaking mountains, but excessive travel and tourism threatens the very existence of these wonders.

Here’s everything you need to know about travelling sustainably to ensure you leave behind a lighter footprint.

WHAT IS SUSTAINABLE TRAVEL?

According to the World Tourism Organisation, sustainable tourism is that which “takes full account of its current and future economic, social and environmental impacts, addressing the needs of visitors, the industry, the environment and host communities.”

This means managing resources in such a way that economic, social, and aesthetic needs can be fulfilled while also protecting the location.

In essence, it’s about travelling without contributing to long-term environmental and social impact.

THE THREE PILLARS OF SUSTAINABLE TRAVEL

ENVIRONMENTAL This focuses on reducing negative impacts on the environment and wildlife from tourism. This can be addressed through reducing waste, minimising carbon footprints and not disturbing wildlife. When travelling, bring your own reusables and look for hotels and resorts that recycle and utilise sustainable materials – and always search for responsible tours when animals are involved.

SOCIAL This is the impact on local people and communities. It also encompasses businesses that are run in the interest of employees, stakeholders, partners and the communities in which they operate. Look for businesses that employ local people as well as offer community tourism projects, and where you can research if they’re fairly paid and that their work environment is safe. ECONOMIC This pillar essentially means that the business needs to be profitable in order to be sustainable, but not at the expense of the other two pillars.

WHAT’S NEW?

Now you know what to look for when booking your next getaway, here’s how you can make that easier. Booking.com has announced the launch of its Travel Sustainable badge, a credible, globally relevant sustainability measure that will provide information to travellers who are looking

to make more sustainable travel choices.

Booking.com collaborated with industry experts to identify a set of high-impact practices for a property to consider in five key areas – waste, energy and greenhouse gases, water, supporting local communities, and protecting nature.

This foundational framework is further broken down into 32 specific sustainability measures or practices that properties can implement

– including everything from eliminating single-use plastic toiletries or switching to LED light fixtures, to running on 100 per cent renewable energy sources, as well as investing a certain percentage of profits into local community and conservation projects.