Eco-travel or “sustainable tourism” is rooted in the idea that environmental and social sustainability practices should be considered when traveling. Increasingly, hotels and resorts are promoting their use of sustainable practices as part of their strategy to increase the value of a tourist’s experience.
This probably sounds like a bunch of hippy nonsense: Eco-travel? Do I have to eat twigs and dirt? What am I, going on vacation to a farm? What the heck is this about? Really, going on vacation should be just that: going on vacation. No work (unless you really want to) and no worries. And if you’re concerned about the environment, you can go to places that cater to such an audience.
The greater view, however, is becoming more aligned with this thought: that sustainability (social, environmental and fiscal) should not be a burden, but a part of the existing way of doing business. Just because a hotel is ecologically or socially responsible doesn’t mean (and shouldn’t mean) it only offers bare amenities. Using renewable energy sources to run a blender in the hotel’s kitchen shouldn’t limit the daily functions of the hotel or a visitor’s experience there.
In fact, to create a truly sustainable experience on vacation, you shouldn’t even have to know that it is eco-friendly. It should just be: a well-designed experience from start to finish.
Now I’ll get off my idealized soap-box; let’s take a perusal at what’s currently available to you…
Environmentally-speaking, there are hotels that make use of: recycled rain water, environmentally-friendly cleaning products, locally grown food, low-wattage standard power sources or solar and wind energy to supply their hotel, pool, kitchens, bars, etc.
Socially-speaking, sustainable tourism touches on respecting and working with local municipalities and communities to make sure that fair-wages are paid to all staff. Sustainable tourism promotes making a small “footprint” on the local ecology and on the local people involved.
To change attitudes, help modify eco-travel from a “hippie” vacation, where you envision working for your meals and “doing without,” to one that uses good design management to create an enjoyable vacation experience for the environmentally and socially responsible visitor that just happens to be profitable for the owners as well.
Following this trend to move eco-travel from hippy to chic, each hotel, resort, and vacation/holiday spot that makes claims to be eco-friendly should be able to back up their claims and promises with proof and practices. The best way to know for certain is to call and ask questions after reading their published information. This is not to assume that any eco-travel claims are fictitious or embellished, it is merely a note to educate the eco-friendly traveler of the intentions of his/her vacation spot.
In fact, the Rainforest Alliance is a strong proponent of sustainable tourism, and as such has created tips on how to be a savvy eco-traveler.
Related Eco-travel Links:
Portugal:
Madeira Island’s Peak Cottage Madeira Island travel Mata de Sesimbra - an ambitious and groundbreaking proposal to create the world’s first-ever integrated sustainable building, tourism, nature conservation and reforestation programme. South Africa:
Cape Town declaration Panama:
Bocas del Toro China, Belize, Guatemala and more:
Nature.org Eco-tourism An assortment of general eco-travel data and information:
Eco Travel directory and information There are UN sanctioned Indicators of Sustainable Development Earlier in 2005, Rainforest Alliance created partnerships with tour operators. General information about sustainable tourism from the Rainforest Alliance
