By Marta López
“Eat, stay and buy locally”, says travel writer and journalist, Ondine Cohane. But…Do we always do that? Are we hurting the place and its population when we visit a destination?
As travelers we constantly ask this question to ourselves. According to the Center for Responsible Travel (www.responsibletravel.org), an increasing number of organisztions are trying to help travellers in order to plan their visits and to minimalize as much as possible the negative impact of them.
But on the other hand, what can travelers do to make a positive impact on the countries they visit?
Consume local products and services
When it comes to the food we eat and the souvenirs we buy, the local factor is the key. It´s simple: If we buy and eat local, we will be contributing to the interior richness of the country. A good example of how this practice is worth it from a food industry perspective is the famous Danish restaurant, Noma (www.noma.dk). Its owner, the excellent chef René Redzep serves only what is native to the region and the truth is that he has transported Scandinavia to the top level. Remember, consuming local food and goods helps natives and it´s probably the best way to get closer to the new culture.
Stay in green-responsible hotels
Another key point when talking about sustainability and traveling is the accommodation. How do we know if the hotel we´re staying in is treating the employees well? This and more questions such as whether our hotel is following a responsible tourism practice must be some of the things we should consider before we visit our destination. In this sense, it’s always good to check when booking a room if the hotel has any eco awards or other affiliations. Some travel sites such as Expedia (www.expedia.co.uk)include that information at the bottom. A good example of this is the Boonsiri Place, in Thailand, which has been certified as a “Green / Sustainable Property” through The Green Leaf Business Scheme (http://www.thenewforest.co.uk/discover/green-leaf.aspx)
Share transport with others
As if you were in your own city, using private transport isn’t ideal when travelling abroad. Whenever it’s possible, try to avoid using a private vehicle. Thanks to the digital era, today travellers can benefit from a range of tools and apps that contribute to the responsible tourism such as Cabmix (www.cabmix.com), which lets people find travellers to share a taxi from the airport to the city centre.
Visit less touristic places – Spread the word
Instead of asking the authorities to promote all those less touristic destinations, it´s better to go and visit them by ourselves. Once we have met this new culture and the population behind it, the power is in our hands and that means that we should spread the word and make people aware of the existence of these places. Why not using the social media channels to spread the message among our group of friends and the travel community?
Choose an ethical destination
A good first step could be choosing an ethical destination before you plan your trip. Ethical Traveler (www.ethicaltraveler.org), a non-profit organisation, generates an annual list of the top 10 most ethical destinations in the world based on information that includes human rights and environment protection among others. This report also takes into account surveys elaborated by groups such as Reporters Without Borders.
Last but not least, if you are wondering about where to go, have a look at this article on the Lonely Planet (http://www.lonelyplanet.com/travel-tips-and-articles/71288) about the top 10 places for a sustainable travel experience.
Marta López is a lifestyle writer based in London. She loves travelling, photography and Spanish & French literature. She is currently working on her first novel.