Travel Green Now
True or false? Green travel always involves backpacking. False. Sustainable tourism covers a variety of criteria, including low environmental impact and energy use and respect for the culture and well-being of the local population. There is more than one way to travel green.
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Adventure Cycling, the U.S.’ largest membership cycling organization, produces renowned cycling maps, publishes Adventure Cyclist and the Cyclists’ Yellow Pages, runs cycling tours, and more. |
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Better World Club is the nation's only environmentally-friendly auto club, providing automotive and bicycle roadside assistance, travel, insurance services, eco-discounts, and much more. |
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At RezHub you can research AND reserve travel with green hotels, hybrid rentals, and offset your carbon footprint. RezHub also donates a portion of all profits from Green Travel to an earth friendly organization. |
| The International Ecotourism Society (TIES) | searchable directory of businesses and organizations |
| Planeta.com | the “global journal of practical ecotourism,” offers a World Travel Directory. Click on the country to go to a list of operators. |
| Sustainable Travel International | offers an online Eco-directory destination guide, searchable by desired vacation experience (biking, beach, etc.) and/or destination |
| The Rainforest Alliance | has created a directory of outstanding programs in sustainable tourism |
Local Getaways
The greenest and most affordable vacations are generally those that avoid planes and minimize driving, so check out about.com's State Parks guide and the National Park Service directory to find a great destination in your own backyard. Google has recently added a special feature to their Map service that helps you find green travel options and gives virtual tours of some locations.
Vacations that suit your social conscience...and your budget
| Agritourism | Work with food production (from organic produce to wines) in a rural landscape in the US or abroad. Agritourism can provide unforgettable first-hand lessons about nature and sustainability--at a discount compared to a traditional vacation. Check out AgritourismWorld for destinations or look for directories of opportunities by state. |
| Voluntourism | There are probably as many prospects for voluntourism as there are good causes in the world. Voluntourism combines work with a stay at a service location that may be in another country or in the US. Some are more focused on social justice causes while others are work exchanges at yoga or retreat centers. Start at Voluntourism.org for ideas or visit About.com's list of voluntourism resources. |
Why it’s important
Travel and Tourism is a $1.3 trillion industry in the United States, according to the Travel Industry Association of America. About 700 million people traveled internationally in 2003 and that number is expected to climb to 1 billion by 20101. The industry is also the world’s largest employer, providing about 200 million jobs – or about 8% of total global employment2.
Every individual’s travel choices add up to the total social and environmental impact of tourism. While things like over-used trails, emissions from cars and planes, and the inefficient use of water and energy are fairly obvious, other aspects of tourism, like loss of cultural identity, economic dependence on foreigners, and a lack of economic benefits to local communities, are harder to see.
Tourism can be a valuable conservation tool, providing motivation and funds for conservation. It also provides jobs and revenue for the surrounding communities. As anyone who has ever truly felt changed by travel can tell you, tourism can also impact the mindset of visitors, instilling us with environmental, social, and cultural awareness.
Sustainable tourism
The concept of sustainable tourism has emerged in response to concerns about traditional travel and tourism. According to the World Tourism Organization, sustainable tourism should “make optimal use of environmental resources,” “respect the socio-cultural authenticity of host communities,” and “provid(e) socio-economic benefits to all stakeholders.”
One of the most challenging aspects of sustainable tourism is the need to certify operators. With such a large industry operating in virtually every country in the world, it has been difficult to establish standards and certification schemes which are accepted worldwide.
Click here for a list of some of the most widely-used and recognized international certification schemes. The International Ecotourism Society provides a list of ecotourism associations, many of which provide some sort of certification. It’s important to make sure that the business (tour operator, hotel, etc.) that you use is certified by a reputable body, or has some other way of proving its environmental practices.
Ecotourism
Heightened awareness of the environment has combined with increased income to make travel to natural areas the fastest-growing sector of the tourist industry3. “Ecotourism” and nature travel are estimated to constitute about 20% of current leisure travel, up from about 2% in the late 1980s.
Ecotourism differs from sustainable tourism in that it focuses specifically on travel to natural areas, but it should still encompass principles of sustainability. Unfortunately, many operators simply adopt the word “ecotourism” to capitalize on its popularity, while ignoring its actual meaning. Again, it is essential to look at the practices of the company you choose.
Not sure what to look for? Check out “10 ways to tell if your eco-lodge is really eco!” from Responsibletravel.com.
Learn more
- This list of links at Responsibletravel.com is a wealth of information relating to all aspects of responsible travel.
- The Rainforest Alliance has some great tips and links to help you be a responsible traveler.
- In “Treading Lightly in Your Travels,” Tedd Saunders gives “Tips for Greening Your Next Trip.”
- New American Dream's Dave Tilford writes on green auto club memberships.
- Find out how much your last flight contributed to global warming.
- Several companies, such as Carbon Neutral and myclimate, let you compensate for the carbon emitted by investing in conservation or renewable energy. Learn more about carbon offsets...
- Volunteer Vacations are a great way to travel and do good at the same time.
- The World Tourism Directory offers a list of international associations, organizations, and services related to ecotourism and sustainable travel.
Sources:
1. Tourism Highlights: Edition 2004. Madrid, Spain: World Tourism Organization, 2004.
2. World Travel & Tourism, Sowing the Seeds of Growth: The 2005 Travel & Tourism Economic Research. London, England: World Travel & Tourism Council, 2005.
3. Newsome, David, Moore, Susan A., and Ross K. Dowling. Natural Area Tourism: Ecology, Impacts and Management. UK: Channel View Publications, 2002.
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