How I Try To Be A Responsible Tourist & Why Is It Imp?

While I know my choices now cannot undo years of uninterrupted ecological abuse by anthropogenic activities, I can try to play my part in taking a small step for a better tomorrow. It started with asking ‘How To Be A Responsible Tourist?‘. The deeper we delve into learning how various factors effect or affect each other, the more we understand the cumulative effect of the falling dominos. The frequency of tourism has changed drastically over the years with a surge in exploring the unchartered territories exalting global tourism to a trillion-dollar company, subsequently leaving behind excessive carbon footprint. By definition carbon footprint is carbon emitted during tourism activities like travelling by combustion of petrol-driven vehicles as well as carbon embodied in items purchased or activities carried out by tourists such as accommodation, food, transport, fuel and shopping. Conscious, responsible, sustainable – the parlance may seem confusing but it’s interconnected. So, it is inevitable to follow sustainable means of tourism that would release as less carbon as possible.

Conscious travel answers the ‘Why‘, responsible tourism answers the ‘How‘ and sustainable travel is the ‘Goal‘. It starts with being as a conscious traveller taking informed decisions that motivates us to become a responsible traveller. When these choices are undertaken by a community to bring about a conscious change, the cumulative actions drive towards sustainability. In order for sustainability to thrive, there needs to be a continuous flow of When tourism takes into account the environmental, economic, and socio-cultural aspects to create a balance between them which plays an important role in conserving biodiversity and attempts to reduce the impact on environment and local culture to make it available for future generations, all the while contributing in the generation of income, employment and conservation of local ecosystems, it is known as sustainable tourism.

• Maximizes the positive contribution of tourism on conservation of biodiversity
• Has a low impact on environment and local culture
• Reduces poverty by generating income for local communities
• Contribution of economic incentives for habitat protection of flora and fauna
• Revenues generated from visitors are often channelled back into conservation of nature and natural resources
• Tourism can be an effective means in raising social awareness and fostering positive behaviour change for biodiversity conservation among millions of people who travel the globe

Take-offs and landings cause the most of a plane’s carbon emissions, in addition to emitting a lot of heat. Non-stop flights use least amount of fuel and reduce the plane’s carbon emission. The most desired transportation to avoid leaving carbon footprint is to travel by train which has the least contribution towards emission of greenhouse gases.

We don’t ask for change of sheets and towels everyday in our rooms – whether we stay in hotel or luxury homestays. We also turn off air conditioning, fans, lights and other electronic gadgets while leaving the room. Although we try to follow the hotels’ or homestays’ recycling program, it is not always present. And we make it a point to travel with reusables like stainless steel water bottles, cutlery, containers for leftovers and cloth bags to carry items. Having said that, there are countries like Indonesia or Thailand where you might not find water-stations or kiosks in public places or tourist spots. Then it is understandable to not have a choice but purchase the single use plastic bottle.

Creating awareness around you helps bring people together – meet, greet, narrate stories and connect over shared experiences. You never know where and how you will start shifting peoples’ choices. The more people know of the long-term effects of sustainable tourism, the better they will make conscious efforts to become sustainable tourists.

Try out the local cuisines instead of having all your meals at the hotels or ordering from food giants. Avoid all-inclusive packages that would force you to pay up-front for your accommodation and food and deny you the opportunity to try-out local delicacies.

Buy souvenirs from local vendors instead of super-markets. Check for local items of value and not imported ones. This would incorporate money into local economy, promote the local artisans’ work and create more jobs.

Say no to purchasing wildlife products like ivory or mink coats that encourages poaching and trafficking of rare, endangered species. In the most exotic of places, we discourage this practice.

The basic and convenient way to explore a new place which reduces our carbon footprint. Check with the local tour guides on places which are safe to walk.

The best and the most efficient way to explore novel places is to travel extensively by local means of transport within the country. With different countries offering different modes it’s never really the same but it builds confidence to avail the services than be wary of it. A great way is to start asking locals too – they know the best.

For generations locals or indigenous communities have been the bedrock of any place. Their knowledge of history, the ecosystem, how it impacts their livelihood, the traditions they follow, teaching their youth to carry forward their culture leads to a sustainable means of living. There’s no one better to narrate and pass on their ancient wisdom than them. Only by respecting the local culture can we be open to knowing their varied rituals, dietary choices and unique views on life.

Another important aspect of an ecosystem is the presence of wildlife. Be it a tiger or an elephant or a zebra or marsupials or wild boars – every creature here has its purpose and they have the right to live as undisturbed as we would prefer our living situation to be. Recent events show how insensitively guides were interfering with the Great Migration of the Wildebeest, all for the sake of a good frame for tourists. There are records of safari jeeps chasing a tiger in one of the national parks in India to please the tourists with a close-up, failing to understand how traumatizing that experience might be for the majestic animal. And when these animals retaliate due to stress of the nuisance caused, the responsibility befalls the animal itself for protecting its territory.

Only when we respect the ways of the wild like maintain decorum during safaris, being silent during a spotting, and avoid unethical behavior is when we truly take a step towards being a conscious tourist.

Sharing subjective experiences with friends and family on sustainable travel inspires them to travel considering the factors that have a positive impact on the environment and consciously avoiding the factors which would lead to unpleasant consequences. For e.g. how you reduced your carbon footprint or what you did to reduce your carbon consumption.

With sustainable forms of tourism, we can create memories, leave behind just our lasting impression instead of carbon footprints which is far more desirable than contributing towards ecosystem degradation.