Vacation the Eco-conscious Way

Teresa Hall is a contributing writer for Earth 911. Become an Earth 911 contributor.

Summer is, more often than not, a time for traveling. Children are out of school on break, and parents take advantage of the situation to spend more time together as a family before settling back in to their school-year routines.

With concern for the environment gaining mainstream attention, people have begun to opt for more and varied ways to make their travel experience both environmentally-friendly and fun for the entire family. And, the tourism industry is beginning to cater to consumers’ increasing environmental consciousness.

Aside from vacation packages and tours that boast environmental consideration and interaction with nature, what does the term “ecotourism” innately encompass? More specifically, what is the philosophy behind the movement toward environmentally-conscious tourism?

That philosophy can be summed up in one poignant phrase (perhaps also considered an applicable mantra for our daily living): Leave only footprints behind you; take only memories when you leave.

While there are many means to achieving this ideology when one assumes the role of an ecotourist, there are basically five universal rules to which one should adhere to be considered an “eco-conscious tourist.”

1. Use varied modes of (alternative) transportation. Once the vacation destination has been reached, it makes good ecological sense to take advantage of alternative modes of transportation, including public transit (buses and trains), bicycles, and walking. In fact, many foreign destinations lend themselves to alternative forms of transportation, as opposed to many U.S. destinations, which cater to private automobiles.
2. Do not buy products made from endangered species, hard woods or ancient artifacts, and buy local products in preference to imported goods. The best souvenirs of a family vacation, of course, cannot be bought, but souvenirs are a special means of remembering events and places visited. Instead of buying typical souvenirs (such as t-shirts that, more than likely, were manufactured thousands of miles from one’s vacation destination), seek out sustainable souvenirs that directly benefit the communities visited (e.g. jewelry made by local artisans).
3. Respect local cultures, traditions and holy places. A large part of being environmentally-friendly stems from being socially conscious as well. Respect for other cultures and places is of the utmost importance when traveling abroad, but it is also important for localized travel as well. Learning to respect and accept human diversity and differing viewpoints is imperative to the success of our global economy.
4. Use water sparingly. American consumers take the availability of fresh water for granted. In most other countries, clean water is a very precious commodity, and tourists tend to use far more than local people, let alone more than they should. Water conservation should be a natural part of the human existence given that such a precious commodity is, for all intents and purposes, finite.
5. Seek out eco-conscious accommodations. Staying at resorts or hotels that care about the environment is also a great way to care for the environment while vacationing. A growing number of lodgings now provide earth-friendly accommodations for their guests: water conservation (e.g. avoid changing linens on a daily basis), recycling facilities, earth-friendly cleaners, low-flow toilets and motion-activated lights.