The Hidden Reasons Sustainable Travel Should Be On Your Bucket List

I love to travel and you may too. My husband and I go to the same resort at least one a year. And now that I'm focused on sustainable and wellness travel, I am thinking about the footprints we're leaving behind. If we give no regard to travel today, there may not be a place tomorrow for us or future generations to go to.

Travel and tourism can bring benefits to the places we visit. But without sustainable planning, we can do more harm than good. Thinking and planning for sustainable travel may be overwhelming, but it boils down to three main ideas: protecting the planet, respecting local communities, and securing the future of travel.

1. Protecting Our Planet

The travel we love to do, without a thought about sustainability, has a major impact on the environment. I’ve seen a few photos of polluted beaches, although most profitable resorts want to hide that from you. Those situations are the result of a system that often puts profit before conservation and resilience.

• Climate Change: Airline emissions and resorts that rely on lots of energy, when we frequent these resorts, for every trip our carbon footprint grows. When we travel responsibly, we make sustainable choices such as selected Earth Check certified resorts and transportation with less carbon footprint such as non-stop flights or train travel.
  

• Pollution and Waste: I am always pleased when I visit a resort, and they provide no straw or bamboo straws to help reduce waste. As a forward-thinking traveler, I bring my own reusable cup.  And businesses that are forward thinking will find ways to reduce waste, recycle and will compost to protect natural habitats and water sources.
  

• Ecosystems and Biodiversity: Constantly building hotels can lead to deforestation and damage the habitat.  Over-tourism can affect the coral reefs, like Hawaii, Philippines, Key West, Belize, and Egypt. By supporting sustainable travel and traveling during off season you can help protect the natural wonders of the world.

  
  
  
  

2. Respecting People and Cultures

While we may enjoy the scenery when we travel, the joy also comes from understanding and participating in local communities. Sustainable travel helps ensure that the places we visit remain lively, authentic, and benefit the local communities.

• Community Empowerment: It means the money you spend in the local business stays in the community, eat at family run restaurants and purchase directly from local artisans helps to keep the jobs and money circulating locally.
  

• Cultural Preservation: Preserve unique cultures for future generations by being a respectful traveler that honors local traditions and heritage. It avoids turning people and their customs into superficial "tourist attractions."
  

• Reducing Overtourism: In many popular destinations, excessive tourism leads to crowded streets and a lower quality of life for residents. Sustainable travel helps manage this flow and encourages exploring beyond famous sites.
  

3. Ensuring a Future for Travel

From an economic point of view, sustainability isn't just a trend—it's vital for the long-term health of the tourism industry.

• Long-Term Viability: Destinations that are polluted, overcrowded, or have damaged ecosystems won’t attract visitors for long. By protecting their natural and cultural resources, these places stay desirable for years.
  

• Resilience: It is important to think about sustainable travel to support the resilience of a community to reduce natural disasters like tsunami’s, hurricanes, floods, drought, which we see too often these days.
  

• New Market Appeal: A new generation of travelers actively seeks ethical and sustainable experiences. Businesses embracing sustainability tap into a growing, valuable market.
  

Ultimately, sustainable travel is about being a thoughtful guest. It’s about taking responsibility for our impact and ensuring that our desire to discover it doesn't harm the people, places, and cultures we cherish.

What is one sustainable change you want to make for your next trip? Contact Sharon at As You Wish Luxury Travel - 440.925.5568, and I can assist you.