ECL

Sustainable tourism is tourism which “meets the needs of the present tourists and host regions while protecting and enhancing the opportunity for the future. It is envisaged as leading to management of all resources in such a way that economic, social and aesthetic needs can be fulfilled, while maintaining cultural integrity, essential ecological processes, biological diversity and life support systems.“

With that in mind, when is the last time you thought about “sustainable tourism” while travelling? More importantly, did you think about it before you left home? Perhaps when picking a destination? Or when choosing a tour company? Or when selecting a hotel? It is possible though, that you did not think about sustainable tourism at all.

It is time to start. You, the tourist, must drive this process.

Tourism always has an impact—on communities, the environment, culture, history, the landscape, economies and more. It is undeniable. And with the number of international tourists expected to more than double to over 1.6 billion by 2020 , sustainable tourism cannot be left to eco-conscious travelers and tree-huggers alone.

We grew up hearing “Save the Rainforest”—and this is one area (jungles, rainforests, forests in general) where travel agents say they do hear tourists asking about sustainable practices. But for other areas, tourists do not often demonstrate as much interest – if any—in sustainability. This needs to change. While there are often both legal and ethical incentives for tour companies and operators to create a sustainable value chain, one which promotes the local economies and communities as much as the environment, it can often be expensive and time consuming. It is true that some tour companies are extremely reputable and their core company value is sustainability – doing good and doing right for the communities and environment with which they interact. But, many companies can get away with doing less and being less sustainable because their customers are not demanding it. Companies can cut corners, maintain higher margins, and do the bare minimum to pass any standards/laws required of them. This is where YOU, the tourists, must become an active agent for change.

Here is how:

The first step is awareness: You are now aware. “Save the rainforest” in your mind can be replaced with “Support the economic, environmental, and cultural sustainability of your travel destination”. You recognize that there can be a sustainable component to basically any trip you take: from something as small as carbon offsets, to staying in local village homes, to employing local workers or guides, to taking local transportation, or eating local foods, to recycling, to taking small tour groups on nature adventures instead of larger ones, etc.

The next step is probing: Know that it is your right as a tourist to inquire about whether the tour company has sustainable practices. Do it, ask! “What do you do that’s sustainable?” “How do you contribute to the local economy?” “Do you use local guides?” “Do you give back to the community or are you involved with it at all?” “Do you recycle water or have alternative energy sources at your jungle lodge(for example)? Force the tour companies to clearly understand that the answers to these questions are important to you and will impact your decision on whether or not to book with them.

Be willing to walk away: If their answers to your questions do not satisfy your standards, you must be willing to walk away. When tour companies hear customers asking about sustainability, and then booking a trip, it signifies 1) that the customer is satisfied with the level of sustainability, or 2) that sustainability is a lower priority to the customer – one on which the customer is willing to compromise. Neither of those is what you want the company to think if you are truly displeased with their sustainability efforts. Do not book with a company that you do not believe is striving for sustainable tourism practices.

Be willing to pay slightly more: Sustainable tourism does often cost more—but your world and its preservation are worth it. Support the tour operators who are, out of their own ethical beliefs and values, working to promote the local communities, economies, and the environment. These companies will help to make the future better for everyone, and being part of their vision in turn supports their efforts. Another side bonus is that you may very well get warm-and-fuzzies knowing that you are doing the right thing.

Growth of sustainable tourism is a positive feedback cycle. The more you as tourists push and demand sustainable tourism practices, the more companies will join the sustainable bandwagon. The companies’ reasons may vary – it could be from a pure competitive standpoint (“everyone’s doing it, so we need to too”) or out of the fact that they can now be both profitable and sustainable (customers are willing to pay for sustainability because it is a high priority) or simply because of the realization that customer’s values are shifting and the company wants to align themselves with these new ethical standards. But regardless of the reason, if tour companies become more sustainable, it is a definitely a step in the right direction for our world. You, as the tourist, must help us get there. You know it, and now you’re empowered to do it.

Go forth and go sustainably!

By: Jessica