Sustainable travel around the globe: how to be a more conscious traveler

Travel has the power not only to be a transforming experience for each of us, but also for the communities and destinations we visit.

Mass tourism has been growing around the world. And it would be okay if he was growing consciously. I believe that, as travelers, we can always be more aware of our attitudes and choices. And in this way, less impact the world. Or what's even better, make a positive impact.

Want a few tips on conscious travel?

Prioritize direct flights

This is not always possible because of practical and financial issues, but when possible keep in mind: by prioritizing a direct flight, save time and avoid fatigue you reduce carbon emissions.

Choose experiences rather than material things

You can choose experiences that enrich you as a person, that bring you closer to the way of life and the local culture, rather than going around buying everything. A good reading on this is the post about my volunteer experience in Thailand, for example.

Consume local products

From lodging to souvenirs, try to give preference to those whose profit goes to the locals. This involves choosing hotels, homestays or hostels that are not part of major hotel chains. Or even eat at a local restaurant instead of going to that big international chain. In addition to helping the community, local products and services carry much of the culture and can offer richer experiences on your trip.

Lightweight reusable water bottle and ecobag

Essential for practicality and economy, as well as environmental awareness. Always have a reusable water bottle and ecobag in the bag. This way, you can avoid the generation of plastic waste, which is really bad for the environment.

Respect the rules of a place

If you can not take pictures with a flash, touch objects or walls or enter the environment wearing shorts or with exposed shoulders, you should not do that. Always respect the culture, rules and religion of a country.

Reduce Your Waste

Say no to plastic, tote bags, straws, bottles, and things packed. Here are some more tips on how to reduce your plastic footprint.

Do not leave traces

This simple rule for hiking and camping lovers, applies to all travelers. Collect any junk or packaging you find along the way and just leave behind an even better ecological footprint than you found.

Experience the local culture

Knowing the people who live in a destination makes any trip much richer. Try to understand religious festivals and events, experience the daily life of the population. Community-based tourism projects are great for this type of immersion: developed taking into account the needs of the population, they are often managed by the communities themselves, who have in tourism a source of complementary income, without giving up their original activities.

Slow travel

You can prioritize the quality of the experience rather than the amount of experience. It's cheaper, less tiring, and it's the best way to find out the best sites: restaurants, street markets, secret places and the cheapest ones as well.

Work exchange is a way that allow you to spend more time in the destinations, spending almost nothing. And so, you can immerse yourself in the local culture, get to know non-tourist regions and bond with the most different types of people.

You can read more about Slow Travel in this another article on The Global Paths.

It is critical that each tourist act more consciously, making sustainable choices in their travels. If we consider that all the small added actions have a big impact, we can turn that into a trend that helps to make hotels, travel agencies and everyone else involved in the tourism chain incorporate more sustainable practices.