Traveling, whether domestically or abroad, is a luxury that many of us participate in each year. Whether you are an avid traveler who takes off regularly, or someone who travels on occasion, the act of traveling is one that has a significant environmental impact.
Of course, traveling should not be frowned upon. For many, traveling great distances is the way many of us work, see family, and enjoy beautiful places around the world. However, as consumers, it is important for us to become aware of the not-so-great aspects of traveling. That way, we can educate ourselves about the travel and tourism industries, our impacts, and how to (quite literally) travel lighter.
The global travel industry ecompasses so many other industries within it, that it is difficult to define it. Transport (air, car, bus, etc.), lodging (hotels, resorts, hostels, Airbnb’s, etc.), attractions, travel companies, and more work together to create a big-picture. Tourism and travel go hand-in-hand, where people move from one place to another to stay in places outside of their usual environment for work, leisure, or family reunification.
Globally, travel and tourism’s direct contribution to GDP was approximately 4.7 trillion U.S. dollars according to 2020 figures reported by Statistica, although this value was impacted by the global Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic that took off in early 2020. Meaning, the global travel industry as a whole is an economic powerhouse that many countries rely on to support their populations.
If travel stopped altogether, it would be detrimental to many countries’ annual GDP, or Gross Domestic Product.
Travel is important for us as consumers, but as we know, it is equally as important for a strong economic structure across the globe. However, the environmental impacts of these industries are so diverse and interconnected that experts across the globe still remain unsure of how these impacts will affect the industries in the future, and how they will change the ways we engage in travel.
Not only does travel require significant amounts of energy, which emit greenhouse gasses (drivers of climate change), but 
travel also contributes to other less obvious environmental impacts. This includes habitat destruction, water pollution, plastic pollution, noise pollution, introduced (often invasive) species, impacts on wildlife and biodiversity, erosion, and ecosystem alteration, among many others.
These impacts are felt and recorded across the globe. Developing and poorer regions worldwide that offer tourism are especially disadvantaged and vulnerable to these impacts due to their economic and political instability. What’s more, they rely more heavily on tourism that disrupts their environments for economic survival than wealthy countries with the funds and political systems to develop and implement environmental regulations.
At this point, it may be sounding obvious that travel and tourism needs serious reworking to reduce environmental impacts yet preserve economic growth. Some countries and cities are excellent examples (Costa Rica, Sweden, and Slovenia), while most of the world lags behind.
While protections and environmental regulations for travel and tourism are governmental jurisdictions, there is much that we as consumers can do to limit our individual impacts while traveling.
A carbon offset is, “an action intended to compensate for the emission of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere as a result of industrial or other human activity, especially when quantified and traded as part of a commercial program.”
Those who travel, whether by air, sea, or vehicle, can calculate the average carbon dioxide emissions caused by their trip. The value is then translated into a dollar amount needed to mitigate said carbon dioxide emissions. Organizations who offer carbon offset programs then use your dollar contributions to fund initiatives to, literally, offset the total carbon dioxide emitted via your travels.
Initiatives may look like forest conservation and tree planting, renewable energy projects, and more. There are many organizations to choose from, but we recommend starting with TerraPass.
Make your travel bucket list full of destinations that prioritize sustainability both globally and domestically. Countries or cities that support sustainable tourism and travel are booming in recent years. These destinations are usually top-tier for conservation, sustainable planning, renewable energy, and more. A few destinations that pride themselves on being green travel friendly are: Costa Rica, Sweden, Denmark, Switzerland, France, Norway, Finland, and more.
Where you stay when you reach your destination matters. Aim for locations that are transparent in their mission to provide a sustainable lodging alternative. This includes how they heat or cool their facility, where they source ingredients, how they manage energy consumption, and whether or not they are a plastic-free location, for example.
When you get where you’re going, continue to support the local economy as much as possible. It seems like in every city in the world, you can find a McDonalds, Subway, or international chain. When eating out or shopping, aim to spend your money in local businesses as often as possible to support the local economy and laborers.
If your goal is to do as many activities as possible, aim for ones that are the least harmful to the environment. Instead of renting a boat that runs on fuel, consider renting an electric scooter or bicycle to adventure with and make memories. Do your best to choose excursions with certified guides and agencies who are educated in sustainable tourism.
Reducing your waste is an excellent lifestyle choice no matter where you are in the world. However, we believe we should always leave a place better than we found it. When traveling, don’t forget to bring reusable utensils, water bottles, containers, and plastic free hygiene products. This will help you reduce your waste both during your travels and when you arrive at your destination.
Do your best not to order or buy more food than you can eat, especially if you will be doing your own grocery shopping while at your location.
What are some of your best tips for traveling sustainably? What would you add to this list?
https://www.csu.edu/cerc/documents/EnvironmentalImplicationsTourismIndustry2000.pdf
