Planning a trip that qualifies as sustainable travel takes a
bit of planning. If you spend a little time determining where and how you will
travel, you can help considerably in reducing the impact that your visit will
have on your destination. Following are a few tips that will help you to plan
sustainable travel that gives you peace of mind and helps you to thoroughly
enjoy your trip.
1.
Buy locally – This is a major plus when visiting
foreign countries and tourist locations. Buying from local vendors helps to
stimulate the economy in the region you visit. Instead of buying from large,
corporate owned stores, consider purchasing from smaller stores that are
locally owned and operated. The prices may be a bit higher than national stores
but you have the satisfaction of helping to sustain the area that you are
visiting.
2.
Do a bit of research – Before you visit, take
the time to research the area and find out what issues you may need to be aware
of. In some areas, children sell t-shirts and other items on the street. While
it may seem like you are helping out families by purchasing from these
children, the truth is that in some countries the children are forced to work
by larger companies. Child labor laws are different in every country so take
the time to look into issues in the area that you plan to visit before you
arrive.
3.
Take along a guide when you sightsee – Local
guides provide tours to earn money. If you are interested in visiting some
sights, hire a local guide. This will help the economy and will help you to be
certain to see the best of the region where you are traveling. Local guides
will know all of the best places to eat, sleep and enjoy other activities. They
may even be able to show you some sights that are not listed anywhere else you
may look.
4.
Leave the car at the hotel – If you are hiring a
car, consider leaving the car at least one full day while you are there and
walk or take local transportation to where you want to go. By not driving for
one full day you are significantly lowering carbon emissions and helping to
protect the environment. You can also consider choosing lower impact activities
for a day. Think about your impact on the activities that you do consider. For
instance it may be perfectly fun and exciting to take a camel ride but if the
camels used are being mistreated in any way, this should not be something that
you support. Spend time researching and planning your trip to ensure that you
choose sustainable activities at least part of the time that you are traveling.
Sustainable travel is not
difficult nor does it mean that you cannot enjoy yourself when you travel. You
simply have to take a bit of time to plan activities beforehand and ensure that
you are not leaving a negative impact on the area that you are visiting.
This article was written by Enerfina, an independent market
intermediary in the renewable energy sector. For more information on heat pumps and ways that
you can make a positive impact, visit our website today.