Author Ethical Traveler reminding us that travel can be one of the many ways we can make our planet a safer, fairer and kinder place, one where people and nature thrive in harmony.
CHOOSE THE ROAD LESS TRAVELLED
Like the famous actor finally landing a stereotypical role – tourism is turning certain destinations into parodies of themselves. Just look at the centre of Venice before Covid, where bumper-to-bumper gondolas and restaurants serving frozen bolognese for 30 euros were the norm. Too much tourism is destroying local ecosystems and making daily life nearly impossible for locals. Instead, it’s much better to choose a region’s second, third or even fourth city. Think skiing in the Rila Mountains in Bulgaria instead of the Swiss Alps, or browsing the galleries of Rotterdam instead of joining the crowds in Amsterdam.
THINK ABOUT WHERE YOU ARE NEEDED MOST
Choose a place that truly needs your support. Disaster tourism may sound gross, but your dollars are needed most in the aftermath of a natural disaster or terrorist attack. It’s also important to engage with destinations that have been plagued by negative publicity and tell your friends the real story—if it’s safe to do so, of course. Other destinations where your dollars mean more are those that are heavily reliant on tourism. Consider the tiny Caribbean island of Antigua and Barbuda, where beachgoers support 90% of the local economy.
MAKE YOURSELF AT HOME
With on-site restaurants and 24/7 service, a hotel owned by an international group can feel like a safe bet. Opt for a homestay and you’ll have a more memorable experience – and 100% of your money will benefit your hosts, rather than being siphoned off by an international company. Check out global sites like Homestay (homestay.com) or see if the specific region you’re visiting has its own version: Your Home In Japan (yourhomeinjapan.com) for Tokyo, Look After Me (lookafterme.co.nz) for New Zealand and Homestay Ireland (homestayireland.ie).
ETHICAL AIRBNB ALTERNATIVES
Airbnb is fine in areas where there isn’t much tourism, or if you’re just renting out a spare room rather than an entire apartment, but there are other peer-to-peer platforms to consider.
♦Fairbnb (fairbnb.coop) Hosts are local and can only list one property each, with 50% of platform fees going to community projects.
♦Ecobnb (ecobnb.com) offers accommodation that meets 10 criteria, including car-free access, 100% renewable energy, organic food and recycling more than 80% of its waste.
KEEP SHOWERS SHORT
You heard it here first, folks: bathrooms are running out, especially in water-scarce countries, which affects more than 40% of the world’s population. Instead, opt for shorter showers and good-mixed baths. Another easy win is to ask if a hotel has low-flow showerheads and reuses wastewater in their gardens. Most do, but if the answer is no, it’s at least starting a conversation.
SHARE YOUR DIGITAL KNOWLEDGE
You may not consider yourself a tech expert, but all those hours spent on social media, ordering from Deliveroo and attending Zoom meetings add up. Many people in the Western world have super-developed digital skills: think about how you can share that knowledge while travelling. Worldpackers (worldpackers.com) connects travellers with hosts who offer free accommodation in exchange for volunteer work: many are looking for help with social media, website copy and content creation.
RETHINK THE BARGAINING
Everyone loves a bargain, but remember that 800 million people earn less than $1.25 a day – that’s more than the entire population of Europe. If you spend an extra 60 Moroccan dirhams on beautiful leather, you probably won’t notice. Babushkas (slippers), but a stall owner can feed his family for a few days with that money. Pay cash to those who need it most, because many people in developing economies live from hand to mouth.
TALK TALK
Of the estimated 1.5 billion people in the world who speak English, fewer than 400 million use it as their first language. Apps like Duolingo, Babbel and Memrise can provide the basics and are a productive way to fill your time at the airport or when you find yourself delayed.
CLEAR YOUR CONSCIENCE WITH A LOCAL LAUNDRY
Instead of using your hotel’s laundry service, go out and support a local instead. In countries like Vietnam and Laos, women living in tourist areas often have signs on their doors stating that they do laundry; if they have to shoulder the household burden, it makes sense to make some money while doing it. Be sure to ask them not to dry your laundry in the dryer, as this requires five times more energy than a load of laundry.
KEEP YOUR PACK LIGHT
The lighter your bag, the lower your CO2 emissions. According to the UN Environment Programme, reducing the weight of your luggage by 15kg (33lbs) will reduce your emissions by around 50-100kg (110-220lbs) on a four and a half hour flight.
CONTINUE
When it’s time to go home, look at your belongings through the eyes of a local. Is there anything that would make a useful gift? Items like hygiene products, clothing, books, over-the-counter medications, and sunscreen can all be harder to come by in certain countries, so your hosts may really appreciate them. Make sure they’re clean and neatly stacked in your room, and leave a thank-you note to be discovered after you’re gone.
Ethical Traveler (£12.99) Published by Smith Street Books, written by Imogen Lepere and illustrated by Julia Murray. This book Aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, it offers hundreds of tips to help us protect our planet, support communities, and preserve everything that makes the world so special as we explore it.