sustainable travel — Blog — Go the travel podcast

Instead of spending another holiday season at home, you’ve decided to hit the road and go on an adventure. But your New Year’s Resolution is to be more conscientious in all things, including how you travel. Making room for mindfulness and generosity doesn’t have to take away from your vacation fun, and it could actually make your experience that much more memorable. Here are a few great ways to give back and guarantee your spot on the Nice List.

1. Shop Locally

This one should go without saying. It’s definitely way more convenient to head to a chain convenience store to get that sunscreen or a burger at a fast-food joint. But it’s the most destructive to the locals. Shopping locally gives vendors the best chance at escaping poverty and puts money directly into their economy, not in the pockets of off-shore big businesses. On top of that, mom n’ pop shops will have products that are made and used locally every day, supporting the local supply chain. Not to mention, shopkeepers may share lesser-known destinations, great restaurants, and more.

It’s also imperative to respect the culture when you shop. Most Buddhist countries use billboard campaigns and have signs plastered all over their airports and popular destinations pleading with foreigners to stop purchasing figures of Buddha as decoration or getting tattoos of Buddha (or cover up existing Buddha tattoos). Resist the urge to buy that cute Sari. Don’t get sugar skull face-paintings. Selling cultural items is one way locals earn a living, but as a consumer, it’s unethical to appropriate another culture without considering the negative impact you’re making.

2. Join a Beach Clean-Up

The devastation caused by ocean debris has reached an all-time high. According to the World Wildlife Fund, tourism is responsible for a 40% increase in marine waste in the Mediterranean Sea alone. The Clean The Beach Boot Camp (CBBC) is a movement that blends fitness and environmentalism. Starting in Thailand, it now has branches all over South East Asia and Africa. In the 6 years since its conception, CBBC has cleaned up over 1 million pounds of trash from beaches.

Fitness experts volunteer their time early in the morning to lead a free fitness boot camp on the beach, and in exchange, participants spend the next hour working to tidy up the place, and finish with a local lunch together. It’s popular amongst tourists, expats, and locals, so it’s a quick way to make friends from all over the world. Not to mention, it starts early enough that you’ll still have plenty of time to explore other destinations or have an unforgettable beach day with your newfound squad.

3. Try Animal ‘Voluntourism’

We’ve all seen those Instagram photos, posing with a laid-back cheetah, or swimming with dolphins, and it looks like a magical experience. But the reality of animal tourism can be grim and deadly. And operators of these harmful practices are wising up and finding ways to trick tourists into giving them their business. You might go to a ‘sanctuary’ only to find out that it’s a glorified animal photo-op business, full of drugged and wounded wildlife. If you have a bleeding heart for animals, you might walk away scarred from these experiences and have a hard time enjoying the rest of your trip.

But there are great ways to have once-in-a-lifetime experiences with local wildlife if you’re careful and do some thorough research to ensure you’re working with a legitimate, eco-friendly establishment. Even if it seems legitimate, it’s important to triple-check and ensure you’re not contributing more harm than good. Know the signs; Anywhere offering elephant rides or photo-ops with dangerous animals cannot exist without traumatizing these animals into submission. Dolphins and primates may be social, but they’re also complex and intelligent and they suffer when exposed to unethical animal tourism practices.

Instead, you can dedicate an entire week or more to volunteering at a true animal sanctuary and interact with wildlife respectfully under the supervision of professionals. Many of these animals have been rescued from harmful tourist traps and cannot return to the wild, truly. Participating in a sanctuary and providing positive exposure to humans can help rehabilitate these animals and make them feel at peace even under human supervision. Once again, research is crucial, but it pays off with an experience you will be talking about for the rest of your life.

Here’s the bottom line: sustainable tourism is more important than ever. Overtourism and careless travelers have led to local governments enforcing travel bans and fines against tourists. Start off the new year right on your next trip and set a good example for your fellow travelers by keeping your tourism ethical.