Responsible Travel Tips
The Holiday & Travel Show 2010 presented by John Fish Exhibitions Ltd - the indispensable event for travel inspiration, have put together top travel tips for responsible travellers:
Before you travel
- Read up on local cultures and learn a few words of the local language - travelling with respect earns you respect
- Remove all excess packaging - waste disposal is difficult in remote places and developing countries
- Ask your tour operator for specific tips for responsible travel in your destination
- Ask your tour operator/hotel if there are useful gifts that you could pack for your hosts, local people or schools
- Ask your tour operator whether there are local conservation or social projects that you could visit on your trip, and if/how, you could help support them
While on holiday
- Buy local produce in preference to imported goods.
- Hire a local guide - you will discover more about local culture and lives, and they will earn an income.
- Do not buy products made from endangered species, hard woods or ancient artefacts.
- Respect local cultures, traditions and holy places - if in doubt ask advice or do not visit.
- Use public transport, hire a bike or walk when convenient - it is a great way to meet local people on their terms and reduce pollution and carbon emissions.
- Use water sparingly - its very precious in many countries and tourists tend to use far more than local people.
- Remember that local people have different ways of thinking and concepts of time, this just makes them different not wrong - cultivate the habit of asking questions (rather than the Western habit of knowing the answers). For more ideas on deeper and more responsible travel see here.
When you get back
- Write to your tour operator or hotel with any comments or feedback about your holiday, and especially include any suggestions on reducing environmental impacts and increasing benefits to local communities. You will find independent holiday reviews from travellers on many responsibletravel.com holidays.
- If you have promised to send pictures or gifts to local people remember to do so, many are promised and not all arrive!
- Enjoy the memories, reflect on your experience and start planning your next trip!
For a greener holiday:
- Plan your route to minimise carbon emissions - travel by
train and public transport where possible, and minimise internal flights. Try
our 'I don't want to fly' holidays or there are some great ideas for train
travel almost anywhere in the world on this web site: http://www.seat61.com/
- Minimise flying time and stopovers - the worst carbon
emissions are emitted during take off and landing. For the flights that you
cannot avoid, offset the carbon emissions of your flight using our carbon
calculator. That way the money is invested in carbon reducing initiatives
around the world, offsetting the emissions caused by your flight. Read our
view on flying here.
- Ask to see the tour operator's policy for responsible tourism. Allresponsibletravel.com members have to have one. Make sure it explains show they minimise environmental impacts and support the local economy.
Information provided by Responsibletravel.com
The Holiday & Travel Show 2010 presented by John Fish Exhibitions Ltd Show - the indispensable event for travel inspiration.
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