Ecotourism is becoming an increasingly hot topic (and it’s about time!) but there simply aren’t enough good resources available on ways to travel responsibly. Awareness is on the rise when it comes to issues such as plastic waste and pollution harming sea life, but there is one area that often gets ignored – ethical tourism.

What are some easy ways to be a responsible tourist? Are there really ways to travel responsibly? How can we make a positive impact when we travel? Do the benefits of travel outweigh the environmental negatives?

With those questions in mind, I am thrilled to introduce my very first guest post on Passport Voyager. This in-depth, practical guide to sustainable travel by Emma Walmsley of eco-family travel blog, small footprints, big adventures is a fantastic resource and I encourage you to read through it!

Emma has put together an incredibly helpful guide for any traveler looking to impact communities positively while globetrotting, be more eco-friendly, and find new ways to travel responsibly and respectfully. She is a seasoned eco traveler and has a lot more knowledge and experience in this area than I do, so I am honored she was willing to write this guide and share her best tips for responsible travel with us!

Australian Emma Walmsley and her family are keen travellers, and they aim to show that exploring can be eco-friendly as well as life-changing. Emma and her husband, Anthony, want their kids to experience much of the world while growing up, and they believe travel is one of the best forms of education. They also hope to leave a positive impact along the way and inspire others to do the same!

Follow along on their adventures around the globe!

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What Is Responsible Tourism?

It might not be the sexiest topic you’ve ever read about, but this has the potential to change your life and the lives of people around you.

Responsible travel is not a just a trend, and it’s not a just practice for hippies. There are many terms that mean very similar things: sustainable tourism, ecotourism, sustainable travel, and ethical tourism. What they all have in common is a mindset.

They are a way of travelling in which you are mindful of your impact on the people and places that you visit. There are many ways to make travel more sustainable, and they all contribute to your adventures having less of a negative effect on the environment.

It can be a little confronting to think about this stuff, especially if you are used to travelling in the typical way and haven’t given much thought to the impact your trips may have. But I think it’s great that awareness of what we can do is growing so much. Rather than dwell on the things we have all done in the past, let’s move forwards with this knowledge and make our future travels better for everyone.

Isn’t responsible travel really difficult, and boring?

A common misconception is that sustainable travel is hard and restrictive. I understand that in our busy lives, thinking about things beyond where to go and what to do can seem too much. And yes, it does require a bit of research, but I can assure you that responsible travel is not burdensome! It’s not difficult, and it does not mean that your trip will be any less enjoyable. You will see that there are so many ways you can have more sustainable holidays, and you’ll find an ever-growing number of operators to choose from who fully support eco-friendly tourism.

I believe that focusing on sustainable practices has made our travels much more fun as well as more meaningful. We have really gotten to know people by travelling slowly and by volunteering together. We have also helped with projects that are committed to preserving animal habitats and enhancing disadvantaged locals’ skills for the future. It feels great to know we are supporting the people who are committed to improving the state of the world for all creatures who live there. And it didn’t require any more of our time or effort than regular travelling would.

How To Be A Responsible Tourist

There are many ways to be a responsible tourist. Responsible travel really boils down to this: as travellers, we take the responsibility to ensure we are not creating harm as we explore. I think it is a small price to pay for the opportunity to travel. Doing something as mind-broadening and amazing as travelling should not be at the cost of other people’s standard of living, or be to the detriment of the wonders we are going to see.

Taking Care of People

Travel is a real luxury that many people will never have. Done ethically, our adventures can open up dialogue between cultures rather than contribute to stereotypes and separation.

Cultural understanding

Some knowledge of local customs and culture will help ensure that your visit to an area is respectful and will earn respect. If you travel somewhere and dress and behave as if it were your own country, you will not be accepted easily. Your travels will be more about photo opportunities than making new friends and getting a real understanding of a place.

Even though sometimes travels are mostly about seeing amazing sights, this point is really vital for responsible travel. You are visiting other people’s homeland, so it’s absolutely fair to play life by their rules while you’re there. If you can’t abide by local customs, then it is not a good place for you to visit.

Language

In a similar way, learning some basics of the language of the places you visit goes a long way. Though—especially in very touristy areas—many people will speak English, it is a mistake to assume that everyone can. If you are the traveller, you are the outsider who needs to make the effort to communicate. And the people you are visiting are much more receptive if you are making the effort and not assuming that they’ll meet you in your comfort zone.

We assumed that in Thailand, English would be much more widely spoken and understood than it was (at least in the areas we visited). Even the basics that we had learnt were not enough to prevent daily miscommunications, especially about food. We were lucky to stumble across an awesome translator app that was not advertised in English but translates to it very well. It was a great lesson in never assuming anything about a country, and gave us an insight into how difficult it must be for migrants and immigrants (and travellers before modern technology!).

Treating different people as equals

When travellers see other people who are very different to themselves, or who are a small minority group not often seen, it is common to stare and take photos of them. Without consulting them first, this equates to treating them as a zoo exhibit.

We witnessed this once, when visiting a culturally-significant area in our own country. Our indigenous-Australian guide, Ivan, was showing us around when suddenly a tourist walking past snapped a photo of him, without talking to him or seeking his permission in any way. Ivan was unusual to this tourist, who assumed they had the right to take his picture.

Can you see how such assumptions separate people? They position one person as more important as the other, and they do not account for any understanding of culture and custom, let alone common decency. I have a whole post about why practicing respectful photography is so important, if you’d like to explore this further.

Treating disadvantaged people equally is another important factor for ethical and responsible travel. Visiting orphanages and hospitals may seem like an altruistic thing to do, but it is very detrimental to the people there, and it really more about getting a great selfie than helping in a lasting way.

Orphanage tourism has become such a big business that research is showing up to 80% of children in the institutions aren’t actually orphans. There are major security risks to having new people streaming through all the time (it would never happen at any centre for children in the West!), and it causes deep emotional problems for the children, as they don’t get a chance to form lasting bonds with adults. Friends International and UNICEF have a campaign that is raising awareness of this issue.

Truly getting to know others from a different culture, or really helping people in a lasting way, is done by recognising their equal humanity and treating them accordingly.

Supporting local vendors and artisans

Supporting local people is one of the best ways to ensure the income from your travels benefits the local community.

In very popular areas, wealthy foreign investors often own many businesses, which can create more poverty for locals. Eating at street stalls and small restaurants, and buying items from local artisans rather than mass-produced souvenirs, are great ways to support the local “little guys.” They are the ones who need the tourist income the most.

This practice also helps to ensure that local traditions are preserved. Taking an interest in local foods, crafts and other products improves your understanding of the area and its people’s history, and shows that their skills and knowledge are valued.

Supporting social enterprises and community-based tourism

Another great way to support local people is to seek out the social enterprises and community-based tourism projects in the area—non-profit businesses committed to improving the living standards of local people.

When we stayed in Siem Reap, Cambodia last year, we ate out daily at the many cafés that operate as social enterprises there. They employ local staff and support them through trainee programs, to equip them with skills and knowledge to change their lives. They all had a great vibe and fantastic food, and it was such an enjoyable way to meet passionate people and put our tourist money to good use.

Community-based tours and projects work with the local population, ensuring sustainable practices are understood and maintained, and ensuring that locals receive sustainable income for their work too. They often educate people about the importance of balancing the eco-system by working in harmony with indigenous people and the environment. Again, they are run by passionate people, often who start these from the ground up. Supporting these projects instead of operators who disregard local people and abuse the environment is one of the best ways to travel responsibly.

Taking Care of Animals

Whether you specifically want to have an experience with animals on your travels or not, it is important to be aware of some of the issues surrounding animal welfare. If not, you run the risk of inadvertently supporting wildlife poaching, endangering some species further, or harming habitats and ecosystems.

Never buy souvenirs made from animals, eat exotic meats, or support cruel animal practices

It is surprising how many items are still made from animals that are critically endangered. Even if they are not, the practice of creating souvenirs from animals puts them at risk of becoming endangered in the future.

Eating exotic meats is quite common in many places, as many travellers want to taste something unusual while they have the chance. But most animals are poached from the wild for both of these purposes, which is of course unregulated and easily leads to decimation of a species.

When we visited Malaysia, we learned that even though sea turtles are endangered, their eggs are still poached and sold as a delicacy. Worse still are the sales of critically endangered species for meat, like several species of the pangolin, lemurs, bluefin tuna, sharks (just for their fins, which involves very cruel practices), and even elephants and big cats don’t escape the hunger for exotic meats. Read more here.

A specialty coffee like Kopi Luwak is usually produced by force-feeding caged civets. Poor sun bears are often restrained alive while their stomach bile is harvested for medicine. Be mindful of what is in any products you are buying.

Even seashell souvenirs are a bad idea. Shells housed sea creatures, and once their original inhabitant is gone, they are often still used by other sea animals. Shells and washed-up coral are useful for the ocean in any case, as the calcium carbonate is recycled into the ecosystem. Removing large amounts of shells has a big impact, especially when businesses collect them while they’re still being used. Read more about ethical shell collecting in this post.

We have also witnessed tourists taking live sea stars from the beach as souvenirs. We would never take a baby monkey or a sea turtle home, so why is it ok to take a living sea star? Really think about why some creatures have a right to live and not others.

Seek ethical animal encounters

The tourist demand for animal entertainment and photo opportunities has led to many situations where they are harshly trained, kept confined, and treated poorly. There are so many examples of this that it’s really the norm rather than the exception. The tables are turning due to increased awareness in recent years, but you must be informed so you don’t get tricked into supporting an unethical venture that is saying all the right things, but not doing them.

As a general guide, do not support any show where animals perform or give rides, as this means they have been trained to do unnatural behaviours, usually by cruel methods. Do not support businesses offering photos with wild animals either, as they are either sedated or so harshly treated that they cannot move for fear of being beaten. A disturbing link between walking with lions and canned lion hunting has been getting publicity lately. Always ask questions about why you can get close to a wild animal, and what happens after you leave.

Even being able to touch wild animals is not a great practice. If you get to snorkel next to a big fish or sea turtle, don’t reach out to pet it. I know it is meant with kindness, and I have longed to touch animals too, to really feel what makes them unique. It is common for creatures like elephants to be bathed and hugged by tourists, but this does not allow them to be a wild animal living freely: it allows travellers to satisfy their curiosity, to get great selfies and feel like they are helping. We sought a truly ethical elephant encounter in Thailand, and the difference is incredible.

Also, to ensure you choose an ethical safari, ask questions about the practices of your guide, and research their organisation thoroughly. Truly ethical operators do not get too close to animals. There are guidelines in place for the trails they should stick to and the distance they should keep, but many operators break them to give their guests a better view.

Don’t feed wild animals

Another well-meaning but harmful practice is feeding wild animals. Once animals become accustomed to it, they seek out tourists or tour companies constantly. It’s easy to think we’re being helpful and kind, but their natural diets are all that they should be eating. (Sorry, but even feeding the ducks some bread isn’t good for them!)

When we were in Langkawi, Malaysia, we took a sustainable tour around some mangroves, which led into the open water. In a particular spot there, other tour operators had been feeding chicken scraps to attract eagles for many years. Because there were so many tour companies doing it, and each feeding the eagles so much chicken fat, the eagles lost the need to hunt for their food.

Their eggs started to become brittle because their diets weren’t varied enough, and the numbers of eaglets hatching decreased dramatically. Now, thanks to responsible operators educating the others about what was happening, the eagles are hunting again. Most tour companies still feed them, but only a tiny amount compared to what they were, and the population is recovering.

Choose reef-friendly sunscreen and nontoxic insect repellent

Did you know that coral is an animal, not a plant? Coral around the world are being harmed by some of the chemicals in traditional sunscreen, which washes off into the water in huge amounts. Choose sun protection that is certified reef-friendly, such as this Water-Resistant Sport Sunscreen by All Good.

Similarly, chemically-laden repellents may work for mosquitoes but can also harm other wildlife. And the residue from them washes into waterways, adding more chemicals that marine life have to deal with. Check out this convenient travel size US Organic Natural Insect Repellent and see more great options below.

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Taking care of the environment

There are many ways that travel can harm the environment, unfortunately. But with a little awareness and some consideration of the effect you may have, you can still get around without adding to pollution and other problems.

Transportation

Nearly all forms of transport create carbon emissions. Unless you’re walking or cycling or have an eco-friendly vehicle everywhere you go, you are generating emissions from fossil fuels into the atmosphere. To minimise your impact:

• Choose direct flights whenever you can. Most emissions are created from take-off and landing, so the less of them you do, the better.
• Choose overland travel wherever possible. Taking a train or bus may take longer, but it’s much less harmful (and usually more scenic!).
• Pack lightly, however you’re travelling. Less weight requires less fuel to transport.
• Consider offsetting your travels. Buying carbon offsets from a legitimate source can help to negate the emissions you have created. It doesn’t cost very much either: for our family of four to offset seven flights each during our Southeast Asia trip only cost $147AUD.

Minimise your waste

Bottled water, packaged food, take-away containers and other disposable products are often part and parcel of travelling. But they don’t have to be. Here, being informed and prepared can save you creating unnecessary waste along the way, and save you money too.

• Take along a large, reusable water bottle everywhere you go. It may be a pain sometimes to carry, but it is probably the most important thing you can do to minimise your waste. Plastic water bottles are such a major polluter, and the concern is not just limited to developing countries whose recycling infrastructure cannot keep up with the waste. We love Ecococoon insulated water bottles, as they’re leak-proof so there are no extra worries while travelling. (For an option that’s available internationally, check out HydroFlask’s fantastic insulated water bottles!) I have successfully asked for smoothies and other drinks to be put into our reusable bottles too, so they are useful in many situations.

Shop reusable water bottles here:

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• Take your own water filter with you too. Research your destination/s and what type of filter will be appropriate and easy for you to take. There are many options, from the LifeStraw to manual pumps to reusable bottles that also do the filtering. We used an ÖKO water bottle and Level 2 filters for most of our travels. Just one bottle did all of our filtering, and we transferred the filtered water to our stainless steel bottles each day.

Shop portable filter systems here:

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• If you love a hot drink, take a reusable coffee cup with you when you’re headed to a café. Along with your water bottle, you will always be able to refill your drinks instead of needing disposable drinkware. We use BPA-free plastic KeepCups, as they’re light and unbreakable.

Shop KeepCups here:

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• Always have a foldable shopping bag or two in your day pack. They save so many plastic bags, and can be used for your laundry too. We love Envirosax as they’re big and sturdy, but fold up small and are very light.

Shop lightweight reusable bags here:

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• Ladies, take a menstrual cup and/or period-proof underwear with you. I love Aussie underwear brand Modibodi. Your periods can be totally waste-free with these items, and I have found the menstrual underwear is particularly good for travel, as they’re really comfortable and never leak. You also won’t get caught by surprise if you’re wearing them daily.

Shop menstrual cups here:

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• Consider getting a reusable wet bag, to safely cart wet clothes around instead of needing to use plastic bags.

Shop reusable wet bags here:

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• We also love shampoo bars for a zero-waste item that’s easy to travel with. They work well, are non-spillable, and do not count towards liquid restrictions.

Shop shampoo bars here:

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• When you do have some rubbish, hold onto it until you can find a recycling bin or appropriate disposal for it. Even if other people don’t seem to be doing the right thing, always be the example and deal with yours properly.

And for food, there are so many things you can do!

• Dining in, rather than getting take-out food, saves a great deal of disposable plastic being used briefly, then discarded.
• Practice requesting “No Straw” whenever you order a drink. It takes some getting used to, and you have to be quick and clear about it! If you love to use a straw, take some stainless steel ones along with you. Just rinse them before you leave the restaurant and wash them properly once you arrive at your place of lodging.
• Take some washable snack pouches with you, to divide up larger packets of food and snacks. This saves on added plastic waste from individual portions. And buy other items in bulk or larger containers whenever you can.
• There are more reusable items you can bring for food storage, depending on your needs. Taking beeswax wraps will ensure you don’t need to use cling wrap, and they are light and easy to travel with. If you will be out a lot adventuring in nature, definitely take some leak-proof containers, reusable cutlery (lightweight bamboo ones are great), and washable napkins.

Shop reusable food items here:

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More eco-friendly travel gear tips can be found here.

Be mindful of precious resources

It’s so tempting to enjoy a lovely long shower after a big day of travel. I am guilty of this one! We consciously have reduced our water usage for washing ourselves and our clothes. In some areas of the world, water is literally running out, so it is really important to develop better water habits both at home and while travelling.

Never get your laundry done by a hotel service or laundromat unless you have a really big load. Each guest’s laundry is washed separately, so they do not use water efficiently if you only have a few dirty clothes. (And take it in your reusable bags, so you can ask for them to be put back into them rather than be wrapped in plastic.)

Also, turn your lights and air-conditioning or heating off while you’re out of your room. Reducing power and resource consumption means less impact and reliance on fossil fuels, and it can help keep accommodation rates lower too.

And don’t get your room cleaned unless you really need it. Hang up your towels so you can reuse them, and sleep in the same sheets for a few nights if you can. It’s funny how travel means to some people they can be total slobs and not clean up after themselves, just because a service is available! Having your room cleaned daily means a lot of chemicals are used around you, which is bad for your health, plus it ends up in waterways. It also requires many resources for washing and cleaning, which can drive up accommodation prices.

Look after the natural world around you

There are a number of ways you can leave the natural wonders that you visit in great condition, or even better than you found them. One of the biggest pieces of ethical tourism is taking care of the environment you are visiting.

Stick to designated trails whenever you are hiking or riding around, so that you don’t harm vegetation and possibly animal habitats. And while you are using a trail or walking a beach, consider taking a bag and collecting any trash you come across. I like to do that, but my husband doesn’t, and that’s ok. Consider it as another great option for helping as you explore.

Don’t buy souvenirs made from non-sustainable wood, usually sourced through illegal logging. Some tree species are endangered, like Andiroba, Rosewood, Merbau, Sapele, Spanish Cedar, Wenge, Ebony, Jelutong, Brazilian Mahogany, African and Burmese Teak, Purpleheart, and Zebrawood.

And a tricky one, in Southeast Asia at least, is to avoid products containing palm oil. Palm plantations have devastated rainforests and left many animal species without homes. It is a huge industry, and it continues to expand despite the efforts of conservation groups. The best way to fight it is to refuse to consume it.

Giving back to the places you travel to

Donating blood as you travel is another way to give back. Blood supplies can be very low in all sorts of places, so it is a donation that can really help local people when they need it most.

If you would like to take your responsible travelling even further, you might like to take some time to volunteer in a program that you’re passionate about. But do your research about this, as some volunteering programs are just money-making ventures that don’t really help the causes they talk about.

For truly ethical volunteer travel experiences, consider whether your skills are needed and match with the work available, make sure you can see where the money from your stay is going, and check out the potential organization/s thoroughly so you can be sure they are legitimate and well organized. These posts further discuss the issues and what you need to look out for:

• 10 Things To Consider Before You Volunteer Overseas
• 6 Questions To Ask Before Volunteering Abroad

My family and I did one week of volunteering at the Juara Turtle Project on Tioman Island last year, and though it was a short amount of time, it was long enough with our young children. The program was very reputable and had many simple tasks we could help with. We felt that we did contribute while learning a lot about a topic we were all interested in. I still support their work with my blog, and we keep in touch with many of the friends we met during that week, from all over the world.

Some final thoughts about ethical tourism

Seeking out accommodation and tour providers who demonstrate understanding and application of sustainability principles will make your travels even greener. Supporting their efforts to minimize waste, employ locals, reduce use of chemicals, and care for the ecosystem means that their businesses remain viable, and more positive impact is gained as a result of your travels.

Ask questions as you are searching for somewhere to stay. Expensive eco-resorts aren’t the only options; many providers are trying hard to upgrade their facilities and change their practices. Also ask questions as you search for responsible travel companies and activities, and support those who are keen to tell you about what they do and why. We have found that these kinds of businesses are run by friendly and naturally caring people, who go the extra mile to ensure our adventures are great as well as eco-friendly.

And please consider going off the beaten track, by visiting not-so well-known areas instead of major tourist attractions. Overtourism is becoming a real problem, and it is ruining some of the world’s most beautiful places. The Thai beach made famous by the Leonardo DiCaprio movie “The Beach” is going to be closed to tourists this year to give it some time to recover from the damage being caused. And some places, including in Europe and the U.S., are so swamped with tourists that locals can’t afford to live there any more. Read more about 30 popular sites and how tourism is destroying them.

Travelling in the off seasons, not using mass-tour companies, and visiting lesser-known areas are great ways to ensure you don’t contribute to overtourism. And travelling slowly, with less itinerary and more time to immerse yourself into a culture, makes your travels less stressful, less taxing on the environment, and more meaningful. You will better understand a place if you take the time to see things beyond the superstar attractions. And you will make new friends everywhere you go if you can take the time to travel considerately.

I know this is a big list of things to think about! But most of the ways to make your travels more sustainable are things that you don’t do, so the only effort they require are remembering not to do them. Awareness is the main thing you need, and you have it now! And with this knowledge and some simple changes in how you travel, you have the opportunity to improve other people’s lives and leave a positive trail wherever you go.

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Again, a huge thank you to Emma Walmsley from small footprints, big adventures for sharing all of these amazing resources and tips on how to practice ethical tourism. I consider myself a relatively well-educated traveler when it comes to sustainability, but there are more ways to be a responsible tourist than I even knew!

My hope is that by adopting as many of these sustainable practices as possible (and making sure we stay aware and conscious of current issues), we can all make a positive impact and become more responsible, ethical travelers.

Be sure to follow along with Emma and her family on their eco-friendly adventures around the globe!

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