5 Basics for Becoming a Sustainable Traveller
In my ten years working in the travel and tourism industry, I’ve seen so many people wanting to become more sustainable in how they travel but simply don’t know where to start, get overwhelmed, and stop. I know it can be mind-altering trying to sift though the mountains of information available. So, I’ve put together a list of five basic guidelines that help me be a more sustainable and mindful traveller. I hope that you find them beneficial so we can enjoy exploring the world without ruining it.
Choose Your Destination with Care
This is something that I see being abused on social media and it makes my blood boil. We’ve all seen the posts. The ones with catchy titles like ’10 beautiful cities to see before you die’, well, I’m hardly going to see it after I die, am I Kaighlee?; ‘5 Hidden beaches every traveller needs to see’, maybe the locals don’t want your stag party to see it; or my personal favourite ‘visit (insert place name here) like a local’, fuck right off, we are a visitors there, not locals, and I don’t think we should forget it. As you can probably tell, I am quite passionate about this topic.
My main problem with this kind of wording is that it can often have a detrimental and lasting effect on the local people, cultures, and environment. These posts are designed to get as much interaction through clicks, likes, and comments as they can to drive traffic for a specific influencer. They are not designed to provide genuine, sustainable advice for people who want to explore a particular place in a respectful and fulfilling way. The result tends to be fast travel with the focus being on getting social media worthy pictures within the space of a couple of days; the opposite of sustainable travel. To help combat this, I would advise that you choose somewhere that you really want to see, that will suit your individual wants and needs, and that fits with your budget. I promise that you will get more out of your travels with this mindset. Ignore the influencers and explore what you want to explore but do so slowly, take your time, and enjoy it.
Research, Research, Research
There are really two types of travellers:
Traveller 1: Has a three month planning routine complete with main itinerary, backup itinerary, backup to the backup itinerary, excel spreadsheets, and runs their relaxing holiday like a military operation
Traveller 2: Doesn’t realise they are going on holiday until the day of the holiday, packs the morning of the travel day, and has a loosey-goosey approach to travel that could be considered criminally negligent
These two will be travel companions.
If you are traveller type one then you already know that research is the most important tool for those seeking to travel the world. If you are traveller type two this is where you would normally hand over to your anally retentive travel companion. Although, I would gently recommend you do research a bit about how to travel more sustainably. No pressure, though. I mean, we are living on a rapidly dying planet and eco-tourism and sustainable travel is the best way forward but, really, no big deal if you don’t want to. I’m not worried at all. Not at all.
Quality research is key. Who wrote that blog article about eco-tourism? Can the research be backed up by an accredited organisation? What kind of organisation conducted this research? Is it a national tourism board, an NGO, a for-profit charity, or an influencer trying to gain followers for clout? Does it seem more like a public service announcement or a sales pitch? Does this person have some sort of industry authority and background or did they just pop up on Instagram and TikTok with ‘super cool, must-see, don’t-go-there-go-here-instead’ buzzwordy style content? Once you begin to notice where your information is sourced and how it is presented then you begin to know what information is trustworthy and reliable and which sources are not.
Look into the local customs, religious beliefs, laws, public holidays, and general cultural practices. What are tipping practices? Are there any hand gestures that are best avoided? For example, you think you’re giving a friendly thumbs up but you’re actually telling a lovely little old lady to fuck off; that is probably something you want to avoid (unless that little old lady has been a bit of a dick then by all means give them the thumbs up/fuck off). Learn a few basic sentences in the local language, there are plenty of free language apps to help. There’s no need to conduct doctorate levels of research, just an hour or so can suffice. It’s just best to be informed to keep both yourself and locals feeling safe, respected, and comfortable.
Once There, Shop Local
This may seem obvious but you would be surprised how many people touch down in a new country, suddenly surrounded by unfamiliar sounds, sights, smells, and languages and instantly seek out the known, familiar comforts of McDonald’s Golden Arches or the overpriced, unpronounceability of a Starbuck’s menu. It’s a safety thing for so many when their senses are overwhelmed by such numerous and sudden changes to environment. I get it; there is safety in familiarity. However, I would encourage you to remember why you decided to travel away from your home and everything you know well. I’m assuming that is was a chance to experience something fresh and new, something unfamiliar; so experience it.
There are three things I do whenever I travel that should be manageable for all budgets and make you feel a bit more comfortable in a new place.
I make a beeline to the local supermarket. Oh, the joys and wonders are endless. Weird peely-wally luncheon meats in aspic, seasonal fruits and veggies that I’ve have never seen in my life, how my new-found culture loves and respects its bread (I’m looking at you Germany and France) or butchers it (I’m staring directly at you all 50 states of the USA), or the different sorts of biscuits and sweets I may find as gifts for loved ones back home. Supermarkets give a wonderful insight into what foods and drinks are popular in your chosen travel destination and about the general tastes of the local people.
Local cafes are my favourite. I do not travel without starting my first morning in a new location by going for a wee wander on the hunt for a locally owned café. Sometimes I rely on good old-fashioned Google to help me locate cafes near me, sometimes I rely on recommendations from friends and colleagues, and sometimes I sniff it out like a caffeine-deprived bloodhound fuelled solely by desperation. Whatever my chosen method on the day, I make sure it is the first thing that I do. Once there, I will grab my coffee, maybe a bit of breakfast (if travelling on a tight budget this is unnecessary), and sit with my book pretending to read but actually people-watching. There are two reasons that I like to do this on day one: 1) it gives me a base in a new place; you can always make it your local so you get that feeling of familiarity and safety in a new location 2) if I don’t get my morning coffee, I begin to worry about the safety of those around me.
Avoid touristy souvenir shops. I know you need that magnet, that kitschy postcard, that key ring, that lousy t-shirt. Most people love bringing back little knick-knacks to their friends and family to show how much they really love them and what better way to show that love then by rubbing their faces in the fact that they weren’t the ones that got to go on holiday. But, I would suggest trying to find independent shops and markets that sell locally sourced products rather than visiting cheap souvenir shops in airports or on high streets. Not only will you be shopping in a more sustainable way by helping a local business with a sale but you’re more likely to find a unique gift that celebrates the culture that you were lucky enough to visit. I promise your loved ones will like it more than a that tacky shot glass from Denmark. Probably.
Try Not to Fly
But, Kyle, I hear you protest, how ever am I supposed to get to the other side of the world without flying? It’s impossible, ludicrous. Now, I’m not suggesting that everyone boycott flying altogether and cycle across continents like The Flying Scotsman on crack. However, if that does call to you (cycling as a mode of long-distance travel, not the taking of the crack) then please do document it and let me know how it goes, you deserve all the credit you get. I’m merely suggesting that in cases where there are alternative, affordable methods of transport that you give it a go.
I really struggle to write about this particular topic because it makes me feel like a hypocrite. I am lucky enough to have jobs in tourism that allow me to travel globally on a regular basis. I have gotten to plant trees in Cambodia, camp around the Great Lakes in North America, hike and sketch in the Austrian Alps, and do street art workshops in Berlin; I try never to take for granted how lucky I am. Yet, to get to all of these destinations means that I fly. A lot. I then turn around to a very countable number of readers and suggest, with a fair bit of audacity some may argue, that they try not to fly. What a fucking hypocrite. What I have slowly come to terms with is that 1) flying is here to stay and 2) people (even those who travel for work, perhaps especially us) still need to be educated on how to travel more sustainably. The simplest lesson: try not to fly, the operative word being try.
Public Transport Is Amazing. Most major cities will have a form of public transport and this is where your handy-dandy pre-trip research comes into play. I would recommend downloading the public transport app for whichever place you are traveling to. Even Germany has gone to the tech side and if they can manage, so can you (if you know, you know).
Eco-Booking. If you have to fly because you don’t fancy that trans-continental bike ride, you can try to use booking platforms that are eco-conscious. See my list of favourite eco-booking sites here.
Handle With Care
This last step will be the easiest for some and the hardest for others but it’s fairly simple: once there, don’t be a dick. Remember that this is your holiday destination and not your home, so treat the locals whose home it is with respect. The best tip is to behave in a culturally appropriate manner; just because the local customs, religious practices, or cultural practices may not match our own does not give us, as guests in that country and culture, the right to be arseholes or make demands that things be changed. I see this time and time again with tourists and it often gives tourists as a whole a very bad reputation in a lot of destinations. Traveling is about experiencing new things but that does not mean that all of the new things we see, hear, or experience will make us feel comfortable or will be to our liking. And no one owes us that.