So many places to visit, so little time! With the pandemic receding and summer holidays around the corner, you probably have travel on your mind. As you scroll through your Instagram seeking inspiration, you often come across travel bloggers introducing the world to a secret trail in a remote area. Your wanderlust begins to take wings, the hearts of many travelers flutter along with yours and within hours, this content piece hits millions of views on Instagram and YouTube. The next thing you know – this secret trail in a remote area is no more a secret and is another buzzing tourist hub!
More tourists mean more pollution, more CO2 emissions, and more trash. Whether to geo-tag or not is a debate for another day, but unbridled tourism is an ecological challenge that worries environmentalists and conservationists.
Does that mean adventures are off the list? Of course not! It is a privilege to see the world in all its glory and we must tick off the must-do places on our bucket lists. The good news is that you can do it in a planet-friendly way that minimises the impact on the environment.
Why We Should Care
Just about a decade ago, Ladakh was known for being an almost waste-free, clean haven. Now, the region gets almost 3,00,000 tourists every year, more than twice its population! This influx of tourists puts immense pressure on the region’s fragile ecosystem, uses up precious natural resources, and generates vast quantities of plastic waste and sewage. Another estimate shows that during the pandemic-induced lockdown, the waste generated in Goa got reduced by a massive 40%, and will no doubt go back to the pre-pandemic levels soon.
The global tourism industry, which includes transportation, the consumption patterns of travelers, and the resources used in maintaining the tourism infrastructure, has a significant carbon footprint and is estimated to account for 8% of global greenhouse emissions. The impact is even higher in places where tourism is the mainstay of the local economy, like Ladakh and Goa, and countries like Sri Lanka and the Maldives.
As demonstrated by the recent economic crisis in Sri Lanka, which was caused, among other reasons, by the sudden decline in tourists visiting the country due to COVID, tourism is vital to the economy of many places and the livelihoods of local populations depend on it.
Mindful, conscious, and sustainable travel is the way forward. The good news is, that studies have shown that over 87% of global travelers want to travel sustainably!
Mindful, conscious, and sustainable travel is the way forward. The good news is, that studies have shown that over 87% of global travelers want to travel sustainably!
If you’re one of them, we hope this guide inspires you and those around you, to travel more sustainably.
Less Is Good
We get it – buying a ‘vacation wardrobe’ can be exciting, but let’s face it, we don’t need more clothes and gear just for that one vacation, nor do we need to ape the ‘airport look’ of celebrities! The first principle of sustainability holds good for travel too – use what you have.
If you are visiting a colder region and don’t have thermal wear, fleece jackets, woolen socks, etc., there are rental websites that will offer these items for short durations. And we think it makes a lot of sense! After all, we are never going to use those woolen socks in Mumbai or Kolkata, are we? And saving a small fortune doesn’t hurt either!
Here are some rental sites you can look up when planning your next trip
- Sharepal.in: They rent out trekking shoes, accessories like trekking poles, head torch & hiking sunglasses. You must deposit INR 500 to block these items in advance, and pay the rest on delivery.
- Indiahikes.com: Based in Delhi, Indiahikes is one of India’s largest trekking communities and rent padded jackets, backpacks, and shoes for rates starting as low as Rs. 40 per day.
- Bragpacker.com: This one has a varied range of items such as cameras, tents, shoes, backpacks, baby carriers, etc.
These rentals reduce your overall carbon footprint by simply avoiding a purchase you are not likely to use frequently. Alternatively, you can always borrow items from your friends and family. As a thumb rule, before you make a purchase, think if you can rent or borrow that item. And if you own any such items, you can list them on these websites for other conscious travelers too.
Pre-Planning Is The Key
Sustainable travel doesn’t start only once you reach your destination. It starts right when you start packing for your vacation
A travel packing checklist makes low-waste travel a default option. Here are a few things you can add to your list, for effortless eco-friendly travel –
- Carry a refillable sipper/water bottle and avoid disposable single-use plastic bottles. It also saves you money, as most cafes and hotels let you refill your bottles for free!
- Keep a fanny bag that can be used to store your litter as you move around. A fanny bag easily clings to you, and needn’t be carried around as you take your long walks. You can also choose a wet bag for segregating and collecting your wet trash.
- Pack in some tote bags for your gifts and souvenir shopping, and refuse the extra bubble wrap if you can!
- Carry reusable tiffin boxes to bring back takeaways and leftover food to your room, so that there is no food wasted and you can avoid using plastic containers.
- Carry a steel collapsible tumbler, reusable straws and a reusable coffee mug to enjoy coconut water, other coolers, coffee, tea, etc. on the go. It’s our favourite hack to avoid single-use plastics, especially when you try those street food gems on your list!
- Most hotels and stay options will offer you toiletries which include soap, shampoo, lotions, etc. Although they are complementary, these add to the waste. Carrying natural and non-toxic personal care products of your choice instead of using these can further help you reduce your footprint.
- Use ocean-friendly self-care essentials such as all-natural sunscreens and exfoliants that don’t have microplastics when swimming, snorkeling, scuba diving, and enjoying other water activities. These keep your skin safe, as well as avoid harm to marine life.
As you see from these easy hacks, simply by packing sensibly, you can travel sustainably!
You can also read our guide on trekking responsibly here.
Now that you are all set, all that’s left to do is have an enjoyable, low-impact, and rewarding holiday.
Respect The Local Culture
Every time you choose local homestays, opt for places built with locally sourced materials as these are often sustainably made houses.
No holiday is complete without sampling the local cuisine. Eat local foods, opt for local public transport, and explore the crafts of the region.
These conscious attempts encourage the consumption of local products, empower the local economy and support local communities and artisans. Plus, you get to explore another local culture, and isn’t that the most exciting part anyway?
Support Green Businesses And Initiatives
- Participate in plogging and clean-up drives. Plogging is simply walking/running/hiking & picking up trash along your way. The Delhi-based Healing Himalayas has weeklong itineraries for places like Kheergana and Chitkul in Himachal for trekkers. where one can trek & participate in the clean-ups. Now that’s what we call a win-win for both the trekkers & the planet!
Source: Healing Himalayas
- Choose sustainable travel companies like Kipepeo, India Untraveled, Green People, etc., and support social enterprises like Spitiecosphere. Ecosphere Spiti ensures the sustainable development of Spiti valley by establishing crucial links between local economies, conservation, and development.
- Consider offsetting the carbon footprint of your flights, cabs, or personal vehicle use. Climate Tech companies like Climes in India give you the option to neutralize your flight journeys. Neutralising simply means investing in climate-based initiatives which will remove the same amount of carbon emissions from the atmosphere, as was added by your activities.
Traveling sustainably is neither hard nor inaccessible. All it requires is a little bit of thought and planning. “Leave Nothing But Footprints, Take Nothing But Memories” – This is the guiding principle, the mantra, of all responsible travelers. Let it be yours too!
