Paula Stanghetta January 26, 2022We live in a wonderful world that is full of beauty, charm and adventure. There is no end to the adventure we can have if only we seek them with eyes open.
Jawaharlal Nehru
If you’ve travelled, you’ve heard of the term sustainable tourism. It is a concept that has been on the travel radar for decades. While progress is being made, we can all do better – from individual travellers to tour operators, travel agencies, accommodation venues, and transportation providers. We’re always learning about more ways to be a sustainable traveller, a responsible guest, and a caretaker of each other and the earth.
Here at MP TOURS, we are committed to doing our part to be conscious consumers of our precious planet. In this article, we’ll identify the 3 pillars that define sustainable tourism, describe 6 actions that any traveller can incorporate into their travel plans, and outline 3 practices MP TOURS follows to ensure our experiences demonstrate our commitment to sustainable tourism.
2017: The International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development
The United Nations 70th General Assembly declared 2017 as the International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development. The ultimate goal of the year was to inspire and motivate all stakeholders – public and private-sector, as well as the general public – to work together as catalysts for positive change. This year-long event promoted the tourism sector’s role in five specific areas:
- Inclusive and sustainable economic growth
- Social inclusiveness, employment, and poverty reduction
- Resource efficiency, environmental protection, and climate change
- Cultural values, diversity, and heritage
- Mutual understanding, peace, and security
3 Pillars of Sustainable Tourism
The United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) became the lead for the implementation of a comprehensive program of local, national, and international efforts to raise awareness and identify actions for sustainable tourism development throughout the year. According to the UN, the 3 pillars that continue to guide this initiative are:
- Environmentally friendly practices
- Protecting cultural and natural heritage
- Providing tangible social and economic benefits for local communities
Environmentally Friendly Practices refer to actions that include reducing, reusing, and recycling. A simple example would be reducing (or eliminating) single-use plastics, like water bottles. Protecting cultural and natural heritage includes restoring historic buildings or saving endangered species. Upholding the rights of Indigenous peoples and supporting fair wages for employees are examples of actions that support the third pillar described above.
6 Ways to Be a Sustainable Traveller
Travellers who want to travel in ways that reflect sustainable tourism practices can choose from a number of easily-implementable actions. According to the UNWTO, these include:
1. Honour Your Hosts and Our Common Heritage
As part of your travel preparation, take some time to research the destination. Focus on the local customs, unique traditions, and social issues. Learn a little about its history, architecture, arts, food, and any other aspects that will help you understand how the destination is different from your home. You may find that besides differences, there are a lot of similarities too. Practice a few words and phrases in the local language – how to say please, thank you, hello, good morning/afternoon, how are you. Do not worry about being perfect – it’s the effort that will be appreciated at the local level. When in your destination, be respectful when ‘taking’ photos – ask permission to do so, especially of people.
2. Respect Our Planet
When in your destination, be conscious of protected land and/or other areas. Ask for permission before exploring natural habitats and look for signage that might indicate the area is closed to random wandering. Purchase products that are not made from endangered species. Use water and electricity sparingly. Take walking tours, rather than bus tours – you’ll be amazed how much more you will experience, while getting some exercise in as well.
3. Support the Local Economy
Hire local guides for their expertise and knowledge of the area. Support local artisans by paying fair prices and respecting their livelihood. Wherever possible, buy locally-made products and avoid counterfeit products. Learn in your pre-trip research what products the area is known for and seek them out. Eat where the locals eat: if everyone in the establishment is local, it’s pretty much guaranteed that the food will be a memorable experience.
4. Be an Informed Traveller
Even if you are working with a Tour Designer like MP TOURS, take the time to ensure your health and safety while away. Purchase travel insurance, medical coverage, obtain visas, bring sufficient medications in the event you are delayed in your return, have your country’s embassy contact information handy. Always check travel advisories from your country or origin and destination before travelling. An informed traveller is a smart traveller.
5. Be a Respectful Traveller
While some may say respect is a very broad term, there are actually some universal aspects to respect. As a traveller, follow local laws and regulations while driving, walking, touring, and/or shopping. Do not disturb national or historic attractions by removing parts of them as souvenirs to take home with you. This includes sand and plants from natural protected reserves.
6. Take the Train, or Bus, or…
When possible, reduce your carbon footprint by choosing train or bus over plane. At this moment (January 2022), the European Union is considering banning domestic flights of under 2 hours in order to reduce carbon emissions from jet fuel. While this action is in its early stages, at least two countries are proceeding with this practice and more will likely follow. Travelling by train or bus provides a completely different experience than flying. From enjoying the scenery to travelling among the locals, to experiencing a different pace of travel, there is much to be said about alternate transportation.
MP TOURS and Sustainable Tourism
At MP TOURS, we’ve long been advocates of sustainable, conscious travel, although we haven’t explicitly promoted specific actions. As we gear up for the return to travel, we are taking our efforts a step further. This is what we pledge to do and invite all of our travellers to be part of our commitment:
- Effective immediately, we are eliminating single-use plastic water bottles and replacing with reusable containers. We encourage travellers to bring their own containers and will also offer sustainable travel products for purchase on our website.
- For future itineraries, we are promoting and encouraging travel by train once in our destination. We currently have a group that is thrilled to be experiencing train travel and avoiding airport delays. It will take some adjusting, but we are up for the adventure!
- With renewed emphasis, we continue to support the local economy, including artisans, restauranteurs, tour guides, chefs, family-owned wineries, and many others. We will look for every opportunity to showcase the gifts, talents, and hard work of those who we visit.
Why Is Sustainable Travel Important?
We all have a role when it comes to finding ways to be a sustainable traveller. It only takes small steps to turn into significant impact, with each one of us doing what we can. It is a privilege to travel and not one we take lightly. We can’t wait to travel with you again!
