Live Healthy Live Well blog shares ideas on how to take steps toward sustainable travel this summer.
Regardless of where travelers head to, tourists effect the people, economy, and environment they travel to. When crossing any national, ethnic, cultural, or state border it is important to consider what impact travel can have on both parties. One way to ensure each party has as little negative impact on each other as possible is to travel more sustainably.
The United Nations World Tourism Organization defines sustainable tourism development as travel that compares the negative to the positive social, cultural, environmental, and economic impacts of the travel in the host nation.
Here are some first steps you can take:
- Check your travel options. Check for airlines that offset their carbon dioxide emissions. Beware of greenwashing campaigns.
- Select a sustainable destination. From international travel guides and news outlets, many sources have done the research regarding some of the most sustainable destinations. Cities across the globe are focusing on reducing waste, zeroing their carbon footprint, or building more sustainable infrastructure.
- Look for alternative modes of transportation. Plan ahead. visit attractions within walking distance to your hotel/lodging. Check for cycle rentals at your destination. Try renting a hybrid or electric vehicle, instead of a gas powered one. Look into utilizing public transport or checking on train travel instead of flying.
- Educate yourself. Learning about social issues, cultural differences, and current events allows the traveler to be aware of spots to visit and locations to avoid. Keep researching sustainable options.
More information can be found at: 10 Methods Of Transportation, Ranked From The Least To The Most Eco-Friendly and Sustainable Transportation and Fuels.
Read the full article on LiveHealthyOSU.edu here.
