by The author of The Ethical Traveller it reminds us how travel can be one of many ways to make our planet safer, fairer and kinder – where people and nature thrive together.
THE ROAD TAKES LONGER TRAVELED
Like the famous actor being typecast – tourism makes certain destinations a parody of themselves. Look at pre-Covid Venice, where bumper gondolas and restaurants serving frozen Bolognese for €30 a pop became the same. Too much tourism diminishes local ecosystems and makes everyday life almost impossible for local people. It is much better to choose the second, third or even fourth regional city instead. Think skiing in the Rila Mountains of Bulgaria instead of the Swiss Alps, browsing the galleries of Rotterdam rather than joining the hostel in Amsterdam.
THINK ABOUT WHEN YOU ARE NEEDED MOST
Choose somewhere that needs your support. Disaster tourism may sound great but the aftermath of a natural disaster or terrorist attack is when your dollars are needed the most. It’s also important to confront destinations that are dealing with negative publicity and tell your friends the real story – if it’s safe to do so, of course. The other destinations that make more money are those that rely heavily on tourism. Take the small Caribbean Islands of Antigua and Barbuda, where beach visitors power 90% of the local economy.
DO IT YOURSELF AT HOME
With on-site restaurants and 24/7 service, a hotel belonging to an international group can feel like a safe option. Opt for a homestay and you’ll have a more memorable experience – and 100% of your money goes to your hosts, rather than being ripped out of the local economy by an international company. Browse global sites such as Homestay (homestay.com) or see if the specific region you are visiting has its own version: such as Your Home In Japan (yourhomeinjapan.com) for Tokyo, Look After Me (lookafterme. co.nz) in New Zealand, and Homestay Ireland (homestayireland.ie).
ETHICAL AIRBNB CURSES
In places that aren’t struggling with too much tourism, or if you’re renting a spare room rather than an entire apartment, Airbnb isn’t a problem — but there are other peer-to-peer platforms to consider.
♦Fairbnb (fairbnb.coop) Hosts are local and can only list one property each, and 50% of platform fees go to community projects.
♦Ecobnb (ecobnb.com) accommodation that meets 10 criteria including car-free access, 100% renewable energy, organic food, and recycling more than 80% of their waste.
KEEP CITY SHORT
You heard it here first, folks: baths are out, especially in countries with water scarcity, which affects more than 40% of the world’s population. Opt for shorter showers and bathe in good karma instead. Another easy win is to find out if a hotel has low-flow showerheads and reuses waste water in its gardens. Many things do but if the answer is no, at least you have started a conversation.
YOU SHARE DIGITAL INFORMATION – HOW
You might not consider yourself a tech guru, but all those hours on social media, ordering Deliveroo and attending Zoom meetings add up. Many people from the Western world have highly developed digital skills: think about how you can share that knowledge when you travel. Worldpackers (worldpackers.com) connects travelers with hosts who offer free accommodation in exchange for volunteer work: many are looking for help with their social media, website copy and content creation.
REPEAT THE HAGGLE
Everyone loves a bargain but remember that 800 million people earn less than $1.25 a day – that’s more than the entire population of Europe. You probably won’t notice if you spend an extra 60 Moroccan dirhams on beautiful leather babouches (slippers), but stalls could feed his family with that money for several days. Pay cash to those who need it most, as many people in developing economies live hand to mouth.
GIVE THE TALK
Of the approximately 1.5 billion people who speak English in the world, less than 400 million use it as a first language. Apps like Duolingo, Babbel and Memrise can provide the basics and are a helpful way to fill time in the airport or if you’re stuck.
CLEAR your conscience with LOCAL Laundry
Instead of using your hotel’s laundry service, go out and support a local venue. In countries such as Vietnam and Laos, women living in tourist areas often have signs on their doors saying that they wash clothes; if they have to carry the household load, it is only right that they earn some money while working. Don’t forget to ask them not to dry your clothes as this takes five times as much energy as a single load of laundry.
KEEP YOUR PACKING LIGHT
The lighter your bag — the less CO2 emissions. According to the UN Environment Programme, reducing the weight of your luggage by 15 kg (33 lb) reduces your emissions by around 50–100 kg (110–220 lb) on a four and a half hour flight.
PLEASE NOTE
When it’s time to go home, see your things through the eyes of the locals. Is there anything that could make a useful gift? Items such as hygiene products, clothes, books, over-the-counter medicines and sun cream can be much more difficult to find in some countries, so your hotels may appreciate them. Make sure they are clean and left in a neat pile in your room with a thank you note to find after you leave.
The Ethical Traveller (£12.99) is published by Smith Street Books, written by Imogen Lepere and illustrated by Julia Murray. This book offers a first tip, aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals that help us protect the planet, support communities, and explore the world and preserve everything that makes it so special.
