The world is in your hands — Photo courtesy of Porapak Apichodilok/Pexels.com
You don’t have to wear a cape or have a superpower to save the world. Heroes are average people who understand that their everyday choices can make an impact. No matter how small, the decisions we make can change lives for communities all over the world.
This is especially true with travel, where deciding how you interact with local people and local economies can deeply impact the communities you’re visiting. Will you buy a souvenir T-shirt at the touristy gift shop or bring home local, handmade crafts? Will you take a selfie with a tiger in captivity or will you join a scientist on safari and witness the tiger in its natural habitat?
Because the UN has dedicated 2017 as the International Year of Sustainability, we’ve compiled a list of choices you can make that will not only empower the local communities you’re visiting, but will bring you closer to the people who live there.
1. Book a trip while donating to a cause
Imagine if you could book some of the world’s most unique hotels while donating to a meaningful cause and saving money at the same time. Kind Traveler has already created a system of hotel booking where everyone wins.
Kind Traveler is the first digital “Give and Get” hotel-booking platform that allows travelers to donate to charity in exchange for discounted stays at some of the world’s finest hotels. For instance, you can donate toward organizations such as Second Harvest Food Bank, Marine Mammal Care Center in Los Angeles, or Feeding Southern Florida and receive discounts off of your stay at any participating hotels such as Virgin Hotels, The Palms Hotel and Spa, and even the Mondrian in Los Angeles. You can see all of the participating hotels and the charities and causes Kind Traveler has partnered with here.
2. Book a hotel with a LEED certification
Hotels use a lot of energy and resources. Leaving lights on, changing towels on a daily basis and disposing of hotel soaps are just a few of the ways in which hotels aren’t being ecologically savvy. To ensure your hotel is being mindful of its impact on the planet, see if your hotel has a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Certification.
The U.S. Green Building Council created the LEED Certification as a way to create a standard in sustainable development. The LEED Certification takes into account water consumption, energy efficiency, what materials a building is made of, as well as innovative design.
Need more recommendations? Check out the USA TODAY 10Best Readers' Choice Awards for Best Eco-Friendly Hotels in the United States.
3. Support carbon neutral businesses
In everything that we do and in everything that we buy, we increase what's called our “carbon footprint,” meaning how much carbon we release into the atmosphere. In order to offset our carbon footprint, companies around the world are taking the initiative to achieve net zero carbon emissions.
In terms of travel, everything from flights to tour operators comes with a “carbon neutral” option. For flights, opting “carbon neutral” costs a small fee, but for tour operators like Intrepid Travel, carbon neutrality is part of the package. Intrepid Travel offsets 100% of all carbon on behalf of all of their travelers for no added cost.
4. Using public transit
Aside from using carbon neutral businesses, you can reduce your carbon footprint by using public transit. It saves money and gas, and its a fantastic way to immerse yourself in a new city.
5. Walk, bike and hike
Reduce your carbon footprint even more by using human-powered means of transportation. It’s a small choice that can make a huge environmental difference. Besides, you never know what secret places you’ll stumble upon when walking through a city rather than taking a taxi.
6. Book an eco tour
Eco tours provide the rare opportunity to explore nature, wildlife and culture with expert naturalists and scientists around the world. Exploring a rainforest in Costa Rica, observing elephants in their natural habitat on the Serengeti or witnessing the diverse marine wildlife of the Galapagos are just a few examples of what eco tours offer to travelers.
These types of tours are an educational opportunity for all ages and they illustrate just how important the natural environment is to communities and destinations around the world. A tour operator who is part of The International Ecotourism Society is a good indicator that the tour you’re booking is conducted in a responsible and sustainable manner.
7. Learn about how your tour operator gives back to the local community
If you’re booking a tour, take a moment to consider how this tour operator is impacting the local community. Are they employing locals and empowering local communities? Are they referring travelers to places where they can purchase local foods and goods? If so, then not only are you in for an authentic experience, but you’re also putting your dollars where your values are by stimulating the local economy of the destination you’re visiting.
8. Rethink “voluntourism”
As more travelers begin to adopt the mindset of sustainable travel, "voluntourism" – volunteering while traveling – has become a growing industry. Sadly, many who see it as a lucrative industry do not conduct business ethically. The New York Times reported that South African “orphan tourism,” where visitors spend time with orphans, had become so popular that some charities purposely subjected children to poor conditions, capitalizing on the sympathy of travelers.
If volunteering is your calling, Intrepid Travel offers an alternative: community-based tourism. Community-based tourism means opting for local homestays, sharing meals with locals and engaging in activities in which you share experiences with them.
Leigh Barnes, the Regional Director for Intrepid Travel says, "When we focus on how we can help the community through on-going business growth, not just one-day volunteering initiatives, we notice the entire community can be positively impacted."
9. Cruise with purpose
Cruising in style and social impact can go hand in hand. In 2015, the Carnival Corporation launched its product Fathom, a cruise line that offers guests an opportunity to embark on shore excursions that allow travelers to engage with local communities directly and with great impact.
In the Dominican Republic, travelers can engage with students in the classroom or learn how to make water filters and deliver them to families in need of clean water. The programs are geared toward both the locals and the travelers sharing experiences and learning together.
10. Respect all wildlife
With every new place comes a new habitat, and with every new habitat comes new animals. Witnessing wildlife, especially when it’s your first encounter, can be very exciting but there are a few things to consider. For one, if you come across an animal in the wild, do not disturb them and do not feed them.
Doing so can get them too accustomed to human interaction or cause an expectation that all humans will provide them with food. In cases of large animals, like bears, this can be dangerous for you and others.
Another thing to consider is animal tours like whale watching, snorkeling or going on safari. If you’re out at sea, ask your tour operator if they “chum the water,” meaning they throw chum into the water to lure marine life. Chumming the water can change the behavior of sea life or even get them sick.
If you’re on land, do not take a tour that says you'll get a hands-on experience with wildlife. This means riding elephants, taking photos with monkeys or hanging out with tigers. In many cases, these animals are illegally captured and not treated humanely.
