A sustainable travel destination

A sustainable travel destination

Sustainable travel should be the only way to travel. The world is a place full of mysteries and adventures that people have discovered since the beginning of time, but it has limited resources. Unfortunately, much of the tourism industry is unsustainable, from cruises and flights to all-inclusive resorts, overtourism and pollution. In fact, tourism is responsible for about 5% of global CO2 emissions, and with climate change now posing a very real threat to the survival of the planet as we know it, the situation needs to change. Sustainable travel, often associated with responsible travel, green travel and ecotourism, promotes the idea of traveling mindfully and being aware of how our actions abroad affect others.It encompasses the idea of minimising the negative impact that travel can have on the environment by transforming it into something positive for the local communities and economies.Here?s how it works: The World Tourism Organisation defines sustainable travel as ?tourism that takes full account of its current and future economic, social and environmental impacts, addressing the needs of its visitors, the industry, the environment and host communities?. Sustainable travel means travelling in a way that minimises our negative impact on the planet. This includes taking care not to harm or commodify the destination?s cultural and natural environments so that they can be maintained long-term. The Social Pillar of Sustainable Travel Just as travel and tourism has a huge impact on the environment, it heavily affects people, too. Travel and Tourism is (indirectly) responsible for as many as 1 in every 10 jobs around the world, and has the power to bring new opportunities to people around the world. It offers tremendous potential for connection ? if we are willing to open ourselves to that, that is. But travel is also responsible for some less than desirable side effects on societies around the world. Because of global movement and western influences, many indigenous cultures have become eroded or commercialised. People have been driven off land by governments who want to cash in on tourism bubbles and sell land to resort developers. Children and vulnerable social groups have been harmed through trafficking, sex tourism and exploitation fuelled by travel. At its worst, the impact of travel leaves a very sad picture. The Economic Pillar of Sustainable Travel One of the biggest benefits of travel ? especially to developing countries ? is the possibility to create economic opportunities and distribute spending within local communities through travel. The reality, however, ends up being a little more complex. There are times when it?s no longer enough to say that ?tourism creates jobs? and that the environmental and social impacts are becoming too detrimental to a destination to justify purely the ?jobs? benefit.