the sparkle of a new year means that we start off with bright eyes and lofty hopes - swearing off alcohol entirely or going zero-waste. when it comes to travel, buzzwords like eco-tourism and sustainable travel flood our feeds, but are vague and can seem rather intimidating to the average traveller. we prefer to take a more balanced approach - acknowledging that no traveller is perfect and crafting a 100% sustainable itinerary is unrealistic. below, our travel editors share seven concrete ways they plan to implement thoughtful travel in 2022.
lasting, transformative travel is not just about what happens while you’re away - it runs the gamut from lift off to when you return home. in 2022, we’re aspiring to ‘take travel home’ by learning a new skill or having a transformative experience on the trip. whether it’s freediving with an environmentalist or spending a week with a best-selling author, it’s all about crafting meaningful travel experiences that make you a better person.
a 2013 report from the wto reported revealed that just $5 in every $100 spent by tourists in a developing nation stayed in that country. and with the pandemic dramatically impacting travel, it’s more important than ever to make sure every dollar we spend counts. shopping and eating local, and scrutinising where the money goes when using social impact travel companies, are key steps to supporting local communities.
the once-popular trend of voluntourism has been ditched by conscious travellers in recent years in light of many unethical or tokenistic practices. but there are still ways you can engage in meaningful voluntourism. here, sustainable travel expert holly tuppen outlines some key ways travellers can ensure their efforts are ethical and meaningful, including speaking with previous volunteers about their experience, and ensuring that your work creates autonomous, rather than dependent, communities.
if the pandemic has taught us one thing, it’s to appreciate home. whilst we’ll always have the travel bug and be itching to journey afar, over the past few years we’ve had the chance to revisit and rediscover our local surrounds, and boy are we glad we did. we plan to stay grounded this year and continue to show some love to the communities closest to home.
once limited to luxe, top of the range resorts, the eco-friendly accomodation has become extremely popular, and is attainable for wallets thick or thin. research a destination to find accomodation that champions sustainability - whether through its energy use, recycling program, or construction. tiny houses are one of our favourite options for green accomodation, offering a budget-friendly and unique experience that’s accessible to just about anyone.
flying is one of the most damaging aspects of travel to the environment. contributing to 2.5% of the world’s carbon emissions (a figure that’s rapidly growing), flying is the most damaging mode of transport mile for mile. we’re making the conscious decision this year to stay grounded and opt for alternative ways of travelling, like trains. and when you do clock up those air miles, make them count by giving back to communities, and making more sustainable choices once you’re there.
we plan on packing both light and smart this year - both to save on those pesky check-in fees and to minimise our environmental impact. packing light reduces the amount of fuel needed to cart your luggage around, and if you’re ditching air travel, it makes it much easier to hop on and off trains or buses with a small bag. we’re also swapping out single use travel products - like mini toiletries, and using reusable, refillable bottles.