We all know how the planet is dying and that we need to be more mindful about the ecosystem. Maybe you are trying your best to live a sustainable life, reusing and recycling all that you can but what if I told you that you are harming mother nature just by traveling? Shocked right? Well, you are not alone. A majority of people don’t realize that by traveling irresponsibly, they are doing more harm than good to the ecosystem of that place. Now you might be thinking that should I just stop traveling entirely then? To answer that question, no, you need not stop traveling but what you can do is travel more responsibly. This is where responsible tourism comes in but what is ‘responsible tourism’?
What is ‘Responsible Tourism’?
Traveling has become so easy and convenient. Places that weren’t heard of before, have now become accessible and cheaper to travel as compared to 20–30 years ago. Tourism has picked up more than ever and every year more than a billion people travel to different places. With social media gaining popularity, travel blogs and vlogs inspire people to travel more and document their experiences. This increase in tourism has an adverse effect on the place. Responsible tourism is all about making a better place to visit and a better place for people to live in. It tries to reverse and minimize the negative effects of tourism which can be overcrowding, destruction of wildlife and culture and economic issues.
Why is responsible tourism important?
Practicing responsible tourism helps in preserving the ecosystem and the heritage of the place. It is important to be aware and not cause damage to a place while we are out enjoying the resources of that place. We need to preserve the nature and the wildlife of the place for our future generations too. Responsible tourism ensures that the locals don’t get looted by the tourism industry giants as there are a lot of places that solely depend on tourism to earn their livelihood. Responsible tourism is something that will not only be better for us as tourists but also the community that we are visiting.
Who is a ‘Responsible Tourist’?
Responsible tourists will make sure to leave a positive impact with their decisions and actions. Being a responsible tourist does not have to be a boring duty. Everyone can be a responsible tourist just by following these simple tips:
- Avoid interacting with wildlife and encouraging wildlife tourism: Who doesn’t want to go on an elephant ride in Kerala? The way the locals and the tourism industry portray this makes it sound so exciting and thrilling. But what we need to ask ourselves is that are the animals even treated that well? 9 out of 10 times the animals are just not taken care of compared to the amount of work they are made to do. Even though this is a local business, by no means is it ethical and hence do not support it.
- Shop local: Always shop from local shops and small businesses and not from foreign businesses so that the money stays with the local community. Many times it is the poorest of families who have these street side shops or stalls and by buying a few things from every stall you are helping different families. Besides, purchasing from local shops gives you a good chance to understand their history and culture, so you can connect a bit better with their background.
- Don’t litter: This is more of an obvious tip many people fail to follow. Just because you see trash on the ground does not mean that you can throw your trash too because it’s already dirty. Whenever you have trash to throw and can’t find a bin around, try to keep the trash with you till you find a trash can where you can empty it.
- Be respectful: Understand the background and culture of the locals. Adhere to the dress code when you visit a conservative place. Always ask for permission before clicking pictures or recording anything. Educating yourself about the local culture and lifestyle will prove helpful and people will treat you with the same respect and kindness.
- Explore the less popular areas: A majority of tourists will flock to popular mainstream places which will result in overcrowding. To avoid that you can play your part by choosing a lesser-known area which is as beautiful but not as much in the public eye. Again, here talking to locals will be of utmost help since they will be the best guides.
- Do your research: Do your homework. Study the place and its culture. Responsible tourism is about finding alternatives to things that aren’t sustainable or ethical. It does not have to be boring, just look out for better options with the help of some research.
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I hope this article gives you something to think about and helps you make wise choices in the future. Do let us know what are your thoughts on responsible tourism. As always follow us for more travel related blogs and follow our social media handles for more fun, travel stuff.
Author : Rachel D’souza
