With the weather turning cold and the nights drawing in, it’s not hard to find yourself dreaming of sunnier climes. Maybe your ideal getaway is a sun-drenched white sand beach, perhaps your imagining takes you to tropical rainforests full of rare wildlife, or it could be that a visit to a new city, to explore an exotic culture, is your ideal. Whichever way, you’re unlikely to happen upon any of these scenes by staying at home. In fact, there’s a strong possibility that a flight would be in order to reach any of these destinations. So how can any of these holidays be eco-friendly?
Although it is a widely established fact that airline emissions have a harmful effect on the environment, there are many other factors to take into consideration before ruling out an overseas holiday destination. Tourism is a vital source of income for many countries and for many destinations the impact of eco-tourism, rather than mainstream tourism, is actually beneficial to local communities, by bringing in investment and work opportunities and by helping to preserve culture and traditions. It can also be of benefit to natural habitats by assisting with conservation and education efforts. In addition to this, responsible travel encourages cultural exchange and understanding.
Posada Amazonas Eco Lodge, in the rainforests of Peru, is a good example of the positive effects of eco-tourism. This eco-lodge is jointly owned by the local community and has seen the improvement of infrastructure for health, education and transportation in the local area. Due to eco-tourists coming to see the amazing wildlife found in the region, the community has become aware of the importance of conservation and has incorporated regulations which forbid members to hunt in the communal reserve, to fish with nets in the lake, or to cut forest around harpy eagle nests.
Another example of the benefits of eco-tourism is Kizingo Lodge on Kenya’s Lamu Island . While holiday-makers can relax on the 12km beach, the Lodge works to protect baby Green turtles as they find their way to the ocean, and incentivise local fishermen to tag and release turtles caught in their nets. The Lodge also works with partners to operate the Kipungani schools trust, which builds schools in the local and surrounding area and sponsors scholarship students to move on to secondary education.
Even chic city hotels can be eco-friendly. Take the Shinta Mani in Cambodia. While visitors can spend their time visiting the cultural attractions of Siem Reap, such as the temples of Angkor Wat, this hotel has an ongoing commitment to the local community including an Insitute of Hospitality which provides free hospitality industry training for young Cambodians at risk.
Without international tourists, projects like this all around the world could not exist. There would be fewer funds for conservation efforts, there would be less incentive for local communities to protect their natural environment and, with a decrease in income, some communities would be forced to resort back to illegal poaching and logging to make a living.
That isn’t to say that you shouldn’t take any measures to reduce your carbon emissions from flying. For example, you could reduce the number of flights you take each year and stay for longer in the destinations you travel to. As take-off and landing are the worst time for carbon emissions, you could also try to avoid stop-overs en-route when you fly to an overseas destination. Another option is to off-set your carbon emissions through a carbon-offsetting scheme.
Whatever you decide to do, respect the environment and respect the local culture, and you are sure to have a good time!
If you’re interested in finding eco-friendly accommodation for your next holiday, here are a couple of websites which might help you:
ecobookers – This accommodation-only website features a wide range of eco-friendly accommodation around the world, from eco-friendly hotels and ecolodges, to eco-camps and tree houses. The site provides online price quotes and secure booking. UK customers booking through the site can also take advantage of benefits with eco-friendly partners.
responsibletravel.com – This responsible travel agent offers a wide range of holidays which benefit local people and minimise negative environmental impacts. Holidays on offer include cultural tours, safaris, volunteer travel, wildlife holidays and walking holidays, each available through responsible operators.
