Most of the people who start researching ecotourism are looking for a way for their travel itineraries to not completely destroy the planet. I get it, and honestly, I applaud you for it. Ecotourism attracts travelers who are animal lovers. Nature enthusiasts. Conscious consumers.
Beautiful websites touting an “environmentally friendly” resort stay or animal sanctuary visit sounds to most like the perfect getaway. I mean look, you’re busy and looking for a unique, but ethical experience on your vacation. However, in order for travel to not make the world a shittier place, it can’t simply tout environmentalism as it’s redemption.
Horror stories have come out in the last few years about ecotravel companies greenwashing their vacationers – that is, misleading consumers by promising an ecofriendly experience but delivering something that is anything but harmful for the environment. Animal sanctuaries, for instance, that are advertised as havens for abused creatures but which often turn out to be little more than zoo’s in disguise. Only probably with worse ethics (like cutting the tendons of tiger cubs so that they can’t take a swipe at you. Yeah, that’s a thing).
Travel itself has hugely negative environmental impacts. A flight from New York City to Los Angeles generates over 65 short tons of carbon emissions one way. So if travelers are focused only on the environment while at their destination, they’re hugely missing the point.
For tourism to truly not suck the life out of the world, it must go beyond the environment and instead:
● provide economic incentives to protect natural heritage
● fight against poverty
● seek sustainable development
● provide a positive experience for both the host and tourist
● empower the underprivileged
● contribute to the economic well-being of local cultures
Ecotravel is not the quick fix you’ve been told it is. Ecotravel is not the savior of the travel industry or a way to assuage your guilt for trashing the planet. I love a good Eco Lodge as much as the next girl, but you’re not living in an Instagram-perfect world. Sleeping in a glamping tent twenty feet from an elephant sanctuary in Bali and having room service bring you organic coconut smoothies for breakfast isn’t going to save the world. I mean it sounds like a nice vacay, but it’s not the gold standard we should be striving for. For one, that shit is expensive and unobtainable to many travelers and we should stop shaming them for that reality.
For tourism to work as an industry and global hobby long term it must: empower the local culture, promote economic development, and support conservation. If it fails, it is doubly useless. Don’t fear babes. You might be asking yourself right now if ecotravel is truly the thinly-veiled shitshow I just said it is, then how can you as an ethical and intelligent human travel the world without guilt?
Well, I’ve got two answers for you.
One: ensure that your “ecolodge” or “eco-friendly tour company” is actually doing what they say they’re doing. Sure, that Eco Hostel with the rooftop pool looks like a fun place to stay (and they have solar panels!) – but how do they support the local community? Are they locally owned? What about that animal tour you’re going on – are they promising you the chance to ride an elephant? Pet a baby lion? Do you really think there is any chance that is actually ethical? A tour company or hotel doesn’t have to be perfect to be worth your time – they just need to be transparent. If they can’t answer your questions, move on.
The second answer is to make sure that you aren’t greenwashing the world yourself. Does your eco-friendly mindset go beyond your two-week vacation, or are you just doing it for the Likes? Yeah, flights are stupidly bad for the environment, but you can offset that cost in your daily life. Consider going vegan (or just you know, reducing your consumption). Move towards a zero- waste lifestyle. Stop utilizing single-use plastics. Buy carbon offsets. Support local businesses.
Once you start utilizing these values in your everyday life your #ecofriendly travel goals will move away from being lip service and move towards authenticity. So what is truly the 1 reason why you don’t need to worry about ecotravel? It’s because if you make sustainable principles a 24/7 aspect of your life, you’ll never need to worry about ecotravel again. You’ll already be doing the most good, with or without your travel itinerary.
BY BRITTANY KATHLEEN NICOL (IG @BONVOYAGEBRITTANY)
https://msha.ke/bonvoyagebrittany/
