What is responsible travel?

Responsible travel is a bit like The Big Bang; most people believe in it but can’t always explain it! Well, while I don’t know much about the origins of the universe, I can certainly shed some light on what responsible travel’s all about and a few ways of being a responsible traveller, especially while on your gap year.

Firstly, to nail my colours to the mast, I believe in responsible travel. I believe both in its ability to provide unforgettable travel experiences and its power to reshape the travel industry. Responsible travel is challenging the idea that the only way to see the world is through the hotel window or the tour bus. Real travel is about learning and exploring, rather than just kicking back and getting a tan.

What isn’t responsible travel?

Low-cost airlines are flying to more and more distant places, making travel more easily accessible. The downside of this is that it risks flooding the planet with aimless tourists. In the rush to tick off another place on their personal travel maps, many people think very little about their impact on the world. While individually this doesn’t seem like such a disaster, the unintended consequences of mass tourism include countless stories of small businesses overpowered by large chains and massive ecological damage. If people are going to travel in such great numbers, it’s imperative that they do so responsibly.

The responsible way

People’s determination to protect the world is the driving force behind responsible travel. Such is the power of international tourism that it actually holds a great potential for change. If we can harness the love people have for travelling then we can direct it towards protecting the world rather than just travelling around it.

Responsible travel is about minimising the effect of travel while at the same time maximising the travel experience. The great thing is that they both reinforce each other; the more time you take to learn about and respect the world around you, the more fulfilling your experience of travel will be.

Environment

Protecting the environment is perhaps the area most commonly associated with responsible travel. The constant announcements of more species becoming endangered and more natural habitats becoming threatened has galvanised the travel community and led to the creation of a huge number of volunteer projects. At its core, responsible travel minimises negative environmental impacts and in the case of these projects also makes positive contributions to the conservation of the environment.

People

Finding ways to help people in a sustainable way is far more preferable than simply throwing money at the problem. For example, volunteering abroad enables travellers to help local communities, without having to worry about the issue of aid reliance. What’s more, travelling to an area and using local accommodation, local food producers and buying locally sourced products provides a sustainable income to the people. The influx of tourists also gives the community a reason to protect the beauty and diversity of their home.

Culture

Travel is only responsible when it respects the culture and traditions of different people. This connection between host and tourist is at the basis of everything that the responsible travel movement stands for. Without it, what chance is there that people will take the time to buy local products, use local services and think about their impact on the environment? This respects sits at the heart of truly responsible travelling.

Top Tips for Responsible Travellers

• Travellers can offset their carbon emissions at Climate Care. Enter flight details and you can find out how much it will cost to offset your flight and donate the money to sustainable energy projects.
• Don’t buy souvenirs if you think their production has been at an environmental or human cost; watch out especially for items made from ivory and bone.
• Be aware of energy shortages and adjust your habits accordingly. A shorter shower won’t kill you.
• Try and stay in local accommodation rather than in that big glitzy hotel. Even better, stay in homestay accommodation with a local family
• Respect the local customs and culture, and make sure you act and dress appropriately.
• Try and make at least one positive difference before you leave; it makes travelling so much more enjoyable for everybody. Volunteer projects are obviously the easiest way to do this.