7 Ways To Travel Sustainably And Reduce Your Impact While Traveling

As tourism starts to rebound after being deep within the throws of the COVID-19 pandemic, there remain several concerns about travel. 

After such a long pause in international travel, what will the return of tourism and travel look like when it finally reaches its pre-pandemic state? 

Or, as we like to say instead: what should tourism and travel look like?

Over the past two decades, the rise in international travel has more than doubled, surpassing the ‘billion’ mark in 2019. 

And while tourism boomed, promoting a great amount of economic growth, enjoyment, and a rise in new jobs for people worldwide, it often came at the expense of the environment and the local communities in the destinations being visited by the masses. 

Pollution, habitat loss, crowded communities, wildlife exploitation, and many other harmful things were just a few of the things an increase in travel was doing. 

In recent years, many destinations started to implement measures to combat the burdens of unsustainable tourism as they began to notice the negative impact tourism was having on their cultures and environments.

Unfortunately, only so much can be done because it ultimately comes down to the traveler. 

Instead of being a part of the problem, travelers can be a part of the solution.

As we recover from the pandemic, we have been given an unprecedented opportunity to start again. And we believe this fresh start has to be sustainable. 

Since the start of the pandemic, we have had the time to rethink our impact on the world and reshape the way we live and travel. 

Here are a few easy ways to travel sustainably and reduce your impact while traveling.

Want to make your next vacation green? Submit your trip request, and we’d love to help you!

1. Get off the beaten path

Before the pandemic hit, many destinations in the world were being loved to death. Historic sites, beaches, and other tourist hot spots were overrun by hordes of people – a phenomenon called ‘over-tourism.’ 

Because of this, environments were being destroyed, animals were being pushed out of their natural environments, and local communities were being exploited and destroyed by mass amounts of people. 

As a traveler, you can help prevent over-tourism by simply skipping tourist traps and choosing off-the-beaten-path locations for your vacations. 

Getting off the beaten path will allow you to have a more unique and authentic experience while avoiding crowds.

This doesn’t mean you have to pitch a tent in the middle of nowhere and live off the land (although, what an experience!); it simply means choosing less known places. 

Instead of Paris, choose some of the quaint country towns in France, with history and culture and delicious food. 

Instead of the Grand Canyon, choose some less popular National Parks to visit in the US, like Crater Lakes National Park in Oregon. 

Look beyond the top Google searches, or reach out to us, and we will be able to help you find those lesser-known places to visit. 

Doing so will reduce the burden on over-visited destinations while spreading tourism benefits to other local communities. 

Girls weekend trip to Colorado in 2021

2. Slow down and stay longer

We’re all guilty of trying to cram as much into a trip as possible. 

After all, we only get so many weeks off to travel per year, and often it is the only time you will visit that particular destination.

Though a packed itinerary may seem appealing, you’ll find that if you jam too much into your itinerary, you will spend most of the time rushing from one destination to the next, getting easily burnt out, and not enjoying the time you spend in each location as much as you could if you were going slower. 

While you may tick off a handful of bucket list sights, you’ll miss out on getting to know the destination, hearing the stories from the locals, getting to understand the local culture, tasting the fresh, local produce, and simply just immersing yourself in a new place. 

When you travel hard and fast, you’re way more likely to find yourself in a state of stress. 

When you travel, travel slower. 

Opt for a longer vacation once a year, rather than multiple short and rushed vacations.

Spending more time in a destination makes for more authentic, memorable, and meaningful travel experiences. 

At the same time, it reduces pressure on the cities and communities you visit while creating greater benefits for the local businesses you support. 

A bonus: slow travel is also better for the environment since it reduces the number of carbon emissions generated by flying or driving between destinations. 

When you book with Authenteco Travel, we always ensure your itineraries are filled with the perfect balance between activities, travel time, and relaxation to enjoy each destination you visit without getting stressed out!

Want to take an Authenteco Travel vacation? Click this link to submit your trip request.

An action-packed getaway to Montana in 2021

3. Use efficient modes of transportation 

While this might seem a little strange to some, the mode of transport you take when traveling can drastically impact the local environments and communities you are visiting. 

Approximately 8% of the world’s carbon emissions are caused by travel and tourism. The travel industry is a significant contributor to climate change, which is one of the gravest threats to the future of tourism, people, and our world. 

Air travel, driving, and other forms of transportation make up the largest part of tourism’s carbon footprint. Though all modes of transportation require energy, some are more efficient and cleaner than others.

This is one of the things Authenteco wants to change- helping you reduce your carbon footprint while on your vacation. 

When vacationing to closer destinations, we recommend traveling by train or coach to cut your emissions and enable you to soak in the scenery. Then, once you’re at your destination, we’ll encourage you to consider taking the bus, traveling by rail or cycling around town instead of renting a car.

When it comes to your carbon footprint, there is no one-size-fits-all for which method of transportation to use since the carbon footprint also depends on the type of energy being used. 

Every destination is going to be different. For instance, trains in the Netherlands are powered by wind energy, Washington D.C. has zero-emissions buses, and some of Thailand’s infamous tuk-tuks are now going electric. 

But, you will never know unless you take the time to understand the carbon footprint of each mode of transport. Where possible, use public transport or transport that is run by locals, so you can help keep local industries afloat.

Don’t want to do all that research? Don’t worry. We’ll do it for you when we plan your dream vacation. Submit a trip request if you’re looking for a stress-free travel option!

4. Conserve your water and energy usage

Travel also relies heavily on heating, lighting, and electricity, which means that energy is a huge part of the industry. 

This, along with water use, can strain local resources, which can massively impact the environments and communities you are visiting. 

Why? Well, tourists often consume significantly more water and energy than residents while on vacation, and many destinations struggle to keep up with the demand. 

As global temperatures continue to rise, this becomes an increasingly problematic issue that needs to be addressed. 

When you’re on vacation, do what you can to conserve local water and energy resources. Turn off the lights, TV, AC, and heating when not using it. 

Take shorter showers instead of baths, and don’t partake in some hotel’s ‘free washing’ schemes unless you require your clothes to be washed. 

You can also reduce your environmental footprint by staying in a low-impact accommodation. This is something Authenteco travel focuses on when we choose your accommodation.

We stay away from chain hotels and businesses, instead opting for eco-friendly accommodation that focuses on renewable energy and water outputs, amongst many other things. 

Want to take an Authenteco Travel vacation? Click here to submit your trip request.

5. Keep your dollars local

Over the last few years, communities have been hit hard by the lack of tourism that they received. In 2019, the Travel & Tourism sector contributed 10.4% to global GDP, a share which decreased to 5.5% in 2020 due to ongoing restrictions to mobility. In 2020, 62 million jobs were lost, representing a drop of 18.5%, leaving just 272 million employed across the sector globally, compared to 334 million in 2019.

When you consider that some countries (Bali, for instance) rely almost entirely on tourism to give jobs to the locals and support the economy, it is no wonder they are now struggling. 

When you travel to these destinations, you can positively impact by making sure your dollars stay in the local economy. 

The best way to ensure host communities reap the benefits of tourism is by supporting local businesses and entrepreneurs. 

Consider staying in locally-owned homestays and guesthouses rather than expat-owned hotels or international chains (don,t worry, we do this for you when you book an Authenteco Travel vacation). 

Dine at local restaurants with food made from locally-sourced ingredients (we’ll always find you the best when you book with us). 

Get out of your comfort zone and have some fun navigating the local market – buy spices grown by a local farmer or purchase jewelry made by a local artisan (we’ll always recommend the best places to go when you travel with us). 

And, of course, always book excursions led by local guides (we’ve got you covered on this when you book with us). 

These are all small things to do when you travel, but putting your money back into the local community makes a massive difference. 

CEO & Founder, Shelby visiting local communities in Africa

6. Avoid single-use plastics

It will likely come as no surprise that plastic is a problem- particularly when you travel.

Every year, 8 million metric tons of plastic end up in our oceans. 

This is equivalent to one garbage truck full of plastic being dumped into the ocean every single minute of every single day. 

In recent years, many consumers, companies, and governments started rejecting single-use plastics. But over the past year, single-use plastics made a comeback as the pandemic led to an increased reliance on plastic gloves, takeout containers, packing bubbles, masks, and grocery bags (eek, this hurts!). 

As the tourism industry slowly begins to recover, many hotels, restaurants, and tour operators are still using single-use plastics to try and combat the pandemic, but this is causing more waste and more plastic to end up in our environment’s fragile ecosystems. 

With the increased reliance on plastics due to COVID, it’s even more important to cut down your consumption when you travel.

One of the most common plastic items used by tourists is single-use beverage bottles. Luckily, there’s a simple solution: bring your reusable water bottle on your trip! 

If you’re worried about the water quality in the destination you’re visiting, bring a water bottle with a built-in purifier.

Refillable toiletry bottles are another easy, eco-friendly item to add to your packing list.

Another easy way to reduce plastic waste is by changing your eating habits. When going to a restaurant, dine-in rather than takeout will typically come in a plastic bag, container, and with plastic cups and utensils. Or, choose to hit up the local street food scene and for vendors that dish up their goodies in biodegradable alternatives. 

You can also choose to take your reusable container and utensils with you when you travel so that if you are in a position where you get takeout, you can use your reusable items and still enjoy the local cuisine and drinks.

7. Visit National Parks 

National parks, marine sanctuaries, and other protected areas like this play an important role in protecting our planet’s natural resources and biodiversity.

Every year, more than 8 billion people visit the world’s protected areas, generating about $850 billion in spending- and we are massively for this type of travel… if it is done right. 

Our most popular trips have been to some of the United States National Parks in the last year, and this has shown no sign of slowing down. 

Why? Because people want to see these stunning natural habitats… sustainably. 

And how do we do that? We ensure that when you visit these destinations, you are minimizing your impact by acting responsibly.

You will support local communities, avoid degrading sensitive environments and disturbing wildlife, comply with all visitor guidelines, and follow the leave no trace principles. 

We will also always ensure that you stay in stunning, eco-friendly accommodations run by locals and support local businesses, restaurants, and tour operators.

Want to visit a National Park this year? Submit your trip request now!

A romantic park-ation in 2021

If you find sustainable travel just that little bit overwhelming, don’t worry- we’re all for teaching you how to do so. Authenteco Travel books eco-luxury vacations where we’ll teach you just how easy it is to travel without costing the Earth.

If you want to book your next trip with us, simply submit your trip request here.