Tourists have a responsibility to ensure they comply with sustainable practices wherever they travel. Some of these include buying local products, opting for ecofriendly accommodation and travelling in local transport

Sustainable tourism is gaining steam as global efforts to combat greenhouse gas emissions are ramped up. Tourists are increasingly calling for planet-friendly initiatives and actions, and practising responsible tourism when they travel. To this end, they need to make informed decisions before embarking on their journeys.

Here are 10 ideas that can pave the way for a sustainable and fulfilling travel experience.

The Right Destination Matters

Selecting an appropriate destination is of utmost importance when choosing to travel sustainably. Opting for local adventures, or ‘microadventures’ as coined by the adventurer and author Alastair Humphreys, means exploring lesser-known areas of your own neighbourhood or visiting museums within your city.

Engaging in activities closer to home minimises carbon dioxide emissions and offers a sense of exploration and discovery. If you desire a more distant getaway, consider embarking on a short road trip to a nearby beach or forest.

Opt For Sustainable Places

When selecting your travel destination, prioritise the regions and areas that embrace planet-friendly and sustainable practices. Look for places that demonstrate a commitment to preserving natural resources, protecting local communities and heritage, and reducing energy consumption. Opting for destinations with established governing bodies dedicated to managing sustainability ensures that your visit contributes positively to the environment and supports responsible tourism practices.

Avoid Travelling During Peak Season

Planning your trip during off-peak months is advisable when visiting bustling and popular cities. You can avoid the peak season crowds and enjoy a more relaxed and authentic experience. Consider extending your stay to immerse yourself further in the local culture and explore lesser-known attractions.

Travel To Destinations Needing Recovery

Travel and tourism play a crucial role in revitalising areas affected by natural disasters. Engaging in volunteer work for environmental and social projects can contribute to rebuilding devastated communities. Travellers can assist in the recovery process by travelling to destinations needing economic help but should first conduct due diligence to understand whether their arrival will be welcomed or resented by local communities.

Choose Ecofriendly Stays

When selecting accommodation, prioritise ecofriendly options such as certified green hotels or locally-owned guesthouses. Seek tour operators and travel agencies that actively promote sustainable tourism and are committed to community development.

Commute Wisely

Opt for bike or walking tours to explore your destination. If you are near a body of water, choose sailing over engine powered boats. Consider electric vehicles or select the smallest rental vehicle that accommodates your family’s needs. Utilise public transport whenever possible as an ecofriendly option and an opportunity to connect with local people.

Pack Smartly

Packing smart is crucial to reducing your environmental footprint and simplifying your travel experience. Opt for biodegradable shampoos, laundry bars, and reef-safe sunscreen to minimise ecological harm. Bringing your own water bottle and reusable cutlery helps reduce your reliance on single-use items, thus reducing plastic consumption.

Buy Local As Much As Possible

Support local businesses by patronising them during your travels. Seek out establishments that offer unique products and support the local economy. Be mindful of items that contain animal products, especially when their origin is uncertain.

Eat Thoughtfully

Making thoughtful choices about your diet can contribute to a sustainable and environmentally-friendly lifestyle, whether at home or while travelling. Opting for a vegetarian or vegan diet is an excellent way to reduce your ecological footprint. If you still want to consume non-vegetarian products, consider eating chickens raised in healthy pastures and sustainably-sourced seafood. However, if you are open to eliminating meat and dairy entirely, tofu and nuts are one of the most sustainable alternatives.

Choose Local Outfitters That Care For The Planet

Whether you choose a wildlife safari or go snorkelling and scuba diving, book your tour with a local company that is accredited with or adheres to the standards of the Global Sustainable Tourism Council. Refuse tour operators who promise hands-on engagement with wild animals. Give your money to tour operators who prioritise community-based tourism and take an active role in conserving the region’s biodiversity. Do your research first and then ask local community members about such travel outfitters.

Ironically, the City of Light doesn’t want you to share its sparkle.

Once the sun sets over Paris, the Eiffel Tower is lit in a dazzling display of 20,000 sparkling lights until 1 a.m. The show, which occurs nightly at the famous landmark, is not only a perfect calling card for the City of Light, but also a social media gold mine, attracting camera phones like moths to a flame. But every person who’s posted a sparkling Boomerang to Instagram probably doesn’t know that they’ve actually broken the law.

Mais oui! All those Instagram images, Facebook albums, and Pinterest pics showcasing the Eiffel Tower under the night stars are actually illegal. It all comes down to good old-fashioned copyright law which states that monuments in Europe are protected for the lifespan of the work’s legal creator, plus 70 years. So while the Eiffel Tower itself, the creator of which died in 1923, is fair game, the light show, created in 1985, is still protected work.

As Snopes explained, “Under European copyright law, people cannot sell photographs of copyrighted works, upload them to stock photo websites, publish them in magazines, or — what affects most tourists — post them to social media.”

Snopes noted that the Eiffel Tower itself is in the public domain, meaning that during daylight hours it’s totally legal for you to share as many photos as you’d like.

And while it’s not technically illegal for you to take photos of the monument day or night, you could, in theory, be hit with a cease and desist if you share a photo of the light show without permission. You could always snap a photo of the darkened building at night for your IG story, but really, what’s the fun in that?

There is good news for tourists, though. If you’re only trying to get a good shot for the ‘gram, you probably needn’t worry. Snopes explained that the effort to bring legal action against the everyday social media user would be too big of a burden to be worth the effort.

However, if you want to publish images of the tower all lit up anywhere official or for commercial use, you’ll want to get permission from the Société d’Exploitation de la Tour Eiffel (the company which owns and operates the tower).

As the Société notes on the Eiffel Tower’s official website, “Photographing the Eiffel Tower at night is not illegal at all. Any individual can take photos and share them on social networks. But the situation is different for professionals. The Eiffel Tower’s lighting and sparkling lights are protected by copyright, so professional use of images of the Eiffel Tower at night requires prior authorization and may be subject to a fee.”

So go ahead, snap and share — and become an international criminal at large.

To ensure a smooth and enjoyable journey, here are five essential tips for planning the perfect summer road trip.

Summer road trips are a great way to explore new destinations and create unforgettable memories with your loved ones. However, planning a road trip can be daunting and overwhelming without proper preparation. There are countless potential destinations, routes, and activities to consider, which can quickly become overwhelming. To ensure a smooth and enjoyable journey, it’s essential to plan ahead and take care of all the necessary details. From deciding on your destination and route to packing essentials and planning activities, we’ll cover everything you need to know to make your trip a success. By following these tips, you can enjoy a stress-free and exciting adventure on the open road. So grab your map, pack your bags, and let’s hit the road!

Ekta Mohanani Kamra, Travel Enthusiast and Founder of Hop n Bop, shared five essential tips to help you plan the perfect summer road trip.

1. Plan your route

Considering the present heat situation, decide on the places you want to visit and plan your route accordingly. Use a map or a GPS to ensure that you have the most efficient and scenic route possible.

2. Check your vehicle

Before embarking on your road trip, make sure your vehicle is tuned up and in a good condition. Get it serviced, and check the tires, brakes and oils to ensure a safe and relaxed journey. To prevent motion sickness when travelling, stay hydrated as much as you can, take short breaks for snacks, and eat wholesome foods and cold liquids.

3. Pack light giving more space

Make a list of everything you need to pack for your trip including snacks, and water. Sunscreen and first aid kit. Pack smart and wear comfortable and breezy clothes to not cause any irritation on the trip. Don’t forget to pack some entertainment such as books and a good playlist to keep your fellow companions entertained.

4. Multiple drivers

Having at least two people who can drive is crucial so as to avoid delays and longer halts. Having more than one driver can make sure the driving responsibilities are shared equally, allowing each person to rest and refresh themselves. This also reduces the risk of driver fatigue.

5. Travel early

Travel during the early hours to reach your destination before the scorching heat of the day sets in. This could help you if you wish to do outdoor activities, as it helps you avoid the hottest part of the day, reducing the risk of exhaustion.

In conclusion, planning the perfect summer road trip requires preparation and excitement and with the right mindset and planning, it can become an unforgettable experience filled with adventure and relaxation. So grab a map, plan a route and hit the road for the trip of your life!

If you love planning vacations and trips, here are some financial tips to bare in mind.

We can safely claim that travelling has practically become second nature to us as a result of travel becoming more and more accessible and as more and more people venture outside of their towns, cities, and countries on a regular basis. Don’t let the anticipation of visiting new places impair your judgement if you intend to travel for any vacation. Your personal and financial information could be at risk wherever you go due to the vulnerability of the majority of large hotel businesses’ computer systems and recent hotel system hacks.

Even if we take great care to prepare everything we need for our trips, many of us frequently overlook key financial details prior to departure. We either forget to take them into account because we are preoccupied with planning our trip, or we simply don’t think they are significant enough to worry about. Below are some financial tips to keep your money safe while travelling:

Savings:

Saving is one of the all-time things one should do even when you plan a trip in your mind and plans get successful finally. Saving would really help you fund your trip and in other situations too. Going on a vacation would be difficult if you don’t save from the start.

Draw an estimated budget:

One of the biggest mistakes that we do before planning a trip is not drawing an estimated budget. It’s vital to take into consideration how much every aspect of the trip can cost an individual. For starters, take a general idea of how much staying at hotels, tickets, travel rides and food can cost you. Make a small budget of how much you’ll spend on buying things. These will help you to draw an overall budget.

Use credit cards instead of debit:

Instead of using debit cards use credit cards while travelling since it would be prudent to limit credit card expenditure. Debit cards provide less security if your wallet is lost, while credit cards are less troublesome to deal with fraudulent charges on. Use your debit card instead of a credit card if you need to withdraw cash, as credit cards have significant fees.

Open a special savings account:

It can be really relaxing to know that all of your bills are taken care of before you leave the house. One way is to open a special savings account. Choose an account that offers the highest interest rate you can find and isn’t ATM-accessible.