The COVID-19 pandemic has likely put a damper on your vacation plans. Nevertheless, a new report from Airbnb shows that over half of those surveyed are ready to hit the road and get exploring again at some point in 2021. While you may be eager to get some trips down in your calendar, it’s likely that a year of restricted movement has made you rethink why and how you might travel in the future.
A shift in perspective now means many crave vacations that allow them to reconnect with others or enjoy meaningful experiences, all without having to go too far from home. The idea of “responsible travel” now sits firmly at the forefront of many people’s minds…
What is Responsible Travel?
For Enchanting Travels, responsible travel means planning vacations that not only let you tick off amazing bucket list experiences but also allow you to have a positive impact on society, local economies, or the environment. Ultimately, it’s about using tourism as a force for good!
There are many ways to be more responsible with your travel habits. Your trip could focus on supporting disadvantaged communities, protecting the planet, or simply becoming more aware of different customs and cultures. From offsetting carbon emissions to supporting a wildlife conservation center and partaking in local community projects, there are so many ways – both big and small – to plan a responsible vacation.
Responsible Travel in 2021 : Tips
Here at Enchanting Travels, we want to make it easier for you to travel more responsibly in 2021 and beyond. Not sure what sustainable travel entails? Let us show you some easy ways to embrace the philosophy in this year’s vacation planning!
1 Staying Closer to Home
One of the best ways to embrace green travel is to keep your vacations close to home. This will allow you to reduce your carbon footprint and help safeguard the environment. If you live in the USA, why not go on a road trip of a lifetime to one of the many outstanding national parks such as Zion and Yellowstone or sunny coastal regions such as La Jolla or Monterey? There’s also the option of jumping over the border to Canada, Alaska, or Mexico for a change of scenery.
European travelers will find numerous vacation spots that can be reached without the need to sit on a plane for hours on end. Consider island-hopping in Greece, embarking on a wine-tasting getaway in France, or enjoying a front-row seat to the Northern Lights in Iceland.
2 Choosing Sustainable Hotels
There are many amazing accommodation options out there but it can be tricky to know which ones follow responsible practices such as the use of sustainable products, proper waste management or even treatment of their staff. When you receive a proposed itinerary from Enchanting Travels, we identify our responsible hotels and activities with the Enchanting Travels sustainability stamp so you can easily see which of your choices are the most responsible.
Consider booking a hotel accredited with Travelife, a sustainability program that helps businesses become more environmentally and socially friendly.
You can also do your bit to be more responsible while staying in hotels by:
- Keeping your water usage to a minimum
- Turning your lights and appliances off whenever you go out
- Disposing of rubbish properly (and recycling if there are facilities available)
- Being respectful towards local staff and their customs
3 Vacationing in “Green” Destinations
No, we don’t mean jetting off to some lush rainforest or verdant mountain range. By “green” travel destinations, we mean places that have actively committed to being more environment-friendly in order to protect the planet and its inhabitants for future generations.
Great examples include cities that have embraced renewable energy options, drastically reduced their carbon emissions, and boosted the numbers of their green spaces. Why not plan a vacation to one of the world’s greenest cities such as Copenhagen or Vancouver?
Being “green” doesn’t just extend to cities. Many countries, such as Costa Rica, have committed to protecting their national parks – both on land and in the ocean – from urban development, pollution, and deforestation.
4 Selecting Conservation-based Vacations
Another brilliant way to be more responsible about your travel habits is to book trips that allow you to support the many wonderful animal conservation projects currently in place across the globe.
If a safari in the wildernesses of Africa is high on your wishlist, why not make this a sustainable vacation by spending a portion of your trip at a rescue center for endangered rhinos or an orphanage for baby elephants? For example, we partner with wildlife conservancies in Central Kenya including the Solio, Lewa, and Ol Pejeta Conservancies that are fighting to protect and encourage the breeding of black rhinos in their natural habitat. On the coasts, many of the boat tours we offer to witness sea life in the wild also act as vital research boats, hosting marine biologists responsible for monitoring these incredible creatures.
An outdoor-focused vacation is particularly prudent in 2021 when you may be seeking fresh air and destinations where you can be at a safe distance from other visitors.
Interested in learning more? Take a look at our tips for being more responsible when traveling and then speak to our experts about booking your sustainable vacation in 2021.
