Date of publication 05/08/2018
Sustainable tourism How to be an eco-traveler: a guide
How to travel without leaving sustainability behind
Responsible travelers are not born; they’re made. In the age of information overload, it’s easy to measure the scope and consequences of our choices—and to improve our traveling habits, aligning them with our responsibility to the environment. We just need to join the various efforts being made by companies like Iberostar to, among other things, protect the sea and marine life. Making small changes in our behavior when we travel can cause an ecological butterfly effect in the places we visit.
Commit to sustainable mobility
You’ll reduce your carbon footprint if you travel using public transportation. Organize your trips ahead of time and you’ll see that nowadays it’s easy to coordinate schedules and buy tickets online. Tour cities on foot or by bicycle and, when renting a vehicle is unavoidable, choose an electric car (in the very near future we’ll see more initiatives like that of the Balearic Islands government, which plans to make all rental cars on the islands fully electric by 2030).
Choose a hotel committed to sustainability
Eco-friendly hotels contribute to the preservation of biodiversity in their surrounding areas, and help to conserve, protect and care for the environment. One example is the Iberostar Selection Fuerteventura Palace, recognized last year as one of the top ten hotel sustainability and rehabilitation projects in Spain by the Re Think Hotel competition. It was praised for its architectural solutions (which take advantage of natural light and ventilation); its renewable energy and water-saving systems; and its waste and recycling practices. There are also resorts that actively participate in native flora and fauna recovery projects, such as the Iberostar Selection Praia do Forte (Brazil) and Iberostar hotels in Riviera Maya (Mexico), which collaborate in the conservation of native sea turtles.
Buy products and gifts from fair trade initiatives
Buy things that reflect the unique characteristics of the place you’re visiting; you’ll encourage direct contact with local producers. The money you spend will also help provide tools to vulnerable populations, allowing them to work in a trade or profession that will provide the income they need to get by all year long.
Pack smart
This is a basic point that requires you to use your head, and maybe a list as well. Assess the destination and if it's a natural park or protected area, take beauty products which are environmentally friendly. In other words, those which are 100% natural and biodegradable. This way you can be sure that any products that go down the drain or into the sea (such as sunscreen) are diluted and decomposed in a way that’s safe for the environment.
Eat local products
It’s not only about trying exotic flavors or local, traditional recipes; it’s also about reducing your ecological footprint. Consuming products produced within a 100-kilometer radius avoids the use of trucks, planes, trains and boats for their transportation and distribution. More than just a passing fad, the consumption of local products represents a shift in social awareness that everyone should be a part of. What’s more, seasonal ingredients taste better and are easier to find.
Only buy legal artisan products
Choose responsibly made products, produced with raw materials that comply with local laws. Many artisan products use native trees that should not be cut down or materials that come from protected species, such as bones or turtle shells. Before purchasing a product, it’s essential to be informed about its origin.
Don't pay to take pictures or encourage begging
This point generates a lot of controversy because, although we think we’re doing good by participating in these practices, we’re actually doing just the opposite. NGOs that fight against the exploitation of people by criminal organizations say that in order to discourage this problem, you should not support begging (a form of trafficking defined by the United Nations). You also shouldn’t pay to take pictures with children.
Make a positive impact
It’s fundamental for the money you spend during your trip to make a positive social or environmental contribution. Some hotel chains operate non-profit foundations that invest large sums of money in educational or social initiatives.
For the Iberostar Group the aim is to care for the sea through its Waves of change program. This project comprises three lines of action aimed at protecting the oceans against current threats. The first is eliminating disposable plastic products from all our rooms.
The second, is our commitment to sustainable fishing which has seen a wide range of establishments in this chain offer only products caught and transported under the MSC seal of quality and guarantee (Marine Stewardship Council). And the third, is to care for the coastal areas through a range of initiatives which look to promote the diversity and ensure the preservation of the coastlines, seabeds and reefs.
Optimize resources and avoid generating waste
The World Health Organization (WHO) insists that, to achieve a sustainable use of water, the ideal length of a shower is five minutes. This is equivalent to using a little less than 100 liters of water (the amount one person usually drinks in 50 days).
Use the same towel for several days, and when you open one of the amenities offered at the hotel, whether it’s a bar of soap or a bottle of shower gel or shampoo, use it until it runs out. If the tap water is potable, drink it from a glass (not a plastic cup) to avoid unnecessary waste. France is the first country to have banned the use of plastic cups and cutlery in order to reduce the effects of climate change. And in Spain, starting in January 2020, the sale and distribution of plastic bags in stores will be prohibited.
Make a conscience connection with your destination
There are certain threatened areas and fragile territories that require responsible travel. Protecting these areas’ customs and contributing to the preservation of their people’s traditions should be a priority, along with avoiding dramatic interference with their ecosystems. When visiting a natural park or an area full of native species and vegetation, be respectful while maintaining an awareness of the impact your presence could have.
MARTA SAHELICES
Photography by Cordon Press and Getty Images
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