How Responsible Tourism is an Effective Step in Making Earth More Liveable?

As the tourism industry is evolving at an incredible pace, some steps must be taken to protect mother earth from getting overwhelmed. That’s when the term “Responsible Tourism” comes into play. However, very few travellers know about this concept thoroughly. No Worries! That’s why we are sharing this post with you to provide you handful of details on the same.

The prime reason for following this new way of travel is to focus on a sustainable environment. Over the past decade, a lot has changed, and sustainability has taken the front seat. Most people confuse this concept with Sustainable Tourism, which is wrong. To clear all your doubts about this concept, read through each line of this post vigilantly.

About Responsible Tourism - A Quick Overview

The travel industry is emerging ardently from the pandemic. Travelers have regained the confidence to travel around the world without hesitation. Therefore, it is the perfect time to shape what travel will look like in a few years. And it will be possible with responsible travel. Now, the question arises, “what is responsible tourism?”.  As per the definition of the Cape Town Declaration from 2002’s World Summit on Sustainable Development, it means creating a better place for people to live in and better places for people to visit.

In simple terms, it requires local people, tour operators, hoteliers, governments, and tourists to take responsibility and action to make tourism sustainable. Many expressions like Sustainable tourism, Impact travel, Ethical travel, etc., are linked to tourism that left a favourable impact on the environment.

Why is Responsible Tourism Important?

Traveling does not only give us experiences but enlightens us with different aspects of life on the planet. Therefore, traveling with a sense of protecting the environment and making everything around bearable for every being is essential. It is viable only when you travel responsibly. Conscious traveling allows you to make meaningful connections with local people, understand the local culture, and learn about social & environmental issues.

Thus, if we focus on Responsible tourism, there can be a world where we can encourage adventure, discovery, and exploration while ensuring the safety of our environment. This way, travellers respect the culture and community of responsible tourism destinations. To create a difference in how we travel the world, everyone needs to look after the environment the same way we guard ourselves.

Frankly saying, there is no rule book on how to be a responsible traveller. However, some ways can ensure your adventures are not harmful to the environment. Such as;

• Minimize the use of plastic, eat plant-based meals & reduce meat, and prefer carbon-zero travel suppliers.
• Respect local cultures and traditions.
• Stay longer on your vacation.
• Follow all the covid-related norms responsibly.
• Spend money on local products.

For various reasons, responsible tourism is vital for a sustainable environment.

Significant Benefits of Responsible Travel

A responsible travel community offers numerous benefits because it leads us to more authentic and exhilarating adventures. Let’s look at some of the benefits of responsible tourism that are rewarding for everyone:

• It allows travellers to be aware of their actions

One of the main benefits of mindful traveling is that it makes you more conscious of your choices. Before going on a vacation, you should get enough knowledge on sustainable travel. You must know that some locations must be kept safe and should not be visited. For example, many tiny islands cannot carry immense numbers of tourists, and a few areas cannot deal with a large group of travellers due to limited infrastructure.

• It creates less ecological impact

When you choose to go local on your vacation, it leaves ecological footprints on the place. Many tourists prefer to eat local food which is locally produced. It doesn’t force locals to import goods from other nations, which results in cost-cutting. Hence, it is economically and environmentally an incredible choice. In addition, it lets you taste new cuisine.
 
• It supports local businesses

Responsible tourism supports local communities in great ways. When you support local businesses, you also indirectly support their communities. The destinations with mass tourism generally have big operators who get all the benefits if you spend on them. Therefore, choosing a local provider over a well-established one will be a favorable decision for the local communities.

• It creates lots of job opportunities

When more and more people travel locally, it creates many job opportunities. It is one of the top benefits of responsible tourism. In the tourism sector, there are a lot of job opportunities for people. Especially for small communities, it is a significant way to earn their livelihood.

How Can You Become a Responsible Tourist?

When you go on a vacation, you must pick whether to act responsibly and contribute positively to the environment or be a simple tourist. We hope that you go with the former. It is time to put your values, respect, and responsibilities toward nature forward. Responsible tourism is all about preventing ecological degradation, unemployment, and loss of cultures. So, if you are wondering how you can take part in this, here is the list of things you can do on your part:

1. Consume Every Resource Responsibly

As a traveller, you should remember to consume resources such as electricity, water, oil, coal, and others with a sense of responsibility.

2. Purchase and Consume Local

Trying new food and local products while traveling will add fresh experiences to your bucket list. Being mindful of where you spend your money on your tour is a vital component of responsible tourism. For instance, buying things from local shop owners, artisans, and markets. Also, try street food from local vendors.
 
3. Value Cultural Heritages

Travelers should treat cultural heritage with extra care. As a tourist, you must keep the cultural legacy of the place safe. The artistic heritage of the destination imparts identity and diversity to every city you visit.

4. Prefer Local Home Stays

When you juggle the staying option, always choose to book a local homestay in the area. This way, you connect with locals, get an authentic staying experience, and create a positive impact. Besides, one of the main benefits of choosing a homestay is to help local communities build more opportunities for local people.
 
5. Minimize Transport

You can minimize transport by traveling in shared cars, choosing a train or airplane ride, and bike ride. It will result in less traffic, less pollution, improved air quality and saving fuel. Further, it will reduce greenhouse gas which is a major concern. Moreover, you can use the environmental-friendly alternative in the majority of cases. For example, electric bikes, scooters, and hydrogen vehicles.

6. Reduce the single-use of plastic

Every traveller should take responsibility for saying no to single-use plastic. Everyone knows how much harm plastic products cause to our beloved environment. Taking action toward this is what Responsible tourism requires everyone to do.

How is Dook International Joining Hands in Responsible Tourism?

Dook International not only focuses on offering the best travel experience around the globe but also aims to create awareness among travellers about Responsible Tourism. We propel our travel agents to provide sustainable trips which are environmentally sustainable. This way, they can also be a part of responsible tourism.

On the other hand, when dealing with travellers, we educate them on how they can be responsible tourists. This post is our step towards the same. Dook aims to protect the environment and create a better place for every being. If you want a thorough understanding of this emerging concept, you need to skim through each line of this blog carefully.