Not all tourists are created equal: How you can be one of the good ones
Tourists have always gotten a bad rap, but their impact has grown unsustainable in some destinations. It's past due to try a new approach.
From the Canary Islands to Hawaii, destinations worldwide are grappling with the challenges of over tourism and climate change. Just over the past year, residents across Spain and Greece have been protesting against the high influx of tourists. Last spring, 67% of Hawaii residents said they feel the islands are "run for tourists at the expense of local people," citing the rising cost of living, damage to the environment and a lack of respect for culture.
When left unchecked, mass tourism can cause environmental and cultural degradation, displace locals, and strain infrastructure and resources.
"These consequences not only harm the destinations but also diminish the quality of the travel experience itself and can ultimately lead to its decline and disappearance," said Paula Vlamings, chief impact officer at Tourism Cares, a nonprofit focused on positive change in the travel industry.
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By now, most of us have heard of responsible tourism, or the notion of making "choices that take into account the well-being of the destinations" and align with values of sustainability and equity, as Vlamings put it. In Booking.com's Sustainable Travel 2024 report, 71% of the 31,000 survey respondents said they wanted to leave a place better than when they arrived – up from 66% in 2023.
Still, putting it into practice has been a challenge, with 45% saying sustainability isn't a primary consideration when planning their trips and 34% feeling powerless in making a meaningful impact, according to the report.Making an effort to seek out community-based experiences while traveling not only supports the destination but also allows the traveler to have a deeper and more authentic connection on their trip, not just something overly commercialized. Sounds like a win-win, right?
Here are some practical ways you can become a more sustainable traveler.
Map it out: You can use this tool
If you don't know where to begin your research, Tourism Cares' Meaningful Travel Map is a good starting place. This recently launched interactive map highlights 30 member destinations and over 400 vetted local impact organizations," from diverse and inclusive businesses to organizations focusing on environmental or cultural preservation. Just scroll over your destination of choice to see the suggested activities.
The idea for the map can be traced back to 2018, when the nonprofit partnered with Visit Jordan, the country's tourism bureau, to identify underrepresented communities, nonprofits and social enterprises that could benefit from tourism and introduced them to advisors and tour operators.
"We wanted to guide travelers beyond popular sites like Petra and into local communities, where tourism could transform the lives of people, especially women and families," Vlamings said. The nonprofit expanded on that successful program to other places like Colombia, Puerto Rico, and Lake Tahoe before creating the worldwide map.
This is what it means to 'go local'
Travelers constantly hear that they should support local, but what exactly does that mean? "To seek community while traveling, you should prioritize experiences that encourage meaningful interaction with locals in their authentic environments," Vlamings said.
Think activities led by the people from the place, such as a volunteer opportunity with a nonprofit, historical walking tour, cooking class on local cuisine or visit to a cultural center or Indigenous community. You could also plan your trip to coincide with a cultural event or festival significant to the locals, such as Lei Day in Hawaii.
To get to know the destination, don't be afraid to take public transportation or strike up conversations with locals to learn more about their way of life or favorite restaurants and shops.
When in doubt, check for accreditation
It can be overwhelming for travelers to determine if a tour operator or hotel is truly sustainable or greenwashing. "The challenge today is that there isn’t a unified global standard for sustainable tourism businesses, so travelers will have to do a little bit of 'homework,'" said Vlamings.
Some reputable third-party accreditations focus on positive social and environmental impact you can look for when researching:
Everyone hates crowds
For many of us, completely removing timeless destinations like Venice and Amsterdam from our travel bucket list just isn't going to happen. If that's the case, Vlamings recommends people visit during the off-season to reduce overcrowding and respect guest limits at popular attractions and local laws. Seek out experiences other than the must-dos and give your money to small businesses rather than big corporations.
At the end of the day, remember you're not just in an exciting destination but someone's real home. "It is important to treat these communities with the same respect as you would like to have your home treated," Vlamings said.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 4 easy ways to be a more responsible traveler in 2025
