Best Tips for Sustainable Travel

This weekend Berlin, next month Portugal and next summer Brazil. Travelling has become such a part of our everyday life that it is impossible to imagine life without it. We discover the most beautiful places in the world while travelling while, at the same time, learning how precious and unique our world is. That’s why it’s important to continually remind ourselves what travelling is really all about. Exploring foreign countries, customs and cultures must become something special again. Sustainable tourism is one way to add value to our travels and to the world. Many people know sustainable tourism also as soft tourism, alternative tourism or ecotourism, but what does it mean exactly? The World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) defines sustainable tourism as:

"Tourism that takes full account of current and future economic, social and environmental impacts, taking into account the needs of guests, industry, the environment and local people".

The term "sustainable tourism" here clearly refers not only to nature conservation but to various aspects. Economic benefit for the local population and improvement in their quality of life are important factors, but it is also a matter of preserving and respecting the customs and traditions of the local population. This means that all tourism activities should be social, fair and adapted to the respective local cultures. You may be asking yourself now, "Ok, but how does it work?“ Here are a few simple tricks to make your next Brazil trip more sustainable and to take home unique experience and special memories.

Do you already know where your next trip will take you? Then familiarise yourself in advance with the culture, history and nature of the destination in order to approach the local population appropriately. Once you arrive, you may even question your behaviour: Is my clothing and my behaviour appropriate? Am I respecting local customs and traditions? Another thing you can do before you start your trip is learn the most important words in the local language as these are some of the best conversation starters! This often gives you the best chance to get to know the locals during your trip.

Here you should consider two important factors: supporting the local economy and trying to keep the impact on the environment as low as possible. Various websites make it possible to find sustainable accommodations. If you want to find accommodations once you’re there, make sure that it is run by locals, as this creates jobs. Another important point is avoiding all-inclusive vacation packages, which have absolutely nothing in common with sustainable travel. This only supports big tourism companies with little to no benefit for small-to-medium, locally owned businesses. In our offer, you’ll find some amazing sustainable accommodations such as the Uakari Lodge in the Mamirauá Reserve in the middle of the Brazilian Amazon. There you’ll have the opportunity to experience first-hand the original and authentic way of life in the Amazon rainforest. During the tour with your guide, you will discover the Mamirauá Reserve together and get to know the flora and fauna in detail during hikes or by canoe.

To travel sustainably, you can do something before you even leave home. The heavier your luggage is, the greater the environmental impact. Only take with you what you really need. Whether it’s saving on fuel, transportation or just general waste, you can already make a big difference when packing your luggage.

Choose local tour operators and benefit from local guides’ insider knowledge. Avoid international restaurant chains when you go out to eat. That way, you will not only taste the typical dishes of your destination but also get to know new people and certainly eat healthier. The same applies to souvenirs. Look around the street markets or visit the small shops of the locals with handmade or locally produced wares.

When choosing leisure activities, pay attention to the natural conditions of your destination. Skiing in warm holiday countries or visiting exotic animal shows, are leisure activities that are worth reconsidering. For example, you can hire a local tour operator. The local guides know how to visit the surroundings sustainably, they will benefit directly from your holiday and normally know the area best.

Not only at home but also on holiday you should respect nature and leave it as you found it. Try to reduce your rubbish and throw anything that needs tossing into the designated rubbish bins. Regardless of whether you are on a multiple-day hiking tour to cross one of the many national parks of Brazil or spending a few days at one of the country’s beautiful beaches, take your garbage back with you to preserve the location's natural beauty and let others enjoy it to its fullest.

Also in the hotel or your holiday accommodation, you can consciously handle resources. For example, use your towels several times and switch off the air conditioning and lights while out. Get yourself reusable snack boxes or water bottles and avoid plastic drinking bottles if and when possible. Drinking fountains are now very common at many airports and public places. Even a reusable cloth bag can help you avoid any unnecessary plastic bags when shopping or picking up souvenirs.

If you take some of these tips to heart, you can certainly make your next Brazil trip sustainable. Until then you can practice at home...

Sources: www.geo.de, www.umweltdialog.de, www.umwelt-im-unterricht.de