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Traveling mindfully and luxuriously aren’t two mutually exclusive concepts. These days, practicing sustainable tourism without sacrificing your comfort is very much possible and actually quite easy to do. All it takes is a bit of planning ahead. Here are six tips to help you do just that:
1 – Choose Eco-Friendly Accommodations
Many of the popular tourist destinations these days have a wide variety of eco-friendly options where you can book a room. Many of these places are small to medium enterprises owned by locals, but even luxury hotels and resorts have started to go green. You’ll find that these sustainable accommodations can be just as impressive as regular ones.
As they’re gaining a lot of popularity today, finding them should be easy. Do a quick search online, and you’ll usually find a few choices. When you do settle on a place, make sure to check for their green accreditations and go through their reviews to verify that they are indeed eco-friendly.
2 – Opt for Less Harmful Travel Options
If there are several modes of transport available for you to get to your destination, always go for the most sustainable one. This will depend on several factors. If you’re traveling alone, traveling by air can be the most environmentally-friendly way, while trains and buses could be better for larger groups. If the only option is air travel, then prioritize direct flights as these leave a smaller carbon footprint than ones with multiple stopovers.
Once you do get to your destination, use public transportation. Better yet, try to get around on foot or by bicycle. If that doesn’t sound glamorous enough for your taste, then insist on green, energy-efficient cars.
3 – Participate in Responsible Wildlife Tourism
A good way to enjoy your trip is by joining sustainable tours that get you in touch with nature without disturbing it. These responsible wildlife tours can educate you on the importance of taking care of the environment, while at the same time provide plenty of entertainment. One thing to watch out for is tours that let you touch or ride animals or local wildlife.
4 – Support Local Artisans and Craftsmen
Shopping sustainably is easy to do, and there’s more than one way to go about it. You could ditch the luxury malls altogether and instead spend your money on local handicrafts that you won’t find elsewhere. Patronizing these goods support local communities and can go a long way in providing livelihood to families in the area.
If you do decide to go for more commercial products, opt for ones that are of higher quality and will last a long time. This way, you get more bang for your buck, but you also end up consuming less in the long run.
5 – Dine at Sustainable Establishments
For food options, take your time to explore and choose establishments that push for locally-sourced produce or environmentally-sound methods of farming. Most of the time, these types of restaurants offer the tastiest dishes as the ingredients used are fresher than in other places. You can also go for organic and vegan alternatives as these are better for the environment and arguably your health as well.
6 – Pack Environmentally-Safe Essentials
Start off your journey by packing mindfully. There are a ton of travel products available that are good for the environment. Instead of regular toiletries that come in plastic bottles, you can bring ones that are wrapped in biodegradable packaging. Bring reusable bottles and utensils with you, so you cut down on waste and pollution. Some bags and even clothes are made with recycled materials, so you can look great and still be eco-conscious.
Conclusion
We hope these tips encourage you to practice more eco-friendly habits when you travel in the future. There’s not much to it, and as you can see above, you won’t have to skimp on any of the good stuff. If you’re looking for a residential villa in Phuket, get in touch with us today to see how we can help.
