Travel industry has seen an unprecedented boom. According to Economic Impact Report 2018 released by WTTC, travel and tourism contributed to 10.4% of the world GDP in 2017 with the forecast of an increase of 4.0% in 2018. It contributed 9.9% to total employment of the world, which is expected to rise by 3.0% in 2018.

But this rampant growth has its own cost – the cost to the environment and the ecosystem. Overtourism, overdevelopment, commercialization, acculturation, heritage erosion are some of the adverse effects of this unguarded growth.

All of these are massively monstrous issues. They have stirred up some serious debates and traction off late. Everyone is shouting out for a change and hoping that it would miraculously autocorrect itself.

But, hang on…

Don’t you think that travellers (the vital part of any travel industry) should become more responsible in their choices?

Shouldn’t we stop fretting about things beyond our control and start taking small steps towards creating positive impact on the places we travel to?

It is about time that we start taking ownership of our actions, that is, we must begin travelling responsibly.

Responsible Travel is about creating a positive impact on places and people we choose to visit. We are a responsible traveller, if we adhere to the following –

o Being sensitive to local customs and traditions: Try to keep an open mind and be respectful of diversity. There could be situations one might be uncomfortable with, there we must just be a seer or a seeker rather than a critic. If possible, read about the place you are scheduled to visit and try to understand their social mores and traditions. It is also imperative to know what might be considered inappropriate in that culture.

o Travelling like a local: Indulge in actions that would have a direct economic impact on the local community – Stay in local accommodations, use local guides and porters wherever possible, buy souvenirs that are indigenous, eat in locally owned restaurants, enjoy foods and drinks that are native to the place and have been produced locally.

o Interacting with wildlife in their natural habitat only: Be an animal friendly tourist. Refrain from activities like riding elephants, petting lions or swimming with dolphins. You must make a conscious effort not to indulge in activities where animals have endured stringent training and lifetime of abuse.

o Going Green: Minimize plastic waste. Always carry your own reusable or steel water bottles and a backpack to put items you buy while in the journey. Turn off the air conditioners and water heaters when not in use. Walk your way or use a cycle wherever possible. Resist the urge to pluck flowers or take away sand and seashells from the beach.

o Contributing to the local causes: One of the noble ways of giving back to the places you are visiting is to volunteer some of your time towards local causes. It could be an environment conservation project, teaching in a local school or something as simple as donating towards a charity fund.

o Treating ‘their’ home as ‘our’ home: Please don’t litter around. Keep it as clean as you would like your own home to be.

Thus, the first step towards being a responsible traveler is realizing our responsibility towards environment. Doing ‘our’ bit towards making a positive impact on the places that we travel to. Once the ethos and spirit of being a responsible traveler have been imbibed, it is equally important to educate others to do the same.

If each one of us starts traveling responsibly, the aggregate of individual efforts would bring a significant difference in the environment.

Contemplate, deliberate and share your reflections below.