Benefits of sustainable tourism
Benefits of sustainable tourism : Sustainable tourism simply refers to the full account of its current and incoming economic, social and the environmental impacts, addressing the wants of the travelers, the industry, the environmental and host communities. This minimizes the negative impacts and maximizes the positive ones to enable and improve sustainable tourism both for the present and the future generations.
It has a lower ecological impact.
Everything you do on vacation how you get there, where you stay, what you do, what you eat affects your natural footprint. Green tourism tries to cut down on this as much as possible. We know that travelling should be fun, but there are many easy things you can do to help the earth while you’re away. Just consuming local produce and food from a local business can already make a huge difference. Imported food, whether it comes from across the country or across the ocean, costs a lot of money and harms the earth. Plus, when you go to new places, you can learn about the society through the food. Local food not only helps you save a lot of pollution, but it also lets you try new flavors that you might fall in love with.
If you want to cut your carbon footprint even more, you can avoid flying if you can get to your safari destination by train, bus, or some other environmentally friendly way. When air travel is inevitable choose for direct flights and purchase carbon offsets. Don’t forget to only bring light things.
It allows wildlife to stay wild.
A big part of being a caring tourist is taking care of wildlife. But in many places, animals are used to draw people in, but they aren’t always treated well. Think about riding elephants in Thailand or swimming with pink dolphins in the Amazon. These seem like harmless things to do, but they aren’t good for the animals.
Elephants are in pain and die too soon. Dolphins are drawn to frozen fish given by tourism companies right before visitors swarm to touch, ride, restrain, and even lift them out of the water. All of these things are done so that people can take pictures. Sometimes pictures aren’t enough. Some tourists bring home an animal part as a gift, like a tortoise shell, tiger fang, or piece of ivory.
When you plan your safari with knowledge, you can avoid places that don’t have the animals’ best interests in mind. If people stop going to these kinds of places to have fun, they will eventually close down. Wild animals can stay wild. This will also give local people the power to work in travel jobs that are good for the environment, protect wildlife, and do green tourism instead of relying on abuse.
Seeing animals in their natural environment is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. If you really want to get close to animals, you can help out with protection projects as a volunteer. Adding a period of working to your safari will give you a once-in-a-lifetime experience while helping important projects and showing you how sustainable tourism can be good for everyone.
Responsible tourism keeps the environment clean.
When people get lost in local markets or relax at their resorts, they often don’t think about keeping the surroundings clean or don’t think about it at all. This can cause a lot of trash, like plastic on beaches and a lot of energy use in hotels. Going green on vacation starts at home. When looking into a place to stay, look for red flags, such as problems with garbage or sewage. Ask hard questions and learn how to spot greenwashing.
Disprove what your hotel says about being green. If your hotel says they have banned all single-use plastic, ask if this includes the shampoo, conditioner, and bath gel bottles or the plastic laundry bags they use to wash guests’ clothes and linens. Check out how your hotel’s restaurants serve food and drinks without using plastic wrap. Find out where and how they get their goods and when they serve their guests.
Ask them about ways to cut down on waste. Does your hotel say no to suppliers who send too much packaging? Do they ask people to use their sheets and towels more than once? Do their bathrooms and kitchens have bins that can be filled up? Do they have places to recycle or a place to put food waste? Are they taking shorter showers or using products that use less water? Is there a plan in place to save energy?
When you pack for your safari, think about bringing these eco-friendly things to help minimize down on waste:
Reusable cutlery and food containers.
Reusable straws and a reusable water bottle.
Cloth napkins.
Toiletry bag with reusable travel-sized containers.
Travel towel.
Menstrual cup.
Reusable shopping bag / backpack (for shopping and souvenirs).
At the end of the day, your choices about waste help support the best parts of sustainable tourism, like keeping communities cleaner and protecting the beauty of the places you visit on your Kenya safari.
It supports and empowers local communities.
By helping local communities, you have a unique chance to learn more about the history of the area. By staying in hotels, guesthouses, and homestays that are run by locals, you can directly help the local economy and get to know the people who live there.
You can also do something similar with a reliable local tour company. The money you spend gives locals jobs that are good for the environment and goes to the people who helped make your trip special. Ever tried nasi lemak on a roadside in the Malaysian countryside? How about a pizza baked in a brick oven on the streets of Naples?
You won’t find these meals in chain restaurants, and if you do, they’re probably overpriced and not very good. When you eat at a local restaurant, you know the food is healthy, fresh, and not too expensive because the items are grown or bought in the area.
When you buy local goods and souvenirs, you can get things you might not be able to find anywhere else and you can be sure that the money you spend stays in the area.
You become a more conscious traveler.
One of the best things about sustainable travel is that it helps you make better decisions. That could mean taking a greener way to get to your goal or staying in a place that cares about the environment. You might even find out that you shouldn’t go to certain places if you want them to stay alive. Some small islands can’t handle a lot of tourists, and some places don’t have the facilities to handle a lot of people. In these situations, the best thing to do is not go there at all.
You can also be a responsible tourist by choosing to eat at a local restaurant instead of bringing McDonald’s back to your hotel and by taking a slower trip and using your time off to help a good cause.
Responsible travel tips.
Choose for sustainable travel destinations, go off the beaten path, and/or visit during off-season.
Move more slowly. If you can, try to spend more time in a country instead of rushing to see all the top recommended vacation spots. Let yourself get to know your surroundings and the people who live there. This will help you learn more about the society, history, and traditions of your Kenya destination.
Turn off the lights in your lodge, and unplug electronic devices when they’re not being used.
Take shorter showers, and do laundry in bulk.
If towels and bed sheets are not dirty, you can use them again.
Dress correctly for the safari destinations you plan to visit.
Request locals for permission before you take their photos.
Learn a few phrases in the local language to create interactions with local communities.
When visiting pristine and untouched landscapes, be careful of geotagging them when you post on social media. This keeps the number of tourists down.
When investigating destinations with ecological fragility, check whether the area is properly maintained, and find out about local conservation efforts.
Make sure your accommodation employs locals and treats them well. Plus points if their staff is also broad and open to everyone.
Encourage tourism businesses that follow and respect local regulations and / or possess sustainable credentials.
Ask about the environmental policies of the accommodations and services you book with.
