Finding Sustainability in 5 Travel Destinations for 2021

Sustainable travel I hear you say – we also hear the terms ‘Responsible’, ‘Eco’ widely used, but what do they mean?  Confused?  Probably!  In truth, they are very much interchangeable terms.  When you look at the characteristics set out by the organisations championing each (for example, The Responsible Tourism Partnership and The International Ecotourism Society (TIES)), they pretty much say the same thing, but, yes - you guessed it - in slightly different ways. 

If we merge their varying principles, each based on the Environmental, Social and Economic impacts of tourism, we can produce a great platform with which to judge potential holiday destinations to see if they truly live up to the ideals of sustainable {or other suitable word!} tourism.  These principles might look something like this:

• Minimize impact, especially through tourist behaviour
• Make positive contributions to environmental, biodiversity and cultural awareness and respect, and to the maintenance of the World’s diversity
• Provide positive experiences for both visitors and hosts which builds local pride and confidence
• Generate greater economic benefits for local people and enhance the well-being of host communities and improve working conditions
• Local participation in decision-making to benefit and empower local people
• Provide access for physically challenged people
• Benefit conservation
• Raise awareness of host countries’ political, environmental and social climate and minimises negative impacts
• Educational components for both the tourist and local communities
• Sustainable benefits to local communities

We’ve got to balance these principles, as well as taking a look at the other stuff that has an impact due to – clue’s in the name – travel – yep, the getting there bit!  And the biggest bit is .... flying – bet you’re shocked!

Airlines emit around 80% of the tourism industry’s greenhouse gases.  There are great things being done with alternative fuels and electricity, but these won’t be around for a while, especially for long-haul flights.  Although not ultimately the answer, and while we wait for the new stuff, here are some good habits to reduce your own carbon footprint when flying :

• Take the train if you can – you’ll see why in a moment!
• Fly direct - as taking off burns a lot of fuel – eliminate short-haul connections to long-haul flights where practical.
• Fly on budget or charter airlines or in economy – as they carry more people and the weight per seat is lower; consequently, the emissions per passenger are lower.
• Stay longer in destinations - Get more experiences for the carbon emitted.
• Fly with only a small amount of luggage - Less weight, less fuel burned.

So why all this blurb? 

Firstly, because I think it’s great to understand what we mean by Sustainable Travel; and secondly, to take a meaningful look at great Sustainable Destinations to visit in 2021.

So next up – my top 5 sustainable destinations to visit in 2021:

Sailing from Valparaiso in Chile, around Cape Horn, across the Drake Passage to Antarctica and then back to Ushuaia, Tierra del Fuego. Wow!

Eco Credo Points:

Hurtigruten is a World leader in cruise ship design and cruising sustainability. To this end, they have undertaken a wide range of initiatives which include:

• Building the first-ever hybrid-electric powered expedition cruise ships.
• Being the first major travel company to have removed single-use plastic from their entire fleet and improved waste management and recycling onboard their ships
• Investing in educating guests through actively engaging guests in the cultures visited, the ecosystems explored, and the consequences of climate change
• MS Fridtjof Nansen, and sister ship Roald Amundsen, are the first purpose-built bi-fuel ships with a revolutionary battery hybrid powered propulsion system.  The electric propulsion reduces the ship’s carbon emissions by around 20%.
• Hurtigruten understands that their business and operations directly impact many of the UN Sustainable Development Goals, especially those linked to responsible consumption and production, climate action and life below water; they are focussed on addressing these and more in their operations.
• Hurtigruten have also chosen four sustainable development goals that represent their company.   These are goals related to quality education, gender equality, peace, and justice.

With direct flights to Santiago, Chile and a direct return flight from Buenos Aires this trip minimises the impact of air travel and maximises the amount of time in the destination.  More time could be spent at the start and the end of the cruise to increase that time too. 

If a cruise is your thing call me and let’s do something sustainable…

Skiing is not considered to be an eco-tourism activity.  However, by moving away from conventional attitudes to a skiing holiday, some serious reductions can be achieved.

Eco Credo Points:

• Train travel produces significantly less carbon emissions than air travel – about 80% - particularly when the electricity used by the train is produced by green energy systems.  By taking the Eurostar overnight, skiers can gain up to 2 extra days on the slopes – thus increasing their in-destination time.

Skiing as an eco-activity gets a little trickier at this point.  Snow cannons, meat-heavy meals, snow ploughs and all the plastics used in ski-equipment don’t lend themselves to making this very eco-friendly.  However, a few simple measures can greatly help with these issues:

• Re-use ski clothing – don’t change every year
• Look out for ranges of clothing and equipment which are using more sustainable products such as plant-based oils, wood, tree sap glues and so on
• Use local produce and major on vegetables/pulses/pasta when self-catering.  If using hotels/chalets ask if these can be part of the menu.
• Hire skis/poles/boots in the resort. As well as maximising the use of the rental equipment it reduces the load carried by the train and therefore the amount of power required to move it.
• Find a balance between carrying a packed lunch onto the mountains and buying food in the mountain restaurants – part of sustainability is supporting the local economy.
• Don’t use single-use plastics such as cups or use compostable ones and ensure that there is a suitable mechanism for disposing of them.
• Change your style of skiing.  Learn and spend time doing cross-country and back-country skiing which uses your muscle power, not a lift.  These forms of skiing and skiing ‘off-piste’ do not require groomed pistes and therefore do not need snow ploughs.
• Choose a high-level resort which has a glacier which will reduce the reliance on snow cannons.
• Use a resort where the train terminates so that there is no need for more transport to the resort.
• Find accommodation which uses green energy sources such as ground source heat pumps and solar panels to reduce their environmental impact.

Going skiing does not have to be the 'enfant terrible' of sustainable travel.

Be radical, do it differently!

Give me a call and let’s see if we can make it so…

Walking or trekking has to be a major player in eco-tourism.  The downside is getting to your destination.  If you have time, and its possible, take a train or even drive.  Where a flight is required, try to make sure it is direct and maximise your time in the destination.

Eco Credo Points:

• Exodus has a 'total approach' to responsible tourism, covering everything from help to local communities, providing income, positive cultural exchanges and a financial incentive to protect their natural environment. These are intrinsic to the way they plan and operate their trips. 
• This climb deliberately targets a lesser-used route which therefore creates less erosion and environmental impact.
• Human porterage is an essential part of the Kilimanjaro Climb, and Exodus adhere to the strictest guidelines for the porter’s welfare on the mountain.
• Exodus is a member of the Kilimanjaro Porters Assistance Project (KPAP) which has a clear mission to improve the working conditions of porters on Kilimanjaro by advocating fair wages, providing educational opportunities and ensuring companies uphold a responsible treatment practice.
• KPAP has undertaken a number of initiatives including a series of ‘Leave No Trace’ environmental classes and first aid courses.
• Exodus has also been supporting the Kilimanjaro Guide scholarship since 2010, sponsoring at least one porter each year to undertake training during the low season in a bid to help improve their future career prospects. The most recent scholarships were to 2 female porters.
• Exodus also has initiatives running out of season to help seasonal workers develop language skills and employment opportunities.

This is a 31 mile, 8-day hike to 5895m.  Not for the faint hearted, but the sore feet will be worth it!

Go on, nail your bucket list – book it with me – you know you want to.

An amazing land and sea adventure.  G Adventures really defined sustainable tourism and have continued to lead the way.  This trip demonstrates everything that G Adventures value, including two stops at ‘G for Good’ ventures.  You will get local guides, locally sourced and cooked food and stay in accommodation run by local people. 

Eco Credo Points:

• Locally based = local experts.  They call their guides Chief Experience Officers (CEOs).  They are local to the area and their brief is to give the client the best, local, experience they can
• Travel like you live there – You stay local and so does your money.  G Adventures deliver the connections, charm, and authenticity that can only be found in local accommodation, transport, and restaurants. Plus, using local service providers helps support the local economy and the people that make the places so special.
• Giving back through community tourism – This is about directly benefiting the people and places visited, including indigenous peoples, women, youth — anyone who has traditionally been marginalized or undervalued.
• G for Good - Making travel a force for good is in everything G Adventures does. G for Good stands for all of the social, environmental and ethical good that the business creates. They have two approaches: Acting Responsibly, a commitment to improve the sustainability of the business operations, and Creating Positive Impact, which focuses on leaving the right impact in the places visited.  This also includes Animal Welfare, Child Welfare and Protecting Local Cultures as well as a reduction in single-use plastics and a traveller conduct policy.
• Planeterra is a non-profit partner dedicated to ensuring communities touched by tourism benefit from the opportunities it provides. They help empower local people to develop their communities, conserve their cultures, and create humane and supportive systems for their endeavours.  
• Ripple Scores – these show on each trip how much of the money goes back into the local community.  Obviously, on some trips, it is harder to do than others due to the location/nature of the trip.  For instance, some sailing trips score 100 ripple points while others can only manage 35.
• G Values Fund – G Adventures even go as far as helping their CEOs establish new businesses which are connected to G Adventures itineraries for when the CEOs have seen out their days on the road.

Just go for it.  These guys are the real deal and you’ll have a ball - thi strip rates 89 Ripple Points - 89% of the money G Adventures spends in the destination to operate their tours goes to local businesses and services.

To find out more about G Adventures, their great approach and to book one of their brilliant holidays give me a call…

What an amazing place!  Resting on the western edge of the Moremi Game Reserve, overlooking the verdant floodplains of the Okavango Delta, a UNESCO World Heritage Site this is a stunning place to relax, go on safari and get to understand Africa – in fact the floods planes are on the doorstep and animals have been known to go through the public areas of the lodge! 

Eco Credo Points:

• Xigera Lodge uses a hybrid solar power and diesel system battery storage.  This meets the bulk of their energy requirements which saves about 440 metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions annually.
• In the future the Lodge aims to use the solar power to be able to charge electric game-drive vehicles.
• Hot water is provided via thermodynamic geysers, while specialist tinted glass ensures temperature stability indoors for energy-efficient air conditioning.
• An on-site composter processes all organic kitchen waste, which is sent to local communities for sustainable kitchen gardens.
• Over 90% of the furniture and art pieces have been hand-produced in Africa - the largest collection of African design anywhere in the world and intrinsically sustainable
• A specialist arborist was contracted to ensure the protection of mature trees on the site. The Lodge has undertaken monitoring and record-keeping of all fauna and flora, working closely with the Department of Wildlife and National Parks.
• The Lodge is committed to removing all unnecessary single-use plastics from lodge operations.
• The Lodge uses a specialist sustainable sewerage system, with biodegradable chemicals for cleaning. The resulting greywater is safe to use for irrigation purposes.
• All water used in the lodge is purified on-site and is safe for guests to drink.
• As part of the ‘Treadright Foundation’ Xigera seeks to have a positive impact on people and communities, to protect wildlife and marine life, and to care for the planet we call home.
• The lodge is fully committed to conservation and a team of expert guides educate and encourage clients in conservation.
• They use locally sourced food and local staff

Wow.  I mean just Wow!  Is this the perfect place? 

If you think so, call me and we can make it happen…