Sustainable travel at Easter
Discover lost villages, ride a bike, taste fresh fruit and vegetables… Sustainable travel is possible! Discover authentic and conscious tourism by reading this article.
Traveling and being sustainable are compatible. In recent years, the tourism industry has been moving towards more sustainable business models. However, many travelers choose the most common destinations favoring mass tourism.
One way to support the fight against climate change is to engage in responsible tourism.
What is responsible tourism?
The World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) considers “sustainable” tourism to be tourism that makes optimal use of environmental resources. To achieve this, it is necessary to maintain processes that help conserve biodiversity and natural resources. In order to achieve responsible tourism, the following three pillars must be taken into account:
- Optimize environmental resources
- Protecting cultural and natural heritage
- Providing economic and social benefits
Tips to enjoy a sustainable Easter Week
There are more and more alternatives to travel in a sustainable and environmentally friendly way. Here you can find out more about them:
Accomodation:
According to a study conducted by the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) and the Instituto Tecnológico Hotelero (ITH), 90% of travelers surveyed would choose a sustainable hotel to stay in and 34% of them would be willing to pay more for this type of accommodation. Some factors you can take into account when choosing your accommodation is to choose places where the local economy is encouraged such as “Paradores” or hotels where they use measures such as: renewable energy facilities, low consumption or LED lighting, electric vehicle charging points, proximity to local areas, etc.
Sustainable transport:
Air travel is the mode of transport with the largest carbon footprint. Given the wide variety of travel options available, we recommend the train, as it is usually the most economical and respectful means of transport. The bus or car sharing are another alternative to be more sustainable. If it is not possible to avoid airplanes, travel with companies that have emission compensation programs.
Local food:
Get to know the local market and leave fast food behind. This is an opportunity to enjoy seasonal and authentic food. A delicacy that professionals in the sector even prepare in their own restaurants.
Enjoy your trip by walking around:
Let yourself go. We tend to always go running to the same places, to the crowds where everyone goes, what we call mass tourism. In order to discover magical corners and enrich your experience, stop to admire the beauty of the landscape. This is how you really get to know a city and its culture.
Use reusable products:
Whenever we go sightseeing we usually spend a lot of heat and buy water bottles and food wrapped in plastic. Be proactive and pack an aluminum or glass bottle and a reusable cloth bag in your suitcase, it weighs less and is more comfortable to carry!
Support the local economy:
Buying locally made handicrafts and souvenirs contributes to the local economy, and therefore, to the maintenance of the authentic cultural heritage favoring local residents.
Now that you know what to do before choosing a trip, remember to turn off or leave your electronic devices on standby when you leave – the planet will thank you and so will your wallet!