Across all age groups, a preference for ecotourism (or “green travel”) is growing.
“We see that more and more of our customers are concerned about not just the impact of their travel to the destination, but also once they get there. It’s more than not changing your hotel towel every day; many travellers now base their decision on where to stay based on the hotel or resorts environmental responsibilities,” said Andrew Shelton of Cheap Flights.
He shares his top three tips on how eco-tourists can do their bit to decrease the impact on the environment:
1: Travel light: Not only will you save on baggage fees, but lighter luggage also increases the plane’s fuel-efficiency.
2: Conserve where possible: Due to the severe drought, South Africans are currently very aware of how much water gets wasted on a daily basis, but the water conservation habits learnt now are applicable everywhere – especially in ecologically sensitive environments. Every drop counts - don’t run the tap while shaving, re-use towels for multiple days and ask room service not to clean the room.
3: Buy local: Doing so supports the local community and reduces the carbon footprint as goods were grown / manufactured in the area.