Have you ever thought that it is only thanks to environmentally conscious people that some paradises on our planet are still clean and green? Simple ecotourism tips will teach you how to be useful even while on vacation. Try it! Everything is very easy and simple.
Even the mighty and indestructible Mount Everest suffers from garbage mountains built by ungrateful tourists. The problem is so critical that the Nepalese authorities have obliged the conquerors of the world's highest mountain to leave a $4,000 deposit, which is forfeited if climbers do not bring back their waste.
But not many tourists visit this attraction - only about 300 people a year. What can we say about other paradises on our planet that thousands of tourists come to see? The Maldives, for example, is visited by about 900,000 tourists annually. No wonder the local authorities were forced to create an artificial island specifically for garbage. The same goes for the historical sites of Egypt. Soon, a garbage pyramid will be built near the Cheops pyramid.
The topic of raising environmental awareness among modern tourists is becoming increasingly popular. If you like to travel, but would like to leave a trace of the discoverer, not a carbon footprint, then follow the rules of the "green" tourist.
1. Take care of your garbage.
Do you want to organize a picnic, take a walk in the woods, or climb the mountains? Then think about where you will dispose of the accumulated garbage. It is not difficult to take a special waste bag with you and leave it in the nearest trash can. If you were able to carry your belongings to your vacation spot, then you can easily carry the empty container to your destination. The problem is that garbage left in nature destroys someone's habitat, subsequently polluting water and soil. Animals can eat, for example, a cellophane bag or solid waste and die. Take garbage bags with you!
2. Give preference to durable packaging.
A rag eco-bag can solve the problem of plastic bags, and a reusable water bottle will save you from a mountain of plastic containers.
3. Choose the right souvenirs.
The Red Data Book often does not stop souvenir makers. Endangered species of animals or plants are traded for cute little things that have been gathering dust in sideboards and on bookshelves for years, no longer bringing any joy.
4. Give up some exotic dishes.
Some tourists have only one chance in life to try some exotic dish. But this is exactly the kind of life experience that should be abandoned in order not to become one of the reasons for the increase in demand (and, accordingly, supply) for the cruel killing of endangered animals.
5. Buy products from local farms.
If possible, give preference to organic products produced locally at the place of your arrival. In this way, you will help local producers and contribute to reducing carbon emissions that occur during the transportation of food. So, forget about bottled soda, chocolate bars, and chips at least for the duration of your trip.
6. Choose a "green" mode of transportation.
In a recent study, researchers from Canada found that 25% of cars are responsible for 90% of all vehicle emissions. It is better not to even think about the consequences of one hundred percent traffic. At the same time, not a single day of city dwellers can go by without a "refreshing" breath of carbon dioxide and other carcinogens.
When traveling to green and clean corners of the planet, try to keep them just as clean. If you can't manage on your own, and you're tired of public transportation, then give preference to cycling. If a bicycle is not the answer, you can rent an electric car, a hybrid car, or a car with a fuel cell engine.
7. Stay in green hotels.
Recently, tourists are increasingly paying attention to the environmental component of the hotels they stay in. In an effort to meet the latest environmental trends and not lose customers, hotels of all levels apply the principles of saving water and electricity, use alternative energy sources, properly dispose of garbage, use environmentally friendly materials in construction, and even conduct educational work among staff. To find out if a hotel cares about the environment, it is enough to find information about its special environmental certificate (LEED, Green Hotel, Green Leaf, Green Key).
By the way, some hotels attract tourists by offering exotic dishes and shows with wild animals. Here, you can also go on principle and refuse such a hotel.
8. Choose environmentally friendly entertainment.
When planning what places you want to visit in a new country or city, study the cultural program from an environmental point of view. There are many reviews and tips on this topic on the Internet. There is no need to create a stir by funding the extermination of species or mistreatment of animals.
9. Try to relax outside the box and without harming nature.
Comfortable rooms in five-star hotels are hard to pass up. But at least once you can try to relax in an unusual way. "Green tourism is becoming more and more popular with each new season. And the imagination of environmentalists is not asleep: ecotourism, rural or agrotourism, immersion tourism or staying in the countryside, environmental educational programs, and so on. The choice is really impressive.
10. Small "green" tips.
When traveling, don't forget to turn off your home appliances. When staying in a hotel room, do not turn on the air conditioner unnecessarily or leave the bathroom light on. Use water sparingly, as in some countries it is a truly priceless resource.
It may seem that such tips limit your vacation in some way. But nowadays, the topic of ecology concerns everyone.
"I'll just try it once, and nothing bad will happen" is not a very good type of adult behavior, is it?
References used: https://lifehacker.ru/2015/05/26/10-p...
