What it Truly Means to
TRAVEL SUSTAINABLY By Amanda DiSilvestro
What must a family do to travel sustainably?
T
hese days, this simple question is asked by an increasing number of soon-to-be vacationers. The answer, however, is often anything but simple. With the rise of this buzzword come others – you and your children can now travel responsibly, sustainably, ecologically, or as green tourists. Fear not though, as a sustainable trip with the kids is both attainable and applaudable, and there are lots of different ways to think about what this may mean for you. Here’s how:
The Heart of Sustainable Travel Behind all of the fancy new terms for travel, there is one clear intention: travelling with purpose. What formerly involved me-focused travel has shifted to others-focused trips. Travelling for reasons beyond your own enjoyment has a way of deepening your experience in a way that absolutely allows for a fun, comfortable, memorable trip, but collectively, your family starts to ask themselves, how can I make a difference here? For example, with the right itinerary, you can fulfil your dream of an African safari in Tanzania while
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Top: Kenya: Safari & Conservation/Photo: Discover Corps.
also tutoring local children in English, learning more from those that call Tanzania home. It’s incredible what adventures can be had when your attention moves to the people and places surrounding you. Your family, especially your children, will benefit greatly from this new perspective and a less impacted planet.
The Why of Sustainable Travel Travelling sustainably sounds like a noble cause, but it’s also becoming a necessity. With tourism growing to an $8.8 trillion industry, people are globe-trotting more now than ever before. Sadly, this increase comes with a cost. Traditional travel has led to over-tourism – the exploitation of many of the places we hold dear. Some examples: • It’s feared the Angkor Wat temples could eventually collapse due to tourist-driven depletion of water resources below the ancient monuments. • The impact of 30 million annual visitors to iconic Venice, Italy has contributed to coastline and ecosystem damage. Some experts have even predicted skyrocketing prices in the city will bring the native population to zero as early as 2030.
