SUSTAINABLE TRAVEL
AGE OF THE
CONSCIOUS TRAVELER When people travel, it’s easy to engage in what may seem to be great ‘photo op’ moments without thinking of the real life consequences on things like the environment. Conversations around sustainable travel have therefore never been more vital, writes Wanjiku Kinuthia.
M
any were appalled when Kim Kardashian recently shared a throwback photograph of herself posing next to an elephant, with a rider straddling it, in Indonesia. Kardashian insisted that the elephant was photographed in a ‘sanctuary’, but many were quick to point out that elephant sanctuaries do not share in some of the practices visible in the photograph. All over the world, when people travel, it’s easy to engage in what may seem to be great ‘photo op’ moments without thinking of the real life consequences. I'm certainly not an expert in sustainability models across tourism industries, however I have learned lessons from working on a conservation landscape for over seven years where sustainable practices are key, and interactions with highly conscious travellers and friends have ignited conversations over many sundowners as to how we can all see the world and not ruin it while at it.
MINIMISE YOUR TRAVEL FOOTPRINT One of my dearest friends, Abagi, is a vegetarian. When I first found out about
24
DISCOVER
EXPLORE
EXPERIENCE
this, I automatically thought that it was for the benefit of animal welfare. But she said, "Ciku, I fly too much for work. I'm a vegetarian to minimise my negative impacts on this world." This brief conversation ignited my thinking around how we travel, what we do during these trips, how we can take ownership of our impacts and try to do better. According to a study published by Nature Climate Change in 2018, the carbon footprint of global tourism is four times more than previously estimated, accounting for about 8% of global greenhouse gas emissions. Transport, shopping and food are significant contributors. While travelling, how often do you consider, alongside cost and convenience, the most sustainable form of transportation to get to your destination? In many cases, aeroplane travel is unavoidable. But with regional and in-country travel, choosing a train, bus or car over an aeroplane is a better option. According to a study on green travel by the Union of Concerned Scientists, this can mean 55% to 75% fewer emissions than flying.
PICK DESTINATIONS THAT ARE GENUINELY DOING GOOD
I often joke, working in conservation in
Kenya, that most tourism properties are quick to declare how their models promote development and livelihoods in local communities. Usually, there are claims of sustainable practices, but the reality on the ground is different. Greenwashing, as it is called, is the practice of making an unsubstantiated or misleading claim about the environmental benefits. Another dear friend, Kasmira, only travels to places where she can effectively research and substantiate their green practices and social impact. "I usually choose to stay on properties that are locally owned or managed. Popular tourism sites become less impactful for the country and residents because they become commercialised and focus less on an authentic product. This means that they offer little or no real benefit to local people." One of the quickest ways we check for this is to look at the management of
