Sustainable tourism: What exactly that mean?

‘Sustainable tourism’ is good to the local people, their culture, and their environment. Having said that how only ‘tourism’ is not good? There will always be some impacts of tourism, as it is an industry, but these impacts can be minimized and tourism can become sustainable tourism.

Sustainable means respecting the culture and traditions

Check the proper dress code while visiting religious places. Educate yourself about your destination before you travel. Respect traditions. Take part in local festivals to better understand the culture.

Sustainable means environment friendly

Bring your own reusable bottle, don't buy plastic ones as some countries do not have facilities to recycle. Most of the small islands are experiencing a problem with rubbish. Have you ever thought about where all the rubbish go? Usually to some designated dump in the mountains or to the sea.

Sustainable means reducing your carbon footprint

So, should we travel less? No, but you can take a bus instead of renting a car. You don't have to take a flight for a short distance. Also, using public transportation is always cheaper, and it is a great way how to get to know local life.

Sustainable means be aware of your impact on the country’s resources

The average Canadian household use 326 litres of water per day…A village of 700 in a developing country uses an average of 500 litres of water per month and a luxury hotel room guest uses 1800 litres of water per person per night!

Sustainable means economic benefits for locals

By staying at family run properties you help to a local family to improve their income. Leakage in the income from tourism is one of the most common issues of the industry. For example in the Caribbean, 80 cents of every dollar earned leave the country as visitors decide to use services provided by a foreign company.

Not everything depends on tourism, but tourism depends on almost everything

If we want to achieve sustainable tourism development, we must take into consideration whether economic, social and environmental aspects are beneficial for all stakeholders - local people, visitors, environment and government. Sustainable tourism is about adapting yourself, not waiting for something to adapt to your needs.