How to Be a Responsible Traveler: 10 Easty Ways

Traveling is a rewarding experience that can transform your life. Still, aside from the fact that it’s fun and allows you to discover new sights, it can also impact the communities and the environment of your preferred destination. Whether it’s a positive or negative impact depends on how much of a responsible traveler you are. 

This is a guest post by Lucile Hernandez Rodriguez, a Registered Yoga Teacher, Travel and Wellness Blogger, and Mindful Business Advisor. She shares actionable tips on Yoga, general well-being, mindful living, and making sustainable choices on her blog – Lucilehr.com

Who is a responsible traveler?

Responsible traveler is mindful or fully aware of their travel choices. These choices should positively impact the economy, environment, and culture of the place you’re visiting. It’s not about dropping all your travel plans. Instead, it’s about making small but meaningful changes in your lifestyle so you can give back to the community and the planet while still getting the same satisfaction from traveling.

The truth is that not many travelers clearly understand what it means to travel responsibly. The common misconception is that you must put in so much effort and that practicing being a responsible traveler is unrealistic. It’s not – and this article will give you concrete tips on how to travel more sustainably and enhance your experience.

Disclaimer: Some of the links in this post are affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission if you buy something through them—at no extra cost to you. It helps support my blog and lets me share real, first-hand travel tips. Learn more

Fly by plane responsibly

Flying may be the only convenient way to get to that destination on your bucket list. Still, the truth is – this mode of transport dramatically contributes to global warming through carbon emissions. This, however, doesn’t mean that you should avoid flying altogether.

There are several ways how you can travel sustainably by plane. For example, you can organize your trip to visit places close to each other. Another is to take the direct flight as much as possible since the plane consumes more fuel during landing and takeoff. Also, spend as much time in a chosen destination instead of catching one plane after the next to visit as many places in less time.

Check out WayAway to find cheaper flights

The critical thing to remember is to minimize your carbon footprint as much as and whenever possible. If you plan to staycation or travel close to home, avoid domestic flights and consider taking a trip by land. You’re not only reducing your carbon footprint, but you’re cutting expenses in the process.

Respect other people’s culture

Traveling lets you meet all kinds of people from all walks of life. And that said, you should learn how to respect their way of life or how they do things. Sure, their lifestyle may not conform to your standards; local practices or customs sometimes may not align with your principles. 

Every responsible traveler should remember that they are guests and traveling to enjoy the experience – not to preach about their own culture and fix someone else’s. 

This can be applied to clothes as well. In some countries, skimpy outfits may be offensive, especially when visiting historical sites. So, if you plan on going to one, dress accordingly. Take some time to learn about a country’s culture before departing.

Support local

Make traveling much more meaningful by supporting local businesses and seeking local experiences. This means ditching the fancy coffee shop you could find in your home country and going for brews made by locals.

Need some souvenirs? Don’t head to a big souvenir shop. Instead, find local communities that make souvenir items. Many people consider sustainability when making their products, making them more expensive than the mass-produced ones in commercial shops. But when you support these local businesses, you pay for authentic, sustainable development and support people’s humble livelihood.

If you need to eat out, don’t go to the favorite restaurant you can find back home. Instead, go to family-owned shops that may give you an even more authentic taste of local food. Plus, you might get to hear stories about their humble beginnings. 

Spread the word

At some point, you will meet fellow travelers who might question your choice of traveling responsibly. Take this opportunity to spread awareness on the subject. The good news is that people are more open to the idea but don’t know how to start. Someone passionate about sustainability and willing to educate them on how to be a responsible traveler might be what they’ve been waiting for.

ADVICE: always travel with comprehensive travel insurance that also covers COVID. I personally use SafetyWing. 

Be mindful of your waste

The sign “do not litter” may be so primary, and kids can be told to follow that, but unfortunately, even adults tend to miss that and refuse to do so. And it’s sad to know that some travelers do not throw their trash properly. Not only is littering disrespectful, but we know how waste affects the environment. If you see locals do it, don’t take it as an excuse to do the same thing. Be the better example in this case.

If you don’t find a trash bin nearby, you can keep it with you until you find a bin where you can dispose of it. This should be a reminder for all travelers, especially when visiting off-beaten paths, where you won’t likely find trash bins. 

Practice zero-waste lifestyle

To minimize your waste as you travel, it’s a good idea to lead a zero-waste lifestyle and minimize your plastic use. This is one of the best ways to become a responsible traveler in your travels and everyday life. Practicing zero-waste is not an overnight thing. It takes a mindset shift and simple swaps of items you usually use every day.

When traveling, you can bring your own water bottle anywhere. This way, you don’t have to drink through plastic straws, a single-use plastic that harms the environment.

If you fancy coffee and want to taste brews from every location you visit, bringing your collapsible coffee cup might be a good idea. Getting your own cutlery is also another way to avoid plastic cutlery given away, especially when eating out. 

You can check out this article if you need more ideas on zero-waste swaps.

Be mindful of your purchases

The key takeaway from this is never to support wildlife products. Sure, you might spot cool and unusual designs, but consider asking where it’s sourced from. Most souvenir shops do this: sell items made from fur, skin, shell, beak, bones, and animals’ hooves. This industry continues because they do get support from people who buy them.

If you buy these items, you unknowingly support the hunting and killing potentially endangered animals.

Interact with locals

Language barriers may get in the way you interact with locals, but it doesn’t have to be that way. Various apps can help you connect with locals in your chosen destination. You can also learn some phrases that might help you converse with locals in non-English speaking countries.

Interacting with locals gives you the best authentic travel experience as you see the country from their perspective. They can even give you some exciting stories you can share with people back home. Talk to strangers, make a friend, be open-minded and curious, and ask questions.

An important reminder is to always ask for a local’s permission should you want to take their photo. This is a sign of respect that some travelers often overlook.

Get around via sustainable transportation

Use public transportation when getting around a city to minimize your environmental impact. You can take the train or bus, which in some countries are running on biofuels. A much better option is walking whenever possible. This lets you explore the area at your own pace; who knows, it might just lead you to exciting places. If not, you can always rent a bike to explore the city. Walking and biking can also double up as exercise while traveling.

Follow the off-beaten paths

Mass tourism does hurt a particular place, so consider visiting lesser-known destinations. Doing so allows you to discover unique places that few people know about. You’ll enjoy the location to the fullest because you won’t see hordes of tourists. It can be a peaceful, quiet time for you. 

You’ll also get the chance to meet locals and interact with them. At the same time, you are supporting local communities instead of paying for commercialized tourism spots.

Final Words

Traveling responsibly doesn’t stop when you vow not to use plastic straws or throw your trash around. It’s more than just making sure you’re contributing to the planet. It’s also thinking about how you can give back to the people and their community each time you visit their place.

While choosing to travel responsibly is not hard, it can take time to get used to the practice. Just be mindful of everything you do – whether you’re traveling close to home or distant places. The important thing is to have an open mind, give respect, and strive to learn something new.

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