Eco-Friendly Green Holiday Destinations

Eco-Friendly Tourism

Eco-Friendly Tourism – Why More and More People Want To Travel Green

Introduction

The travel industry has suffered a few blows during the economic recession, but green travel is becoming more popular and is helping to prop up the industry. Green travel reduces the traveler’s carbon footprint and his or her environmental impact. Eco-friendly tourism is a form of green travel that is coming to the forefront.

What is Eco-Friendly Tourism?

The definition of eco-friendly tourism is rather broad – it can be used synonymously with green travel, or it can refer specifically to visiting an endangered or pristine area. Merriam-Webster defines eco-tourism as “the practice of touring natural habitats in a manner meant to minimize ecological impact.” The International Ecotourism Society defines it as “responsible travel to natural areas that conserves the environment and improves the well-being of local people.” Essentially, it means traveling in a sustainable manner, visiting natural habitats, and respecting other cultures.

There is a range of “purity” among eco-tourists. Some work hard to reduce their carbon usage to zero, while others are comfortable with simply lessening their usage. Either way, it is gaining popularity among Americans.

A Growing Field

According to Sustainable Travel International, more than half of U.S. adults say they are “more likely to select an airline, rental car or hotel that uses more environmentally friendly products. And 58.5 million

Americans say they would pay more to use travel companies that strive to protect and preserve the environment.” It seems that a number of Americans are on board with eco-tourism. A lot of companies are jumping on the green travel bandwagon, claiming to be environmentally sustainable. Companies such as hotel chains and travel agencies claim to follow the principles of eco-tourism, which are summarized as follows:

* minimize environmental impact
* encourage respect for various cultures and the environment
* make the vacation or trip a positive experience
* provide financial benefits to indigenous people groups
* provide financial benefits to conservation efforts
* increase awareness of the culture in host countries

For a company to adhere to all of these principles is a tall order (though not impossible). That is why it doesn’t hurt to be aware of a sneaky technique known as “green-washing.”

Green-washing refers to companies such as hotels and airlines that claim to be green, but do so in name only. In other words, companies that engage in green-washing are more interested in making money than in helping the environment. While such companies need to make money to survive, it is possible for a business to meet both goals – making money and protecting the environment. To be sure the travel agency or hotels you work with are fully committed to eco-friendly travel, ask a lot of questions and do your research beforehand.

For example, a hotel may make the claim that it is participating in eco-tourism because they have installed low-flow shower heads in their hotels. But what about their overarching business practice and philosophy? Do they work well with local businesses and people in host countries? Have they initiated any conservation efforts around the globe? Are the rest of the companies’ business practices environmentally sustainable? These are good questions to keep in mind if you want to plan a truly green vacation. In fact, some people claim that you are more likely to find in-depth eco-friendly business practices among smaller companies.

Modes of Travel

-Air
If you want to be really eco-friendly, flying is really not the best way to travel. If you wish to go somewhere that requires air travel, consider going online and finding a carbon calculator. You can then enter what mode of transportation you wish to use and calculate the amount of carbon you will be using.

The purchase of carbon credits is one way to off-set your carbon usage. Some airlines actually have provisions for you to buy the credits at the airport. When you call the airline to book your ticket, ask about the purchase of carbon credits. This compensates for your air miles and makes your travel more eco-friendly.

-Road
If you are planning an eco-friendly trip, consider renting a hybrid vehicle to minimize pollution and fuel usage. Perhaps a trip closer to home would be possible, further saving gas and decreasing emissions.

Bus trips are a more eco-friendly way to move a large group of people by road. Yes, buses use a lot of fuel but it is still less than if each person on the bus drove his or her own car the same distance. And once again, the fewer miles you travel the less environmental impact.

-Rail
If you are planning a vacation that will last longer than 3 or 4 days, traveling by train is probably the most eco-friendly way to cover a lot of ground. It is not as prevalent as air travel, however, and you may have to do a bit of exploring to find a railway that will accommodate your travel needs. If you are traveling abroad, you will have many options for rail travel. India and Europe in particular have tourist packages for railway travel.

-Water
There are eco-tourist cruises to the fragile Galapagos Islands, Fiji, Costa Rica, and other natural habitats. But cruise ships are not without their carbon footprints – in fact, some people claim that flying is actually greener than taking a cruise. Cruise ships generate a lot of garbage, too. However, major cruise lines are wising up and “greening” their cruises. While they still lag behind as one of the least eco-friendly modes of travel, there are ways to make your cruise greener as an individual and by choosing the most eco-friendly cruise line.

-Horse
Yes, it’s still possible to travel by horse. Horseback expeditions and even wagon trains are enjoyable and eco-friendly vacation ideas for those who love horses, history, and/or the outdoors.

Lodging
Finding green lodging on your trip is where you have to watch out for the green-washers. So many hotels claim to be eco-friendly but it can take a bit of sleuthing – perhaps more than you have time for – to find out if there is substance behind their claims. One way to avoid the “is this hotel really green?” question is to look into eco-lodges. Described by one website as “rich and eclectic,” eco-lodges bring the traveler close to the habitat which they are visiting.

Eco-lodges engage in various practices that make their green claims authentic. For example, some eco-lodges use natural means to repel insects; some collect water in rain barrels; others offer organic, local food on their menus. Some eco-lodges run many of their conveniences via solar power, or shun electricity altogether. According to writer and eco-traveler David Hochman, there are 25 top eco-lodges worldwide.

Green Holiday Destinations - They are:

Couran Cove Island Resort, Australia
This beach condominium uses eco-friendly UV traps to control mosquitoes, and the builders took pains to blend the buildings in with the environment. Guests can monitor their personal energy and resource use.

Ecolodge Shimanto, Japan
This sleek eco-lodge is reminiscent of the famous Japanese bullet trains. The Shimanto eco-lodge collects rainwater in 100-year-old barrels. In keeping with the train theme, nature walks are paved with railroad ties.

El Monte Sagrado Taos, New Mexico
With villas made from the ash from coal mines, this eco-lodge is a bit eccentric. They grow their own organic herbs and exotic fruits and most of the buildings are solar-powered.

Hotelito Desconocido, Mexico
Without telephones, these thatched “palafitos” rest on a wildlife estuary. Water is pumped via windmill and herbal iodine is used to clean organic produce.

Pole Pole, Tanzania
Six small, thatched bungalows make up this eco-lodge. Profits go to local education programs and the lodges have an extensive wastewater purification system.

Scandic Simonkenttä, Finland
Sleek and urban, this glass and steel building has 360 rooms. The building materials are eco-friendly, including trash cans made of recycled rubber.

Shompole, Kenya
These thatched tent structures have in-house springs and incredible views. This eco-lodge features composting toilets, and works closely with the local tribesmen to prepare them to assume ownership eventually.

Birch Pond Lodge, Alaska
You can see Mount McKinley from this eco-lodge. Keep company with moose, otters, and grizzly bears but feel safe inside the solid, log walls that are a testament to minimizing waste: they are made from trees that were killed by spruce-bark beetles.

Bushmans Kloof Wilderness Reserve, South Africa
A sanctuary of rare flora and fauna, the Kloof is in the foothills of the Cedar Mountains. The 16-room lodge features hand-sewn bed covers.

Canopy Tower, Panama
This eco-lodge overlooks the Panama Canal. An array of birds – 380 species – perch nearby. The showers have low-flow faucets.

Concordia Eco-Tents, U.S. Virgin Islands
If you like snorkeling, this Caribbean eco-lodge may be just right for you. It has solar showers, futon beds, and roofs that repel heat.

Luna Lodge, Costa Rica
This ego-lodge overlooks the virgin rain forest of the Osa Peninsula. There is abundant wildlife and there are private, tropical gardens in the lodges.

Valemount Lodge, British Columbia
This mountain retreat is great for hikers and fishermen. Biologists lead the hikes to assure that the fragile terrain is not disturbed. The lodge has biodegradable products for the guests.

Abbey of San Pietro, Italy
This almost-forgotten relic from the 10th century is in the hills of Umbria. Travelers can take an 8-day, guided walk through pristine countryside. You can take comfort in the fact that the proceeds go to restore ancient artifacts and help traditional businesses.

Green Hotel, India
A restored palace, this eco-lodge operates partially on solar power, and the lodge’s profits go to help local health clinics and environmental programs. Some of the lodge’s employees are lower-caste widows who would otherwise be underpaid.

Kapawi Ecolodge, Ecuador
You’ll have to take a plane to get to this lodge on the edge of the Amazon. The local Achuar people and their traditions are incorporated into the hotel and its business practices. The little lodges on the lagoon were built without nails.

Lisu Lodge, Thailand
Visitors to this eco-lodge will be subjected to an education on local tribal customs and etiquette. The capacity is limited (48 guests), but there are conveniences like private bathrooms.

Paperbark Camp, Australia
If you visit this eco-lodge, you can hire an Aboriginal guide to take you hunting for mussels. The lodge itself consists of solar-powered tents and open-air showers.

Adrere Amellal Oasis, Egypt
The rooms here are made from salt rock and clay, and are without electricity. The minimalist style gives the surrounding desert landscape prominence.

Al Natural Resort, Panama
Christopher Columbus might recognize this area; it has changed little since his day. The bungalows are made from scrap wood and thatch, but they do have some privacy and showers of collected rainwater. They are also solar-powered.

Bathurst Inlet Lodge, Canada
Once a trading post, the owners worked with the local Kingaunmiot Inuit people to guide 20 guests in kayaks, walks, and so forth. The rooms are more practical than beautiful, but comfortable.

Bay of Fires Lodge, Australia
Designed by architect Ken Latona, this eco-lodge is purely green with its roof-water collection system, composting toilets, and complete solar power. It also has outdoor fire pits.

Blancaneaux Lodge, Belize
If you like the scent of pine and movie relics, this eco-lodge may be for you. The owner is Francis Ford Coppola, and he harvested hydropower for this lodge. There is an organic fruit and vegetable garden, too.

Kaya Mawa, Malawi
This African retreat is not for the faint of heart. It is totally self-sustained, its power supplied by windmills that pump water and solar panels. There is a honeymoon cottage on its own miniature island.
Tiamo Resort, Bahamas Off the coast of Cuba, Tiamo boasts “the largest solar facility of any private hotel in the West Indies or Latin America.” You can’t get a brochure – Tiama does not print them to save paper, and departing guests must take their plastic with them.

Food
As alluded to above, food can be a source of great waste and environmental damage. But it can also be an easy and delicious way to make your vacation greener. Bring as much of your food along yourself as possible, and if you eat out go for restaurants with eco-friendly practices such as serving organic, locally-grown food or not serving over-harvested meat or fish. If such eateries cost more, you can off-set that by bringing the food for your other meals. Depending on your location, you may be able to prepare your meals at your place of lodging.

Popular Destinations
(see also Eco-Lodges above)
One of the characteristics of green travel is to visit places where man has trodden lightly. Here are some popular destinations.

Sri Lanka
Tea lovers will recognize this place. Once known as Ceylon, it still exports tea by that name. Here, you will find the luxurious Heritance Kandalama Hotel, which is rated among the top 15 eco-friendly hotels in the world. This hotel participates in extensive eco-friendly practices, and even has a grey water system that recycles the hotel’s waste water into water for plants. Near the base of the mountains that are behind the hotel, visitors can visit protected woodland and the famous tea plantations.

Costa Rica
An amazing amount of plant and animal diversity is contained in Costa Rica. From toucans to howler monkeys, visitors can relish the unspoiled nature surrounding them. Because it is located in Central America, you do not have to fly.

Assam, India
Another area familiar to tea enthusiasts, Assam in located on India’s Majuli Island. Its mountains are snow-capped, and mountain streams add soothing music to the atmosphere.

The Galapagos Islands
Made famous by Darwin, this fragile eco-system is rich with variety. Tread lightly if you choose this one!

Brazil
In the Pantanal region, you can see the fruits of Caiman Ecological Refuge’s labors. This group implemented eco-friendly methods to ranching (the area grazes cattle), and is now setting an international example with its eco-lodges.

These are just a few of the popular destinations for eco-travelers.

Tips for Keeping Your Travel Green

If you go to the trouble of staying in an eco-friendly hotel, take some of the same waste-reducing measures that you do at home. For example:
-Keep your showers short
-Decline to have your bedding and towels washed and replaced daily (you probably don’t do that at home, do you?). This will save water and energy.
-Bring your own toiletries.
-If you feel the need to buy souvenirs, try to make your purchases from local craftspeople or businesses. Buying imported, plastic trinkets or commemorative T-shirts does not help out the local economy.

The Green Travel Agency

There are agencies – including many of the major ones – that offer eco-tourism packages and guides to an eco-friendly vacation. You might be more confident choosing a travel agency that specializes in green travel, or a smaller, more local agency.
Another aspect of the eco-tourism trend is the opportunity to start your own eco-friendly travel agency. It is possible to set up your own travel agency business from your own home. If you are going to go to the trouble to get training and equipment to start your own agency, you may consider going the extra mile to be an agency that specializes in eco-tourism. It does seem that green travel is where the business opportunities lie.

Sources

To find more information on eco-tourism and green travel, here are some online sources that can help.

The International Ecotourism Society (TIES) (www.ecotourism.org) is a non-profit organization “dedicated to ecotourism as a tool for conservation and sustainable development.” Started in 1990, TIES can help you plan your vacation. Its directory has information about eco-friendly hotels, travel agencies, transportation, and other services.

Sustainable Travel International (STI) (http://www.sustainabletravelinternational.org/) is a non-profit organization begun in 2002. Their site has a downloadable brochure that explains their programs, and the site itself lists STI’s extensive programs and goals. STI will assist travelers in planning their eco-friendly trip.

Ethical Traveler (www.ethicaltraveler.org) sees travel as “a positive force in the world” and strives to unite all travelers in the common goals of protecting the environment and strengthening human rights. Ethical

Traveler’s website gives information about destinations, ethical travel guidelines, and notes some travel agencies that specialize in eco-tourism.

Another potentially useful resource is ecofriendlytourist.com. This site offers explanations for various terms and offers detailed guidelines regarding modes of transportation, lodging, and other information.