Family trip 5: Sustainable tourism

As temperatures rise, hurricanes swirl, and wildfires rage, the conversation about climate change and our role in it intensifies. And, with more documentation on the environmental, economic and social impact of travel, families may wonder how best to be a responsible traveler.

Here are five ideas to consider:

1. Choose wisely

Popular vacation spots like Machu Picchu, Venice, Italy, and many national parks have begun to take steps to protect their destinations from the effects of overcrowding by managing access, setting visitor fees, and sharing information about practices. responsible.

If you still plan to visit major tourist spots, consider a trip in the off-season or off-season, when the impact may be less. When researching your next family adventure, consider second-tier cities, less-visited parks, uncrowded beaches, or other places that aren’t currently high-profile as your vacation possibilities. Consider visiting a place that is rebuilding after a natural disaster. For example, coastal communities in Florida hard hit by hurricanes welcome the return of visitors as they recover. While short-term vacation travel to Maui is strongly discouraged, the other Hawaiian Islands such as Kauai, Oahu, Lanai, and Hawaii Island are not affected at this time.

When choosing a tour operator, choose ones that give back to their communities and go to great lengths to exercise care in each destination. Companies like G Adventures, a small-group adventure company that helps develop rural tourism projects, Country Walkers, Lindblad Expeditions, and Abercrombie & Kent are among those striving to find a healthy balance in the travel equation.

For more: www.gadventures.com; www.expeditions.com; www.CountryWalkers.com; www.GoHawaii.com; www.abercrombiekent.com

2. Opt for the exterior

A young person’s experiences in the natural world can strongly influence their overall world view and instill in them a desire to preserve and protect it. As he walks, bikes, and rows, discuss the environmental changes that might be occurring in your location. Share your knowledge and encourage children to investigate areas of specific interest on their own.

Explain how small changes can have a big impact when enough people are in the mix. For example, using the right sunscreen can help protect important coral reefs around the world. Skin protection containing oxybenzone or octinoxate is washed out from bathers, swimmers, and divers and has been found to cause coral discoloration, deformities, and potentially death. Palau, Hawaii, and other destinations are taking steps to ban these chemicals. Look for products that do not use these harmful substances, and consider wearing clothing that blocks harmful rays from the body.

3. How will you shoot?

Consider exploring close to home or planning trips that don’t require air travel. If you fly, limit emissions by taking direct flights. Travel by train, boat, or other forms of public or human-powered transportation. You could also look into buying carbon offsets. By doing so, you would be effectively paying others to plant or not cut down trees or to embark on other projects that reduce greenhouse gases.

Organizations like Cool Effect offer options in which more than “90 percent of every dollar goes directly to projects” in Oregon, Tennessee, Indonesia and Guatemala. Combine your adventure with a local volunteer experience. Join a beach cleanup, read to children at a local school, or help out at a wildlife sanctuary.

For more: cooleffect.org; www.volunteeringsolutions.com; www.playas.com

4. Preserve to preserve

Just as you would at home, keep your water consumption low and avoid unnecessary packaging, plastic and shopping bags. Please recycle and turn off the lights when you leave your hotel room or vacation rental. Reuse towels and other sheets. Encourage each family member to bring their own reusable water bottle and refill it in large containers if local water is not safe to use. Hop on local transport, bike or walk whenever possible.

Pay attention to local signs and customs. Follow Leave No Trace principles to minimize your impact. When we all do our part, we have a better chance of protecting our parks, keeping our forests healthy, and our wildlife strong.

For more: www.LNT.org

5. Support the locals

Before your trip, research the destination, its culture, and discuss the importance of spending your travel dollars in ways that support sustainable tourism. Hire a resident guide to introduce your family to local customs and, when possible, explore on two wheels or on foot. Choose local vendors for your adventures. Shop for indigenous handicrafts, set up chairs at neighborhood restaurants to sample dishes from the region, and explore what’s possible at a farmer’s market. If relevant, encourage everyone in your group to learn a few phrases of the language and understand local traditions.

For example, in Hawaii, “Aloha” is more than a catchphrase.

It refers to a way of life passed down from generation to generation, according to the locals. So greeting others with a heartfelt “Aloha” is significant. Be respectful and ask permission to take pictures of people and private spaces. Think about how and what you share on social media. The World Tourism Organization encourages travelers to “always be tolerant and respect diversity.”

Note: Anyone wishing to donate to help communities and families recover on Maui can do so through the Maui Strong Fund established by the Hawaii Community Foundation. The Fund is providing resources that can be rapidly deployed, with a focus on rapid response and recovery.

Lynn O’Rourke Hayes (LOHayes.com) is an author, family travel expert, and keen explorer. Gather more trAvel Intel on Twitter @lohayesFacebook or via familytrips.com.