Worried your trip does more harm than good? These sustainable tourism tips start with how you get there, then cover staying longer, spending locally and saving water and energy.
This guide sits inside our wider look at regional tourism, where the choices of visitors shape the places they visit.
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Share of world carbon emissions linked to travel and tourism | Approximately 8% |
| Tourism-related emissions, 2009 to 2013 | Up from 3.9 to 4.5 billion tons of CO2 a year |
| Biggest emissions contributors in tourism | Transport, shopping and food |
| Largest part of tourism’s carbon footprint | Air travel, driving and other transport |
| Tourism share of national emissions in small island nations such as the Maldives | 30 to 80 percent |
The figures come from Sustainable Travel International and a Yale environmental news digest of a study of tourism emissions. Estimates change as researchers update their methods, so check the sources before you rely on them.
Why sustainable tourism tips start with your choices
Tourism leaves a footprint in several places: the climate, the local environment and the community you visit. Sustainable Travel International describes the industry as “a significant contributor to climate change”. That is why the advice below focuses on the big levers rather than small gestures.
The Yale digest reports that “The industry’s biggest emissions contributors are transport, shopping, and food.” The same source says global tourism-related emissions rose between 2009 and 2013, and that the United States topped the list for travel emissions, largely because of domestic flights.
The pressure is not only about carbon. Sustainable Travel International notes that tourists “often consume significantly more water and energy than local residents”, and that many destinations struggle to keep up with the demand. Crowding adds to that: it uses the term overtourism for hotspots overrun by visitors.
The takeaway is simple. Your biggest decisions are how you travel, how long you stay, where you spend money and how much water and energy you use at your destination. The sections below take these in turn.
Cut the emissions from getting there
Transport is where most of a trip’s carbon is decided. Sustainable Travel International says air travel, driving and other forms of transport make up the largest part of tourism’s carbon footprint. So the choice of route often matters more than anything you do once you arrive.
Practical ways to lower it:
- Go closer to home. Sustainable Travel International suggests that for nearby destinations you travel by train or coach to cut your emissions while taking in the scenery.
- Take fewer, longer trips. One journey with a longer stay usually beats several short breaks that each need a flight or a long drive.
- Move less once you arrive. Pick a base and explore on foot, by bike or by local public transport instead of hopping between places every day.
- Weigh the alternatives. Before booking, compare the options for the same journey, such as a rail route against a flight.
None of this means giving up travel. It means treating the journey as part of the destination rather than something to get over with as fast as possible.
Slow down and stay longer
Slowing down is one of the most useful habits on the list. Sustainable Travel International says it is easy to get caught up trying to cram as much as possible into a trip, and adds an “extra bonus”: slow travel is also better for the environment because it reduces the carbon emissions generated by flying or driving between destinations.
If you want the fuller picture, our guide on what is slow travel explains the approach in more depth. The short version is that fewer stops give you more time in each place, and more time means more chances to eat, shop and talk with local people.
A longer stay also changes small things. You can use one laundry cycle instead of many, learn which cafe or market locals use, and stop paying for a rushed transfer every other day.
Spend where it helps local people
Where your money goes matters as much as where you go. Sustainable Travel International points out that choosing smaller places reduces pressure on the cities and communities you visit while creating greater benefits for the local businesses you support.
Its advice is to look beyond the “Top 10” lists of destinations and attractions, check a map, or ask locals and other travellers for recommendations. It also suggests staying in smaller cities or more rural areas instead of the major tourist centres, which reduces the burden on over-visited destinations while spreading tourism benefits to other local communities.
That ties directly to the economic case covered in benefits of regional tourism. When visitors spread out, income reaches communities that would otherwise see little of it.
Ways to put this into practice:
- Choose a locally run guesthouse, restaurant or tour operator where you can.
- Eat local food. The same source suggests a cooking class with a local host as a tasty way to learn about the local food culture.
- Visit in the off-season. Sustainable Travel International advises scheduling a trip outside peak months if you are set on a popular destination.
- Skip tourist traps and look for less crowded alternatives nearby.
Save water and energy while you are there
Tourism relies on energy for heating, lighting and electricity. Sustainable Travel International says this, together with intensive water use by tourists, can put great strain on local water supplies and energy infrastructure.
Small daily habits help, and they cost you nothing:
- Switch off lights, fans and air conditioning when you leave your room.
- Keep showers short, and reuse towels where the place offers that choice.
- Carry a reusable water bottle. The source calls bringing a reusable bottle “a simple practice that goes a long way”, and notes that some travellers also bring a reusable container and utensils.
- Choose low-impact accommodation. The source describes this as either a smaller, more basic place or a higher-end property that uses renewable energy and water- and energy-efficient technologies.
Be sceptical of vague green labels when you choose where to stay. Ask what a property actually does about energy, water and local hiring, and treat a claim with no detail as a reason to ask more questions.
Respect the place you visit
Destinations are also acting. Sustainable Travel International lists examples from recent years: Hawaii banned the sale of reef-toxic sunscreens, Dubrovnik limited the number of cruise ships that can dock each day, Palau protected 80% of its waters, and Barcelona cracked down on illegal vacation rentals. These are neutral examples of local measures, and the list is that organisation’s account, not a ranking.
For you as a visitor, the lesson is to follow local rules and read local guidance before you go. That can mean a reef-safe sunscreen requirement, a limit on visitor numbers at a site or a request to dress modestly at a place of worship.
- Check the destination’s own tourism or park pages for current rules before you travel.
- Keep to marked paths and take your rubbish with you.
- Ask before photographing people, and follow the lead of residents on what is acceptable.
- Leave honest reviews that describe how a business treats staff, guests and the environment.
Sustainable tourism, in short, is about leaving a place able to host the next visitor, and the people who live there able to keep their way of life.
A simple checklist before you book
You do not need to do everything. Pick the changes that fit your trip and budget, and start with the ones that cut the most.
- Choose the lowest-emission way to travel that works for the distance.
- Stay longer in fewer places.
- Look beyond the busiest places and consider the off-season.
- Book locally owned stays, food and guides where possible.
- Pack a reusable bottle and save water and energy in your room.
- Learn the local rules and follow them.
Progress beats perfection. Each of these steps makes a modest difference, and together they change how your trip affects the place you visit.
Frequently asked questions
What is the single most effective sustainable travel habit?
Show answer
Rethinking transport usually has the biggest effect. Sustainable Travel International says air travel, driving and other transport make up the largest part of tourism’s carbon footprint, so choosing trains or coaches for shorter trips and taking fewer journeys is a strong place to start.
Does sustainable travel cost more?
Show answer
Not necessarily. Staying longer in one place, travelling in the off-season, using a reusable bottle and eating locally can all keep costs steady or lower them. Prices vary by destination, so compare your options before you book.
Is staying in a small, locally run place always better?
Show answer
It is not a guarantee, but it often keeps more of your spending in the community. Sustainable Travel International says low-impact accommodation can be smaller and more basic or a higher-end property with renewable energy and efficient technology, so ask about practices as well as size.
How can I avoid adding to overtourism?
Show answer
Look beyond the most famous attractions, consider the off-season and spend time in smaller towns or rural areas. The aim is to spread visitors and benefits more widely, so fewer places feel overrun.
