Green tourism is a practice that is vital but often forgotten during the pleasure of globetrotting. To put it plainly, green tourism is defined as being an environmentally friendly tourist or providing sustainable tourist activities. The UNWTO defines it as “Tourism that takes full account of its current and future economic, social and environmental impacts, addressing the needs of visitors, the industry, the environment and host communities” (UNWTO, 2005). Everyone has an important part to play to make the world more sustainable, from large corporations to regular citizens – including tourists. According to Statistics Canada, there were 22.1 million travellers to Canada in 2019 alone (Destination Canada, 2019). That’s more than Justin Trudeau’s net worth! Tourism is an activity that increases pollution without even realizing it. Have you ever thought of how much carbon emission is released from an aircraft? Using the carbon footprint calculator, the carbon dioxide emitted from a round-trip flight from Vancouver, Canada to London, England is 2.24 tonnes (Carbon Footprint, 2022). Unfortunately, electric-powered commercial aircraft have not been innovated yet. Although carbon emission is not in the control of passengers, one can choose to fly with an airline that has a reputable sustainability record such as KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, which was ranked as the airline “most committed to reducing its carbon footprint” (Noyes, 2022)

Green tourism has many benefits for tourists and especially the locals. Green tourism benefits: – Reduces ecological impact: sustainable activities reduce the ecological impact by reducing carbon emissions, reducing pollution, reducing energy consumption, etc. – Supports local communities: local communities, especially those in third world countries, benefit greatly from green tourism. For example, in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe (the city that hosts one of the Seven Wonders of the world) there are many local vendors that earn the majority of their income from tourists who purchase sculptures, souvenirs, street food, etc. This helps to sustain the local economy.

– Helps save endangered animals: Instead of poaching and trophy hunting, green tourism promotes the appreciation of wildlife in their natural habitats. It helps preserve local species as tourists create the demand to see wildlife in their natural habitat.

– Encourages knowledge exchange: Engaging with the local communities allows tourists to gain first-hand knowledge of the land being toured. In addition, tourists are able to engage locals and share information about their own nations.

There are many ways one can practice green tourism. Here are a few examples to help you kickstart your green tourism journey:

– Instead of hiring a car or using taxis, consider using public transport such as buses to travel locally. This will help reduce carbon emissions.

– Consider staying in accommodations, e.g. hotels, resorts, that are predominantly solar powered in order to promote renewable energy.

– Buy local. Instead of buying from global franchises, e.g. McDonald’s, consider buying street food from local restaurants.

In conclusion, to create a more environmentally-friendly world that will be sustainable for generations to come, we all have a part to play. Tourists who create a demand for green tourism not only benefit the local communities but also help steer the world into a more sustainable place. We can’t afford to live wastefully much longer, engage in sustainable activities to make the future of our beautiful world stronger.

References

Canada experiences third consecutive record-breaking year for tourism in 2019. (2019). Destination Canada. https://www.destinationcanada.com/en/news/canadaexperiences-third-consecutive-record-breaking-year-tourism-2019 Carbon Footprint Calculator. (2022). Carbon Footprint Ltd. https:// calculator.carbonfootprint.com/calculator.aspx?lang=en-GB&tab=3 Noyes, L. (2022, January 7). The 6 Most Sustainable Airlines for 2022. LeafScore. https://www.leafscore.com/blog/most-sustainable-airlines-flying-out-of-jfk-andlax/#klm Sustainable development | UNWTO. (2005). UNWTO. https://www.unwto.org/ sustainable-development