Concern is growing about the impact of our choices on the planet and on the future of humanity. Some people have already grasped it, and others are still getting there, that the resources available in nature are not infinite and that we need to pay attention to what we do.
Sustainability is becoming a big word that reaches into all sorts of fields, and tourism is one of them. Sustainable tourism raises a number of important questions for anyone who wants to build this shift into their next holiday. It is a new way of travelling, and it is for people who love to travel but who care about the impact on the environment and on local communities.
I love to travel… that sense of discovery, the singular landscapes, the unforgettable monuments and the stories we learn to tell. Tourism is without doubt a sector growing and developing fast, which makes it urgent to think about ways of reducing our impact.
There is no shortage of sustainable tourism ideas, and if you are not sure where to start, you have come to the right place. I am going to clear up any questions about it and share some tips on dream destinations that are sustainable too!
What sustainable tourism is
According to specialists, sustainable tourism is a way of travelling and exploring destinations that cares about the environment, the culture and the local community, preserving local customs and traditions and putting local businesses and products first. For all of that to be possible, it needs the informed participation of the various stakeholders, constant monitoring of its impacts and, of course, a high level of satisfaction among tourists.
Sustainable tourism is in fact aligned with the three pillars of sustainability: environmental concern, respect for society and economic stability, across many aspects of life. It should also contribute to all of the SDGs, the Sustainable Development Goals.
Travel moves economies enormously and, like everything, it has its positive side and its negative side. Sustainable tourism came about partly as a response to that negative impact, so that we do not think only about enjoying ourselves when we travel but also act responsibly.
To get a sense of how genuinely important this topic is, the United Nations (UN) designated 2017 as the International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development, with the intention of drawing the whole world’s attention, government bodies included, to the need to develop international tourism responsibly.
For me, exploring new places, coming into contact with different cultures and having new stories to tell is what enriches us and helps us grow further as human beings. But we have to do it without causing, or while reducing, the negative impacts. For that, we simply need to pack the responsibility of being a citizen of the world, responsible for the good functioning of the economic, social and environmental ecosystem, in the certainty that we are all connected.
Do you think about all that before deciding on your next destination?
The challenge is being able to ask: do our choices while travelling affect the places we visit? What kind of impact do our trips have?
Turismo de Portugal, and sustainable tourism
Tourism in Portugal is growing fast, drawing attention for its beauty and the variety of its attractions, and the food stands out too and pulls people in from all over the world. Through all of it, concern for sustainability in tourism is not forgotten, and it is more than a passing trend.
Sustainability is part of the 2027 strategic plan from Turismo de Portugal, which set targets according to the three pillars of sustainability and whose aim is to think of “tourism as a hub for economic, social and environmental development across the whole country, positioning Portugal as one of the most competitive and sustainable tourist destinations in the world”.
Out of that framework come:
- the Turismo + Sustentável Plan, which aims to prepare the country to work with a focus on the circular economy and environmental sustainability, also following the guidance of the European Charter for Sustainable Tourism (an initiative of the Federation of Nature and National Parks of Europe, EUROPARC);
- membership of the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC);
- and membership of the Portuguese Plastics Pact.
One of Turismo de Portugal’s strategies is to build partnerships to promote and implement a range of measures that make tourism more sustainable and more conscious.
Sustainable tourism destinations in Portugal
Finding sustainable tourism in Portugal always takes some research, since there is no single platform or site holding all the information. Portugal does have sustainable destinations, though, and as noted above, the aim is to keep developing sustainable offerings, train people working in the sector and promote the country as a sustainable destination able to keep pace with change.
In 2019 Portugal was named by Green Destinations as the most sustainable destination, so here are a few of those destinations:
- Alto Minho, home to the Peneda-Gerês National Park, which is also a Transboundary World Biosphere Reserve;
- Águeda, for the value it places on walking and cycling;
- The Oeste region, with municipalities that promote development and quality of life;
- Torres Vedras, which stands out for cultural and biodiversity protection;
- Serras do Socorro and Archeira, with their protected landscapes;
- Sintra, one of the first municipalities to develop a strategic plan for climate change;
- Cascais, and the Pisão Nature Park in particular;
- Lagos, where much of the territory is a nature conservation area;
- The Azores, with their rich, protected biodiversity.
Sustainable tourism destinations around the world
Happily, there are now various places in the world you can travel to more consciously and more sustainably. Here is a short list of some of the ones that most appeal to me.
Bhutan: happiness in sustainable tourism
A small country between the giants of China and India, known for its Buddhist tradition, its monasteries and its extraordinary landscapes. It is the only country to have swapped GDP for a Happiness Index, calculated from economic growth, social development and environmental sustainability. That swap earned Bhutan the title of the only carbon-negative country in the world.
At the Rinchenling Buddhist monastery guests are always made welcome. You can spend time with the Buddhist monks, attend ceremonies, meditate and enjoy sustainable food made with local produce.
Costa Rica: clean energy and superb parks
In Costa Rica, sustainability is a way of life, and the country aims to be the first carbon-neutral country in the world in 2021. It is also a country blessed with its geography. Costa Ricans have numerous national parks protected by UNESCO, the country is one of the world leaders in protecting biodiversity, and around 90% of its electricity comes from renewable sources. The government understands and recognises the importance of sustainable tourism, which is why it developed the first carbon-neutral airline. It is without doubt a model country for sustainable practice across many industries worldwide.
One option for being close to nature sustainably is the Arenal Manoa Hotel, in Arenal Volcano National Park.
Finland: protected forests and magnificent lakes
In Finland, almost 80% of the country is covered by protected forest and countless lakes, considered the cleanest in the world. Concern for the environment and for reducing the ecological footprint is always part of the country’s tourism development strategy.
The Arctic Blue Resort hotel wants to show its guests that sustainability really can pay off. When guests use less energy, take part in ecological activities and make sustainable food choices during their stay, the price of that stay can drop by up to 50%. Due to open in 2022, the Arctic Blue Resort aims to encourage customers to make more conscious decisions during their stay and to motivate them towards more sustainable ways of living. The hotel will be located in the rural town of Kontiolahti, famous for its natural landscape and an ecosystem rich in forests and estuaries, which helps a great deal. A good excuse to start planning the next trip!
Greece: sustainable food and plenty of history
Greece stands out for its sustainable food, which makes the trip more enjoyable still. The markets with organic produce and the island seafood make this a country that draws people in and stands out on sustainability. Great care is taken over local production of everything that reaches the tourists’ table, so that seasonal produce is always valued.
To experience food sustainability in Greece, the island of Aegina near Athens is a good example. The town takes pride in having no fast-food restaurants at all and in offering an authentic Mediterranean diet.
Palau: protection for the generations to come
Palau, the Pacific island that aims to cut the carbon footprint associated with its tourism by promoting local food production and developing a transparent carbon management plan.
A place known worldwide for its natural beauty and a draw for marine tourism, it requires visitors to sign a document committing them to act in an environmentally conscious and sustainable way during their trip, in order to protect the islands for future generations. Tourists risk a fine if they act against the pledge. The country has also introduced the world’s strictest national standard on reef-safe sunscreen, and tour operators are banned from using single-use plastics.
Brazil: beauty with sustainability
Fernando de Noronha is the dream destination, and well known as one of Brazil’s greatest paradises.
A destination that lives essentially on tourism and that has several sustainability initiatives, energy production, for instance, through a “clean energy” project supported by the state government of Recife, and initiatives to cut carbon emissions across the archipelago under the “Noronha Carbono Zero” project.
Sustainable tourism is a reality that has emerged to counter the negative impacts of tourism. So travelling more consciously and rethinking our attitude as tourists is urgent.
So how about it, from now on, will you be packing a concern for sustainability?
Share your thoughts in the comments, I would love to hear them! 🙂
