How To Be A Sustainable Tourist

Alternative vacation destinations and choices will heal the planet, your wallet and your soul.

Charting new territories by Kavya Arora

Travelling is the new status symbol. Whether it is travelling to more countries than the number of fingers on your hands, being an explorer in your home country, or ‘catching-flights-not-feelings’, there is an increased hype about vacations and people who travel. Tourism is a booming industry in India, contributing to nearly 2% of India’s ₹160 trillion economy. Tourism brings a great deal of material prosperity to regions with tourist attractions such as inflow of wealth, creation of jobs, and improved infrastructure. However, tourism also brings several undesirable environmental and social effects, making tourism more extractive than beneficial for the region, leading to the collapse of the communities and natural resources present in the area visited.

‘Extractive tourism’, a word coined by Vijay Kolinjiwadi - an academic at the University of Antwerp - refers to tourism that extracts more from the place than what can be replenished. Extractive tourism has been likened to mining - tourism ‘eats away’ at everything apart from the kernel in demand to ‘extract’ the tourism value of the destination, such as a beach, museum, neighbourhood. This kind of tourism creates stress on the local water supply, increases exploitation of labour, leads to significant habitat loss and pollution due to construction, a disregard for the cultural preservation of a place, and leads to gentrification. These impacts are compounded by multinational luxury hotels and establishments that cater to the elite but give nothing back to local communities. 

(Also Read: The True Cost of Luxury)

Sustainable tourism checklist

1. Avoid visiting destinations during peak tourist seasons 

Many destinations like hill stations, beach getaways or nature reserves have peak seasons for tourists. The peak season is influenced by pleasant weather, cultural festivals, natural conditions like harvests or floral blooms, and much more. Every destination has a threshold of tourists that it can realistically handle. When that threshold is crossed, there is a severe strain on water resources, waste management systems, air quality, and much more. 

Many hotels and travel companies try to push their luck and maximise profits by attracting as many tourists as possible at all times. Prices for accommodation and travel also skyrocket during peak periods. Opt for a budget friendly trip to your bucket list destinations by visiting during the off-seasons.

2. Ditch over-visited areas, choose alternate destinations 

Some destinations across India like Goa, Dharamshala, Jaipur, and Pondicherry have become tourist hubs with tourists flocking to them around the year. The tourism industry in these areas has become largely extractive and poses a threat to the social and ecological integrity of these locations. 

Instead of choosing these destinations for your trip, first figure out what kind of experience you are looking for. If you are looking for hill stations with Tibetan influence, there are several alternative destinations that are less popular than Dharamshala and are just as beautiful and exciting. If you want to enjoy beaches, the coast of Maharashtra, Karnataka and Kerala have lots to offer, just like Goa. There is always another option to make your trip memorable.

3. When choosing accommodation or eateries, be mindful of their business practices 

Hotels everywhere are notorious for exploitation, waste and pollution. Luxury hotels offer the allure of grand vacations with trimmed lawns, pristine pools, and 5 star amenities. However, these sprawling resorts are usually built on ecologically sensitive areas and significantly alter hydrology and landscapes. They pollute waterways through the use of pesticides, create tonnes of waste on a daily basis, exploit staff, and do not hire local staff. Similarly, eateries may also engage in harmful and predatory practices.

When picking accommodation, go for hotels that are locally owned or at least not chain hotels like Marriott or Hilton. If you are flexible, go for homestays, locally owned Airbnbs or hostels instead of hotels. If possible, try to find accommodations that have sustainable practices like zero waste or clean energy to maximise a positive impact on the environment and society. 

4. Be respectful of the local culture

Visiting new places can be exciting and one might get carried away in all the fun. It is important to remember that your trip goes beyond you and your fellow travellers, and has an impact on the people that live in the place you are visiting. Ensure that you research the local people and beliefs before and during your visit, and do your best to be respectful of the cultural norms. Some examples of violating local norms could be public intoxication, creating noise and ruckus, damaging property, misbehaving with locals, and littering. It is also important to be mindful of clothing (across genders) and be respectful to the locals when interacting with them. 

(Also read: Desecration of Dharamshala: How Unregulated Tourism Impacts Himachal Pradesh)

5. Support local businesses as much as possible

 One of the biggest signs of extractive tourism is that the local communities do not benefit from the influx of tourists. This is because chain hotels, restaurants, shops, and more run by outsiders and corporations out-compete local businesses and take wealth out of the destinations. To support the local communities and economy, choose to patronize local businesses and brands.

(Also read: Colony to Commodity: Tourism and the Utopia in Pondicherry and Auroville)

6. Be mindful of your waste and lifestyle while vacationing

Traveling can create a lot of waste such as water bottles, packaging for food and toiletries, and other types of waste. It is important to dispose of this waste carefully, because many small cities and rural areas lack the waste management capacity to deal with certain types of waste. Due to this, plastics, hazardous waste, e-waste and other waste goes into landfills or litters the surroundings.

It is a good idea to carry any non-compostable waste back with you from your vacation, especially if you are visiting a hill station, rural area or small town. 

7. Do not engage in animal abuse

Despite attempts to regulate wildlife and animal abuse, there are many harmful practices that still exist. Petting zoos, wildlife safaris breaking the backs of elephants, caged animals performing tricks–the list goes on. The animals involved in these trades are taken from the wild, abused, drugged, and confined for the entertainment of tourists. 

Do not participate in these harmful activities if you seek experiences with wildlife and nature. There are many other activities that you can participate in, such as nature trails, open water diving, wildlife safaris using jeeps, or paragliding. 

8. Seek nature based activities for wellbeing and sustainability

This last one is optional, but a great way to improve your relationship with the environment and yourself. The world can be a tiring place and nature possesses numerous healing properties that can ensure your wellbeing. Immerse yourself in nature through bird watching, hiking, dipping in natural springs, kayaking, and more.

Spending time in nature will refresh your mind, body and soul and help you establish a strong connection with nature, especially if you live in a big city. It can help you make environmentally friendly choices in the long term in your daily life, as well as any vacation you go on. 

(Also read: 8 Farms to Volunteer at Your Next Vacation in India)

9. Choose sustainable modes of transport

When travelling internationally, domestically, or locally, use sustainable modes of transport such as buses and trains as much as possible to keep emissions low. Avoid taking flights and private cars/taxis unless necessary, as they are polluting and have many lower cost and eco-friendly options available. Airports and highways are a leading driver of community displacement, habitat fragmentation, and greenhouse gas emissions in eco-sensitive areas, and it is best to avoid using them.

(Also read: Mobility in Northeast India: A Clash Between Development and Conservation)

10. Be respectful of cultural heritage

When visiting monuments, be mindful of the structures and leave the place as you found it. Do not alter or deface the structures in any way by moving objects, carving into walls or furniture, or engaging in flash photography, as these types of damage can be irreversible or extremely difficult and expensive to repair. You should also actively discourage other tourists from engaging in such behaviours and act as an active steward of the monuments and museums.

(Also read: Between Love, Loss: The Taj Mahal)

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Vacations are a great way to recharge and connect with yourself and your loved ones. Holidays don’t need to have a carbon footprint or leftover plastic. Make your getaways more unique and fun by keeping the environment in mind while planning your next trip. 

References

1. Vijay Kolinjiwadi(February 2021), It is Time to End Extractive Tourism, Al Jazeera News https://www.aljazeera.com/opinions/2021/2/18/it-is-time-to-end-extractive-tourism

2. David Walsh(February 2022), What is ‘Extractive’ Tourism and What We Can Do About It, EuroNews.Travel https://www.euronews.com/travel/2022/02/14/what-is-extractive-tourism-and-what-can-we-do-about-it

3. Lucy Dodsworth(March 2021), How We Can Make Tourism Sustainable, OnTheLuce(travel blog) https://www.ontheluce.com/sustainable-tourism/

4. Mohit Iasija, What are the negative impacts of tourism on India?, Preserve Articles https://www.preservearticles.com/articles/negative-impacts-of-tourism-on-india/1226

5. Solano Da Silva, Kenneth Bo Nielsen, Heather P. Bedi(October 2020), Land use planning, dispossession and contestation in Goa, India, Taylor and Francis Online https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/03066150.2020.1822822

6. National Statistical Office, Ministry Of Statistics & Programme Implementation, Government Of India. (2023, February 28). Press Note On Second Advance Estimates Of National Income 2022-23, Quarterly Estimates  Of Gross Domestic Product  For The Third Quarter (Q3) Of 2022-23  And First Revised Estimates  Of National Income, Consumption Expenditure, Saving And Capital Formation For 2021-22 [Press release]. Retrieved August 6, 2024, from https://www.mospi.gov.in/sites/default/files/press_release/PressNoteNAD_28feb23final.pdf