green travel

Too often tourists are unaware of the impacts of their behaviour on sensitive local cultures. While it is your holiday it is somebody else’s home. Tourism developments can pollute the environment, and use vast quantities of precious resources such as water and firewood. Sadly, tourist trade in endangered species, hardwoods, and ancient artefacts threatens natural and cultural heritages. Tourists are increasingly getting fed up with pre-packaged, over sanitised holidays that provide few opportunities to meet local people on their terms, or to enjoy wildlife and the environment without feeling like they are contributing to its destruction. Green travel provides equitable exchanges of culture, respect and wisdom with local people. It is about a warmer welcome from local people who are benefiting from tourism; about providing visitors with better insights into local environments and cultures through the knowledge of local guides; and about knowing that income from your visit will help local communities to conserve the special places, cultures and wildlife that you have enjoyed as a visitor.

Being a responsible traveller need not be difficult or dull! It is really simply a matter of thinking of yourself as being a guest. Travelling responsibly can be as simple as respecting local traditions and religions, learning a few words of the local language, and asking permission before you photograph local people. Travelling with respect earns you respect. The sites that I have listed below will help you learn more about green travel, ecotourism, travel tips etc.

green travel - what to do, whom to travel with.

protect the environment - its flora fauna and landscapes.

respect local cultures - traditions, religions and built heritage.

benefit locals - economically and socially.

conservation -  natural resources and avoid wastage - from office to destination.

minimise pollution due to waste disposal, noise and congestion.

other notable websites

green Travel – what to do, whom to travel with

The Ecotourism Resource Centre www.bigvolcano.com.au/ercentre - provides hundreds of links to relevant sites.

The International Ecotourism Society www.ecotourism.org - brings issues of sustainable tourism to businesses and has an online library.

Green Globe www.greenglobe21.com - a worldwide certification programme dedicated to helping the Travel & Tourism industry around the world develop in sustainable ways - ways that improve the environment, well being and the way of life for local people and for visitors.

Greenstop www.greenstop.net - This website promotes companies and individuals who are working towards a sustainable future, especially those in travel and tourism.

Green Travel www.green-travel.com - has an extensive ecotourism directory and links to regional and worldwide ecotourism organisations and a very active mailing list which you can join here.

Planeta.com www.planeta.com - a clearinghouse for practical ecotourism in South America. As a travel resource centre, we provide more than 10,000 pages of practical features and in-depth scholarly reports and host a variety of online forums and conferences.

Responsible Tourism www.responsibletourism.org – This site approves a number of holidays in accordance with eco-tourism principles.  Their motto states ” Holidays that give the world a break”.  Works in partnerships to improve destinations for local people and their visitors.

United Nations Environment Programme www.uneptie.org/tourism/home.html - The sustainable tourism area of the United Nations Environment Programme including information on the UN tour operator's initiative.

The World Tourism Organisation www.world-tourism.org - includes information on the International Year of Ecotourism in 2002, and many links to internal sites reviewing tourism, statistics and the industry. A useful address for current global tourism facts.

The World Travel and Tourism Council www.wttc.org - Has papers from meetings, resources and many good links including international agreements.

protect the environment - its flora fauna and landscapes.

Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species www.cities.org - Website for the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna. Information and listings of the flora and fauna on the world's endangered species list

Coral Reef Alliance www.coral.org - A US based NGO, the site gives details of reef conservation measures including advice to tourists on how to behave on reefs and protect coral.

Friends of Conservation www.foc-uk.com - Friends of Conservation support conservation projects throughout the world and work with many tour operators on project support and educating travellers.

World Conservation Union www.iucn.org - A short cut to the World Conservation Union, who concentrate on research in protected areas of the world and work closely with WWF and UNEP.

World Conservation Monitoring Centre www.wcmc.org.uk - The World Conservation Monitoring Centre provides information services on conservation and sustainable use of the world's living resources, and helps others to develop information systems of their own.

Wild Life Tracker www.wildlifetracker.com - This site offers links and searches to organisations for conservation and endangered species preservation. It includes live wildlife cams around the world.

World Resources Institute www.wri.org - The World Resources Institute site is not tourism specific but is a good source of environmental information and research material.

WWF-UK www.wwf-uk.org - WWF-UK has useful information on endangered species and what you can do to help.

respect local cultures - traditions, religions and built heritage

Mountain Forum www.mtnforum.org - The Mountain Forum is a global network of individuals and organisations concerned with mountain cultures, environment and development.

Rethinking Tourism Project www.planeta.com/ecotravel/resources/rtp/rtp.html - The Rethinking Tourism Project (RTP) is an Indigenous Peoples non-profit organisation dedicated to preservation and protection of lands and cultures. The re-thinking tourism newsletter can be found at: groups.yahoo.com/group/rethinking-tourism

Tourism Concern www.tourismconcern.org.uk - Tourism Concern campaign on issues of ethical and sustainable tourism, the site includes information on issues, campaigns and initiatives around the world. It includes links to a network of organisations working for ethical tourism around the world

UNESCO World Heritage Sites www.unesco.org/whc/ - The UNESCO World Heritage Sites page lists sites around the world and gives information on conservation and sustainable tourism. It includes ways in which companies and travellers can help to preserve the world's cultural heritage.

benefit local communities economically and socially

Campfire in Zimbabwe www.campfire-zimbabwe.org - Campfire in Zimbabwe ensures the local communities benefit financially from tourism based products, in particular hunting safaris.

Department for International Development www.dfid.gov.uk - The website of the UK Government's Department for International Development, including information on the Tourism Challenge Fund and their work towards poverty elimination.

Tourism and Environment Forum www.greentourism.org.uk - The Tourism and Environment Forum website, helping the Scottish tourism industry work better with the environment.

Tourism Concern’s Travel Code Holiday Net www.tourismconcern.org.uk - Good information base on your consequences of haggling, photography and failing to buy local produce.  Thought- provoking stuff.

IIED www.iied.org - IIED aims to provide expertise and leadership in researching and achieving sustainable development at local, national, regional and global levels. In alliance with others we seek to help shape a future that ends global poverty and delivers and sustains efficient and equitable management of the world's natural resources.

Overseas Development Institute www.odi.org.uk - The Overseas Development Institute is an independent think-tank on international development and humanitarian issues including pro-poor tourism.

Pro Poor Tourism www.propoortourism.org.uk - Material on pro poor tourism from ODI and IIED - including work by Harold Goodwin (co-founder of one of responsibletravel.com).

Tearfund www.tearfund.org - Tearfund is an overseas development organisation working with partners in many countries. Recent research into tour operators and ethical tourism, which was carried out in partnership with the Centre for Responsible Tourism, is available on their website.

Tourism Concern’s Travel Code Holiday Net www.tourismconcern.org.uk - Good information base on your consequences of haggling, photography and failing to buy local produce.  Though- provoking stuff.

conserve natural resources and avoid wastage - from office to destination

Doing Your Bit www.doingyourbit.org.uk - The site for the doing your bit campaign which details ways in which everyone can reduce their environmental impact. Tips on transport and saving energy and water are given as well as information on events and campaigns.

Energy Efficiency www.energy-efficency.gov.uk - The UK government's energy efficiency best practice programme website, providing advice and services on how to save energy and reduce bills. It includes a Good Practice guide, downloadable energy management software and a useful links page.

Energy Saving Trust www.est.org.uk - The energy saving trust give advice an practical measures for saving energy, especially to small and medium sized businesses, including grants and information on the new climate change levy legislation.

GAP www.globalactionplan.org.uk - Provides information and practical ways of going green at home and at work, checklists, packs and employee training are all offered to businesses of all sizes.

The Hotel and Catering Management International Management Association www.hcima.org.uk - The HCIMA have a programme called 'Hospitable Climates' which industry members can join. The site contains information on the programme and measures the industry is taking to reduce its environmental impact.

Use It Again www.useitagain.org.uk - The UK government's interactive 'useitagain' website explains why this waste is such a problem, and how everyone can do their bit to reduce it.

 

minimise pollution due to waste disposal, noise and congestion

Choose Climate www.chooseclimate.org/flying/index.html - A fun site which you can use to calculate the environmental effects of air journeys.

Future Forests www.futureforests.com - Every flight you take produces carbon dioxide (as well as other gases). You might wish this weren't so. But it is, and demand for air travel is increasing. If you need to take a holiday or if you're travelling on business, you can help reduce your personal contribution to global warming by making your flight Carbon Neutral. At the same time through the scheme we'll give you the chance help create forests or support climate friendly energy projects. Please use the Carbon Calculator if you'd like precise figures. This site enables you or your company to offset a proportion of your carbon dioxide emissions or become totally carbon neutral. They will calculate your emissions and the level of forestry needed to balance the impact. They then arrange for sapling trees to be planted, professionally managed and monitored in forest sites across the UK and the rest of the world.

Waste Watch www.wastewatch.org.uk - A useful site looking at education, training and research into waste reduction and energy conservation.

walking

Get Walking www.getwalking.uk.com - contains a database of walks in the UK.  Each walk contains maps and directions.

Ramblers Association www.ramblers.org.uk  – get your UK walking guides here.  They can also help you get the advice for organised walking holidays in other countries.

Go 4 A Walk http://www.go4awalk.com - Contains downloadable route maps of UK walks, footpaths and trails with all sorts of other useful links and information.  Mainly restricted to the hill walks of the Lake Districts and Moors.

Walk Link www.walklink.com - This site makes it easy for you to find a UK walk that is suited to your level of fitness and ability. Find information on walks, local rambling and walking clubs or walk related events and news. You can even find details of hotels, B&B's or self-catering accommodation for that special holiday in the UK or abroad!  You can also submit your favourite walks/treks to the site.

other notable websites

Planeta www.planeta.com - Directory of South and Central American eco-tourism ventures.

British Trust for Conservation Volunteers www.btcv.org – Why not enjoy a weekend doing something for the environment such as hedge laying or woodland management, or rural development programmes in Nepal or turtle management in Thailand.

Earthwatch www.earthwatch.org - Offers a wide choice of conservation holidays.

Atlas of the Oceans www.oceansatlas.com - Forget SeaQuest DSV, this is the real mccoy from the UN.

BBC Nature www.bbc.co.uk/nature

Dorling Kindersley www.uk.dk.com Education, education, education. At least DK deliver what they promise A good destination for those with a general interest in nature, with plenty of links to associated topics.

Cartridges 4 Charity www.cartridges4charity.co.uk A used toner cartridge can raise up to £10 for charity, according to this new website.

EcoVolunteer www.ecovolunteer.org A volunteer environmental conservation programme. The site contains most of the necessary information, but is sparse and sometimes irritating.

Green Solutions www.greensolutions.com Green Solutions for a not too green world. Eco-friendly information for a brighter future for us all.

International Fund for Animal Welfare www.ifaw.org Since 1969 IFAW has campaigned for animal welfare; this site details their projects and how to get involved.

The Green Party www.greenparty.org.uk An excellent official site for the Green Party.

Yes2Wind www.yes2wind.com Not a site for fans of flatulence but one for extolling the virtues of energy supplied by wind power.

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