From ‘travel’ to ‘sustainable travel’ – a small but so important step

Do you prepare for your planned trip by looking into the cultural background and political situation of your destination’s country? You usually search for a small, owner-managed and authentic hotel for your stay with typical local architecture that fits harmoniously into the surrounding area? You don’t demand fresh towels or fresh bed linen every day and can do without plastic disposable products in the bathroom? You also pay attention to your energy and water consumption in your accommodation? Dealing appropriately with hotel employees is a given for you? You enjoy local cuisine with regional products, even outside the hotel? You buy handicrafts from people who maintain local traditions and you are willing to pay a fair price for them? You don’t mind using local transport, such as tuk-tuks? You treat people of your host country with curiosity, genuine interest and at eye level? You respect their culture and tradition? You visit holy sites with the necessary restraint? You respect the privacy of others and ask people you want to photograph for their permission? You don’t go to animal shows or dolphinariums and when diving you are careful not to damage corals? Then you are already traveling very sustainably!

Are you even a small but meaningful step further? You usually look for an ecological way to travel and try to minimize the number of flights on your trip? You decide to travel longer but less often? You compensate for the CO2 emissions you cause, both for the journey and for the land arrangement? You choose climate-friendly hotels that work in an environmentally conscious manner and pay and train their employees fairly? You enjoy being guided by local experts at your travel destination in small groups? You don’t look away when you encounter child labour or sexual abuse? And you don’t forget the knowledge you gained even after you return? Then you have taken another giant step towards sustainable travel!

An African proverb says: “Many little people in many small places, doing many small things, will change the world.” Let us do our part too.

The world is looking forward to welcoming you.