Jeff Mills Coastal Vacations Club Blog

For sustainable tourism, we need to protect the cultural environment as well as the natural environment.  We need to respect local cultures and ways of life, and contribute positively to local communities.  

Tourism has the potential of harming both locally and globally… but if we practice sustainable tourism, we can keep the negative effects to a minimum.   

If we’re not careful, we’ll degrade the environment and the cultures we travel to see.What ever your destination, the locals depend on toursim profits to support their economy.  If you go someplace because there are wonderful native handicrafts, you need to buy some of those handicrafts from locals, so they get the money.  

If you’re visiting a national park, you need to employ locals as guides so they will continue to value and protect the park.  Those are the kinds of things that make for sustainable tourism.

Here are some more things to think about when choosing a hotel, a tour group or activity…..

Is the hotel locally owned and operated so that the profits stay in the community?At least the staff should be local citizens?

How does the hotel contribute to the local community?Does the restaurant’s fruit and vegetables come from local farms?Are the gift shop souvenirs made locally?

If you’re taking a tour, travel with a tour operator who is environmentally responsible.  Smaller group sizes make less of an impact… and make for a more enjoyable tour for you!

Is the group lead by a local guide?  Does the tour company contribute to the local community in some way?  To have sustainable tourism, the local community needs to benefit; not just some global tour company.

When hiking, stay on marked trails.Stay well away from any wildlife you come upon… for your safety AND for theirs.  “Leave only footprints”… carry your trash out or use trash bins.

If you’re snorkeling or diving, don’t touch the coral.It is easy to stir up sediment or damage corals with your fins, so pay close attention.  Either way you can damage the reef’s fragile ecosystem… and reefs around the world are now in danger, so all need our help.

Try to buy local products…  You’ll support the local economy… and we all need that now no matter what country you’re visiting.  Foods will be fresher, give you a taste of local cuisine and save fuel because they haven’t traveled half way around the world… only YOU have!  Fewer imported products will be needed.  

Never buy anything that you know or suspect is made from endangered animals or plants.  You probably can’t get it through customs, and if you believe in sustainable tourism, you don’t want to contribute to the extinction of another species!  

Treat locals with respect.  You went there to learn about their culture!  Learn a few words… at least hello, good-bye and thank you.  Be open to our cultural differences.  Read up on the area you’ll be visiting so you’ll know how to dress so you don’t offend anyone.  Check to see if there are any behaviors or gestures that will offend your hosts.

Rejoice in our positive differences.  Support them, and you’ll be contributing to sustainable tourism.

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