World Tourism Day 2022: Rethinking Travel To Minimise Environmental Damage

September 27 is marked as World Tourism Day. This year, it is all the more special because many countries, like Bhutan, who had closed their gates during the pandemic, have now started welcoming back travellers from across the world.

Moreover, this year, people are travelling more freely across India to celebrate Navratri, Diwali, and other festivals with friends and family. In fact, for many countries, tourism is one of their biggest sources of income, and hence, we need to rethink a few practices that have been followed for aeons.

One of the biggest challenges the tourism industry faces is the generation of waste. Transportation to the stay itself, every inch of the tourism industry is packed with usage of non-biodegradable products that contribute to a huge amount of waste. Therefore, we need to find ways to go more eco-friendly while travelling.

Tourism & Waste Management Should Go Hand In Hand

A few years back, a pile of garbage was discovered in Malana, Himachal Pradesh. It was along the lines of one of the most famous trekking trails. This may seem like a story of one village, town or city, but the truth is, from mountains to beaches, all the famous tourist destinations have seen waste piling up.

It raises questions on waste management and the manner in which travellers dispose of products. While we have landfills on plains, the case is not the same when it comes to beach destinations and hill stations. Better ways of waste disposal and management need to be figured to minimise damage.

Tours & Travels Should Get Eco-friendly

A few weeks back, Ladakh declared they will promote sustainable tourism. Its blue skies and alluring views have always attracted people from across the world, who tend to leave behind plastic waste as a souvenir.

One of the approaches could be to reuse plastic waste to create sturdy roads. Similarly, other states and countries need to adopt practices that have a set of guidelines for waste management to reduce the devastating impact on nature and animals.

Role Of Tourists

According to a recent report of the United Nations lead agency on international development (UNDP), more than two billion people travel across the world, which leads to community building and cultural awareness.

However, the steep downside to this is environmental hazards, overuse of resources, increased pollution and damage to beautiful destinations and historic sites. Tourists themselves need to proactively do better.

6 Ways Tourists Can Reduce Waste

Buy Local

One of the biggest ways to reduce waste is buying stuff from the local market, whether it's food or souvenirs you want to carry home. If you plan to eat at a local eatery, you will get the taste of flavourful local cuisine that would by large be made from fresh and organic ingredients available locally.

Use Water Wisely

According to UNDP, tourists use more water than locals. It could be because you are staying at a hotel. Moreover, resorts and hotels offer daily change of sheets, which in turn uses more resources than is necessary. Travellers can get more cautious about and make informed decisions.

Not Feed Animals

Many tourist spots have national parks, sanctuaries, and zoos where tourists often indulge in feeding animals. The processed food we eat is neither suitable for our bodies nor for animals. It can harm them severely, resulting in human-animal conflict.

Book A Homestay

Although it is your choice to book a luxurious resort or a hotel, nothing can beat the experience of a homestay. You can get acquainted with people and local culture and might even share your experiences for better understanding of each other.

Avoid Single Use Plastic

When travelling, most of us pack many essentials in single-use plastic and dump it on the road, water, or anywhere else except the dustbins. It is one of the primary causes of pollution and can easily be avoided. Travellers must think about switching to more sustainable options like paper or cloth bags.

Use Public Transport

If you are travelling alone, it could be a great experience to share your ride with locals. Using public transport is a way to reduce traffic, air pollution, and noise pollution. However, if you are travelling in a group, it makes sense to get a private ride.

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