1. Start with yourself: Yes. Being a responsible tourist means that you have your trip well organized, planned well in advance and with everything necessary to avoid «impacts», never better said, in your expectations or in your pocket. If you book with time the transport and the lodging you can obtain them to advantageous prices for the dates that you shuffled and with the quality that you expected. Another way to be responsible with yourself is to take out travel insurance that covers certain expenses in case of problems or related unforeseen events that affect your trip (health, cancellation, loss of luggage …)
2. Choose transportation well: Contemplate the means to move to your destination and also those that you will use to move during your stay. Opt for efficient driving transports that save energy or with little or no polluting (electrical) emissions. Try using public transportation, and, when feasible, moving on a bicycle or walking.
3.Sustainable lodging: These are establishments or apartments that are responsible for the environment depending on their location, the materials with which they are built or the type and use of energy. Staying in a rural house that works with solar energy, booking in a hotel that does to reduce water consumption or stay in a bioclimatic cabin (insulating walls with natural or recycled elements) are ways to contribute to responsible tourism.
4. Use electronic devices: They are a way to reduce the consumption of paper and avoid generating waste of more. Try to always have reservations, tickets, maps, guides or invoices in digital format on your smartphone or tablet.
5. Do not waste energy: When we stay in a hotel or rent an apartment, we usually forget about the cost of water or electricity with the excuse that we already have everything paid for. Who has not ever left the card in the room and the air conditioner has been running for hours? In addition to the business accounts, with this waste of energy we are damaging the territory to which we have traveled and the planet in general.
5. Do not waste energy: When we stay in a hotel or rent an apartment, we usually forget about the cost of water or electricity with the excuse that we already have everything paid for. Who has not ever left the card in the room and the air conditioner has been running for hours? In addition to the business accounts, with this waste of energy we are damaging the territory to which we have traveled and the planet in general.
6. Respect the nature of the area: Try not to degrade the ecosystem of the area you visit, the natural areas (overpassing bounded areas, throw away waste …), animals and plants. It may surprise you to know that some people take plants, shells or corals to take home as a souvenir. Also, avoid buying objects made with materials obtained by methods such as illegal hunting (ivory, fur …) If you want to visit a zoo, look for centers that have rescued animals from abuse to initiate reintegration processes in nature. When eating, keep in mind the closed seasons of certain seafood or game, as there are places that do not respect them in order to profit.
7. Contributes to the local economy: It consumes products and services from the area that stimulate its economy, that is, that involve other people and companies in the territory. For example, eat in restaurants that offer typical dishes made with local products, look for acraft souvenir, enjoy festivals and traditions, or stay in establishments managed by the local community.
8. Be considerate of the local population: Traveling involves relating to the people of the place you visit and for this it is necessary to know, understand and try to adapt to their character, habits, norms and customs. We must avoid imposing our lifestyle wherever we travel. Examples? Learn about uses when paying as bargaining or tips, know the ways to say hello or meal times, respect clothing in places of worship.
9. Minimizes the generation of waste:It is true that when we travel, it is difficult for us to carry with us items that we can do without and resort to the «throwaway». In order not to generate excess waste, it is good that, as in our day to day, we use reusable bags or bottles and avoid plastic tableware and cutlery. Also, check how it is recycled in the city or in your own lodging so that each waste is in the container that corresponds to it.
10. Join and share the Responsible Traveler Manifesto: When you are back, reflect on what you have known and learned on your trip and on your achievements as a responsible tourist. Tell your friends & family and share with them the practices and advantages of responsible tourism when you travel together.
