The author of The Ethical Traveller reminds us how travel can be one of many pathways to making our planet a safer, fairer and kinder place – somewhere people and nature thrive in harmony.
TAKE THE ROAD LESS TRAVELLED
Like the famous actor who ends up being typecast — tourism turns certain destinations into parodies of themselves. Just look at central Venice pre-Covid, where bumper-to-bumper gondolas and restaurants serving frozen bolognese for €30 a pop came as standard. Too much tourism decimates local ecosystems and makes daily life nigh on impossible for locals. It’s far better to pick a region’s second, third or even fourth city instead. Think skiing in Bulgaria’s Rila Mountains instead of the Swiss Alps, browsing Rotterdam’s galleries instead of joining the crush in Amsterdam.
CONSIDER WHERE YOU ARE MOST NEEDED
Pick somewhere that really needs your support. Disaster Tourism may sound gross but the aftermath of a natural disaster or terrorist attack is when your dollars are needed the most. It’s also important to engage with destinations that are dealing with negative publicity and tell your friends the real story – if it is safe to do so, of course. Other destinations where your money means more are those that are highly dependent on tourism. Take the tiny Caribbean Islands of Antigua and Barbuda, where visiting beach-lovers bolster 90% of the local economy.
MAKE YOURSELF AT HOME
With on-site restaurants and 24/7 service, a hotel belonging to an international group can feel the safe option. Opt for a homestay and you’ll have a more memorable experience – and 100% of your money benefits your hosts, rather than being syphoned out of the local economy by an international company. Browse global sites such as Homestay ( homestay.com ) or see if the specific region you’re visiting has its own version: such as Your Home In Japan ( yourhomeinjapan.com) for Tokyo, Look After Me ( lookafterme.co.nz ) in New Zealand, and Homestay Ireland ( homestayireland.ie ).
ETHICAL AIRBNB ALTERNATIVES
In places that don’t struggle with too much tourism, or if you’re renting a spare room rather than a whole apartment, Airbnb isn’t a problem — but there are other peer-to-peer platforms to consider.
♦ Fairbnb ( fairbnb.coop ) Hosts are local and can only list one property each, while 50% of the platform’s fees go towards community projects.
♦ Ecobnb (ecobnb.com ) offers accommodation that fulfils 10 criteria including car-free access, 100% renewable energy, organic food, and recycling more than 80% of their waste.
KEEP SHOWERS SHORT
You heard it here first, people: baths are over particularly in countries with water scarcity, which affects more than 40% of the world’s population. Opt for shorter showers and bathing in good karma instead. Another easy win is enquiring whether a hotel has low-flow showerheads and re-uses wastewater in its gardens. Many do but if the answer’s no, at least you’ve started a conversation.
SHARE YOUR DIGITAL KNOW-HOW
You may not consider yourself a tech guru but all those hours on social media, ordering Deliveroo and attending Zoom meetings add up. Many people from the Western world have super-developed digital skills: think about how you can share that knowledge while travelling. Worldpackers ( worldpackers.com ) connects travellers with hosts offering free accommodation in exchange for volunteer work: many are looking for help with their social media, website copy and content creation.
RECONSIDER THE HAGGLE
Everyone loves a bargain but remember that 800 million people earn less than $1.25 a day – that’s more than Europe’s entire population. You probably won’t notice if you spend an extra 60 Moroccan dirhams on beautiful leather babouches (slippers), but a stallholder could feed their family for several days with that money. Pay cash to those who need it most, as many people in developing economies live hand-to-mouth.
TALK THE TALK
Of the approximately 1.5 billion people speaking English in the world, less than 400 million use it as a first language. Apps like Duolingo, Babbel and Memrise can provide the basics and are a constructive way to fill time at the airport or if you find yourself held up.
CLEAN YOUR CONSCIENCE WITH A LOCAL LAUNDRY
Rather than using your hotel’s laundry service, head out and support a local instead. In countries such as Vietnam and Laos, women living in tourist districts often have signs on their doors saying that they wash clothes; if they have to shoulder the domestic burden, it’s only right they earn some cash while they’re at it. Remember to ask them not to tumble dry your clothes as this takes five times as much energy as one load of washing.
KEEP YOUR PACKING LIGHT
The lighter your bag — the fewer your CO2 emissions. According to the UN’s Environment Programme, reducing the weight of your luggage by 15 kg (33 lbs) decreases your emissions by around 50–100 kg (110–220 lbs) on a four-and-a-half-hour flight.
PASS IT ON
When the time comes to go home, look at your stuff through the locals' eyes. Is there anything that could make a useful gift? Items like sanitary products, clothes, books, over-the-counter medicines and sun cream can all be far harder to get hold of in certain countries, so your hosts may really appreciate them. Make sure they’re clean and left in a neat pile in your room with a thank you note to be discovered after you’ve gone.
The Ethical Traveller (£12.99) is published by Smith Street Books, written by Imogen Lepere and illustrated by Julia Murray. This book offers a hundred tips, aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals that help us protect the planet, support communities, and explore the world while preserving everything that makes it so very special.
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