With this communication we would like to bring to the attention of readers eight tips from European experts for travelers who have chosen or intend to choose ecotourism as a type of holiday.
Choice of holiday destination
This is a first point to consider, given that the main means of transport associated with tourism account for about 75 per cent of greenhouse gas emissions. In order to join sustainable tourism, you do not need to travel thousands of kilometers. It is enough to recall that neighboring countries are rich in a variety of landscapes: natural parks, countryside, ponds, mountains …
Transport
When traveling in Europe, the car may well replace the plane, which is called the least clean mode of transport. However, when you get to your destination, the car itself can become burdensome: the stress of driving in an unfamiliar city, the difficulties with parking and the costs associated with it … Therefore, experts advise to make a choice in favor of rail, river or bus transport.
Avoid cruise ships
Cruise ships consume a huge amount of fuel, even while on the pier. Experts say that the emission of carbon dioxide produced by one such ship is equal in volume to the impact on the atmosphere made by one million cars. In addition, in this type of travel, opportunities to communicate with the local population are extremely limited, since cruise ships make stops mainly in places of mass congestion of tourists.
Choose an eco-settlement
In addition to transport, another significant polluter of the atmosphere is the hotel infrastructure. It accounts for as much as 21% of greenhouse gas emissions. In this regard, experts recommend avoiding large hotel complexes and choosing small campsites, cottages, guest houses or accommodation in families. This will reduce the consumption of water and electricity, produce less waste and give the opportunity to feed with bio-products. The most common European eco-labels - Clé Verte, Ecolabel Européen and Green Globe - will help you to choose "green" accommodation facilities.
Avoid places of mass tourism
Mass tourism carries not only tons of garbage, but also is fraught with soil erosion and even landslides for the environment. Traveling to lesser-known areas is discovering a different image, which requires respect for local traditions and customs. However, there is a high probability that you will not find there the same familiar products or comfort as at home. And that's good, otherwise, why travel?!
A meaningful vacation
If a vacation for you is, first of all, a reunion with nature and finding a new experience, here is one of the increasingly popular options: - Accommodation in bioferm. This kind of voluntary internship is an opportunity to enrich yourself with new experiences, discover the secrets of bio-cooking and environmentally friendly gardening, learn how to make wooden furniture and much more. And you will need money mainly in order to get to the place.
Enjoy your holiday slowly
When you're at a destination you may never return to, it's tempting to see and photograph everything to the max and share it on social media. As a result, we make a large number of trips by road and come back pretty tired. Therefore, experts advise to opt for hiking, enjoying the surrounding nature in the company of family members and friends, as well as to communicate with the locals, what sometimes requires learning a few phrases from the language they speak. In addition, it is much more economical! Swimming in small bodies of water, walking, cycling, riding a horse or even a donkey - all these are opportunities to get acquainted with the ecosystem in recreational areas without harming it.
Find the right travel agency
If you prefer organized travel, experts recommend choosing travel agencies specializing in sustainable tourism.
They will offer you a holiday away from the places of mass tourism, which will allow you to fully enjoy the nature and culture of another country.
