Responsible tourism is important for the environment in general as well as the local economies in which you plan to stay this year. Taking the former factor first, strides have been taken in areas that are marked as hosting responsible tourism to make sure that they maintain the environment rather than damage it. Although such destinations may be a little more expensive than other destinations, the few extra pounds are worth it when you consider that other areas might have a really detrimental impact on the surrounding area. It is easier to choose cheap destinations when you have little money but thinking about the impact of your holiday on the fragile world we live in might convince you to do otherwise.

By choosing to travel and stay in areas that include responsible tourism, you can also help out the people living in the local area. In turn, this could help to minimize the effects of the recession. It is worth bearing in mind that most European countries are in the grip of the credit crunch and thus people living in some areas are struggling just as much as people in the UK. In fact, many may be struggling more because they rely on tourism to keep their local economies going. They sell their eco-friendly wares to make ends meet, working harder in the tourist season because many do not get to work in the winter. Believe it or not, this is really frustrating for them because of the work ethic they’re brought up with and continue for their entire working lives. Sustaining this kind of economy is essential if the destinations are to survive and it is this point that can really encourage people to work together during trying times.

If responsible tourism is to prosper then it should be everyone’s first choice in the coming years, especially during recession. Of course, it is completely your choice as to where you go on holiday but going to a non-responsible tourism destination could bring the progress that we’ve all made in recent years to a crashing halt.

Guest Article by Louise Crowley

I’ve read numerous articles in recent weeks that have predicted the decline of responsible tourism in 2009 because of the common misconception that responsible tourism is too expensive for regular families with limited budgets. In fact, nothing could be further from the truth. Responsible tourism can be just as cheap as regular tourism but have major benefits for the environment as a result of the limited impact it has on the local area in terms of negatives and the positives that come out of it for the locals. In fact, the latter is a massive reason as to why you should choose responsible tourism. It can actually limit the impact that the recession would have on a given area and keep the local economy going. After all, tourism creates jobs and the respect created for the local people is certainly a plus!

Responsible tourism does not necessarily mean staying in an expensive hotel as travel companies that do not provide it may suggest. You can choose that option (which will not be that expensive unless you choose one of the more expensive hotels) or you can choose to camp at a designate park. We all know how cheap camping can be and it has the added advantage of enabling you to control your budget effectively in addition to being an awful lot of fun! The parks you can choose to stay at are spread throughout Europe so you have plenty of choice, all of which are infinitely affordable and definitely as comfortable as any well run camping park! The range of facilities is amazing but need not cost the Earth, both financially and in terms of the environment.

Responsible tourism has been steadily growing for a number of years but has exploded in terms of its popularity in the last couple of years. I predict that it will still continue to grow purely and simply because it is competitive in terms of price and offers tourists everywhere numerous benefits and advantages. We have made too much progress to let it slide now so it is important to support responsible tourism as much in 2009 as ever before, if not more so. Check out your options now and you will see just how affordable packages are for yourself. Growth is certainly on the agenda in 2009 as long as we continue to spread the word and keep our environment alive for generations to come.

Guest Article by Louise Crowley

As tourists or travellers, we need to do our bit to promote eco-friendly holidays when abroad. We can definitely do a whole host of things before and during our self drive holidays that can benefit the environment and the following ideas may give you a few ideas as to what you can do to promote the environment but still have a great time:

• Plan out your route before you go to ensure that you can get to your destination and be as eco-friendly as possible. For example, take a ferry rather than flying to your destination. Try taking a train or extensively planning road routes to ensure that you take the quickest way there. This will cut your carbon emissions and be more eco-friendly.
• Research the tour operator that you plan to book a holiday with because this will let you know whether or not they have a responsible travel policy if they do then you should check their environmental credentials. If you cannot find either then book with someone else.
• Find out about the local people and their culture. You should always attempt to fit in. When in Rome and all that… This will enable their lives to continue undisturbed and ensure that their businesses and livelihoods are stable.
• Check out local activities in your destination that support local business and help the environment. Take treks or walks for example. Organised walks are often planned around paths that avoid harming the environment or destroying the ecosystem so go on them rather than trampling through the country on your own.
• Purchase local items when you are in the area. This includes foods, gifts and any items that you may want to take home. You are supporting the local people and their use of the environment, which is always a good thing.
• Do not take any excess items or packaging into the local area because this could lead to littering. Recycling projects are not available everywhere so do not give anyone a chance to pollute the area, including yourself.
• Avoid using too much water because some areas have conservation programs in place that tourists could ruin if they do not respect the area.

PR: wait…  I: wait…  L: wait…  LD: wait…  I: wait… wait…  C: wait…  SD: wait…

Guest Article by Louise Crowley

So how do you know whether you have chosen an eco-friendly hotel or not? Well, when you know the signs then you will have no trouble telling the eco-friendly hotels from the impostors that are just looking to part you with your money. The points below will help you to do just that:

• Check the website for an environmental policy. If they have one on there then it should feature the local environment and the local people as well. If the hotel in question does not yet have a website then it should still have a written policy. If it does not then stay away because they are likely to be scamming people.
• Check out the local activities or centres that the hotel promotes. If they really are eco-friendly then they will offer a range of activities that promote the local community and preserve the local environment at the same time.
• Check out the features of the hotel. These are very good tell tale signs because truly eco-friendly hotels and places to stay will advertise solar panels, conservation areas and other similar features. They may post pictures of these as well. Those that skip over such credentials are not as reliable and trustworthy.
• Phone the venue and ask whether their foodstuffs are procured from the local area and whether they also employ individuals from the local area. This is, of course, important because any eco-friendly hotel should help to support their local communities.
• If they have any awards or accreditations on their website or advertised in brochures then do a little research. It will be easy enough to find out whether or not they are real or completely bogus. Many awarding bodies will have a website that confirms the venues that have been given awards and if the hotel is not on the list then the hotel is being completely dishonest.

All of the above points are important because nobody going on a self drive break or travelling to stay in a green hotel should take it for granted that the hotel is telling the truth. An eco-friendly hotel will be happy to provide you with as much information as you need to reassure you whereas non-green hotels will not. Ask questions and you will soon get the answers you need!

Guest Article by Louise Crowley

Below you will find a list of the top ten environmental camping no-nos and you’ll be surprised how many you make without realising it. However, a quick scan of the list will help you to avoid them in the future:

1. Pitching the tent in a wild area – Approved areas are there for a reason. Camping out in the hills or other natural environment can upset the natural habitat and scare creatures off. It can also upset the natural balance of the area so stay in approved areas when camping.
2. Driving off the beaten track – Think of all the pollution you’re taking into a wild area, not to mention the mud, vegetation and bio-diverse species you’re moving out of your way.
3. Smoking – As silly as it sounds, you should never smoke in nature reserves because of the threat of air pollution and the micro-organisms you could be killing off. This is a worst case scenario but one worth bearing in mind.
4. Littering – This should go without saying but throwing anything away, from cigarette butts to biodegradable materials, could harm animals and insects in the local area.
5. Washing in rivers and streams – Using a little to wet your face is fine but never, ever use soap or any other chemicals that could poison the water.
6. Toileting – Just dig a hole and then fill it back in when you’re done… No more need be said.
7. Campfires – They may sound like fun but campfires can quickly get out of hand and burn down whole natural areas. They can also severely disrupt the natural ecosystems so just leave them well alone.
8. Souvenirs – If you want to buy them in shops then that’s OK but don’t take as much as a pinecone home. You could take insects out of their environment, take essential parts of the ecosystem home or worse, take bacteria with you. Stick to souvenirs from shops and you avoid all of the potential consequences.
9. Furry friends – Dogs will do more damage than you may believe. Their noise and scent can clear animals from any given area in no time so keep your dog on a leash unless in designated areas.
10. Hiking – Stay on approved paths. For the reason why, see point number two. Also, remember not to clear a path because removing branches can also disrupt the ecosystem.

Guest Article by Louise Crowley

You can do just as much damage camping on your self drive holiday as you could staying in a hotel. Lighting campfires, cooking outdoors and having fun may sound fantastic but it can be incredibly degrading for the environment. As such, it is important to manage your carbon footprint and think about what you are doing when out camping. The following information should help you to do just that.

Firstly, the main way that you can reduce your camping carbon footprint is to avoid littering. This is the main problem in many camping areas because people just do not put their rubbish in the bin. They either leave it to lie on the camping grounds or burn it and pollute the air. The best thing you can actually do is bag up your litter and take it home with you. That way, you can dispose of it safely and recycle wherever possible. However, this is not the only large problem associated with camping areas these days. Vandalism is just as big a problem. Vandalism degrades the natural environment so be sure to keep an eye out for any vandalism and report it where possible. 

Also, you should never camp anywhere but in designated areas. Whilst camping in the wilderness may sound really appealing, every single environmentalist will know exactly how delicate the ecosystems there are and human intrusion can actually do much more harm than good. Designated camping areas have been cleared for that purpose so you won’t damage any natural habitats. They may or may not have rules for campfires but even if they are allowed, you won’t be ruining habitats or running the risk of burning down a forest like you would be if you set one in the wilderness!

Speaking of campfires, only use wood that has already fallen. Never ever take any directly from living trees to burn. You should also supervise any fire at all times to ensure that it doesn’t spread and also to make sure that no creatures come near and are harmed. After all, you’ve all heard the stories of hedgehogs crawling into bonfires before they’re lit on Guy Fawkes Night. The same applies for the rest of the year.

Finally, think about your bathroom habits too. Any human waste should be disposed of via a fairly deep hole and not left lying around where there is no toilet. Also, no soap should ever be taken into a river or a pond because it will pollute the water and potentially kill the creatures living there. 

Stick to all of the above advice and your carbon footprint will shrink when you’re out camping. As such, we can all enjoy the environment on a camping holiday in years to come!

Guest Article by Louise Crowley

In fact, the EU Commissioner for Energy, Andris Piebalgs, has offered hints and tips in recent weeks that have been proven to reduce petrol consumption and thus are much better for the environment as well as your wallet. Although they were designed to help make Europe a greener place to live, they can also save you money at the same time.

Take a look at the tips below for ways to make your self drive holiday more affordable and better for the environment:

1. Make sure your tyre pressure is at the correct level before you go and then again during your trip. If your tyres are under-inflated then your fuel consumption can increase by up to 40%.
2. Only carry the weight you have to. If you have extra bags and other items that pile on unnecessary weight then your engine will be working harder and using more fuel to do so.
3. Stay in as high a gear as possible when driving. The higher the gear, the more energy efficient your car is and the less fuel you will use.
4. Plan your route in advance and use a satellite navigation system to avoid traffic whenever possible. If you don’t get stuck in traffic then you won’t use as much fuel.
5. Close your windows. This isn’t always possible because of the heat that builds up in the car, but if your windows are closed then the wind resistance on your car is dramatically reduced so there is no drag. This in turn will reduce emissions and your fuel consumption by around 10%
6. Have your car serviced and top the oil level up before you head off. Well maintained cars will keep emissions at their lowest possible value and reduce fuel consumption.
7. Never leave your car running. Switching the ignition off whenever you stop, even if it is only for a minute or two, will save you a lot of fuel because it all adds up.
8. Avoid using air conditioning whenever possible. Air conditioning may make the experience of driving more comfortable but it increases emissions by 5% and will use a lot of petrol.
9. Avoid accelerating and braking suddenly. Any sudden movements makes your car work harder so driving a little smoother will reduce the amount of petrol you use on a drive.
10. Walk whenever possible and if you do have to drive then make sure you plan all of your stops along the way. Turning back on yourself or stopping too often will increase your fuel consumption so plan everything out rigorously in advance.

Guest Article by Louise Crowley

If you always travel on the ferry rather than flying or if you’ve chosen to go by sea to help out the environment then you should give yourself a pat on the back, but did you know that there are ways to offset your carbon emissions before you go and when you’ve arrived at your final destination as well?

If you’re camping or heading off in a caravan, for example, you can now actually purchase equipment that is more energy efficient than any old equipment you might have at home already. For example, you can purchase tents that are made of organic materials and are biodegradable as well as stoves and other similar camping gear that use a small amount of energy during use.

Any good camping store and some of the larger supermarkets often provide information as to which goods will help to offset your carbon emissions. The range of goods will blow your mind! You have food containers, cutlery, stoves, clothes, groundsheets, tents, low emission fire starters, batteries, lamps… The list goes on! It seems that there’s very little camping and holiday gear not available in the environmentally friendly variety!

When you arrive at your destination, you can plan your days out and activities in advance to ensure that you’re as environmentally friendly as possible. Small things like walking or taking public transport instead of using a car will reduce your carbon emissions. Staying in a green retreat, camping site or other accommodation that is near to the local facilities will help with this. After all, if you’re staying further away from the nearest town or facilities then there may not be public transport that’s as convenient as you’d like.

One of the best ways to offset carbon emissions is to choose a resort, camp or hotel that’s accredited as environmentally friendly. There are plenty of them about now thanks to all of the green awards that are available for businesses making an effort to offset carbon emissions and go green. Check out any awards that individual resorts might display to make sure that they’re legitimate. If they are then you’ve found a treasure that can help make your holiday well and truly green by offsetting carbon emissions!

Guest Article by Louise Crowley

Of course tourism, particularly if it involves flying on an aircraft, isn’t great for the environment. But, many destinations are, to a greater or lesser extent, dependant on tourism. And, in any case, holidaymakers can’t be expected to carry the weight of the world’s problems on their shoulders.

Responsibletravel.com is a pressure group campaigning for, you guessed it, responsible travel.

But its latest tactics seem a little misguided. While posing the question, ‘should the responsible traveller be flying?’ it says: ‘As we fly into the Alps for our skiing holiday our flight is contributing to its destruction; our honeymoon flight to the Maldives is sinking it under rising sea levels…our safari flight to Africa is contributing to drought, famine and disease…’

I’m sorry, but there’s nothing more likely to make me want to go to the Alps, the Maldives and Africa (all at the same time) than being bombarded with that tirade.

It’s completely unrealistic to expect people to, for example, forego their ski holiday because they might cause some miniscule damage to the environment. (I wonder how many people from responsibletravel.com go on flights).

The company claims people should, if possible, avoid flying and instead use Eurostar. The Eurostar is an excellent and convenient service (and this site has two-for-one breaks), but people use it for exactly that reason, rather than any thought that they might be saving the planet.

Responsibletravel.com is also backing the Emissions Trading Scheme that, in essence, says net carbon polluters such as airlines should have to buy carbon credits to offset their emissions.

As far as individuals are concerned, previous campaigns to encourage people to put something back into the resorts they visit, by eating at local restaurants and buying from markets, is a far more sensible approach.

Do you care about responsible tourism and what, if anything, do you do about it?

Guest Article by Jeremy Skidmore

Transportation
To go on a self-drive holiday you have to have a car, otherwise it really defeats the object. However, some cars are more environmentally friendly than others. If you have a hybrid or a low emissions car then your self-drive holiday may indeed be green. However, if you have a 4×4 or other similar large car then your trip will be anything but environmentally friendly. This is obviously not good if you are travelling to beautiful, unspoiled landscapes because you will undoubtedly contribute to the pollution levels of the area. As such, you should consider your car or mobile home before you head off.

Your Camp Site
The area that you plan to stay in is also of paramount importance in ensuring that your self-drive holiday is green. Some areas of outstanding natural beauty identify themselves as such in their tourist information brochures, whereas others do not so you have to look really hard to find them. However, there are ways of identifying campsites and resorts that have made the effort to go green.

First off, the company providing your camping facilities should be fully aware of the environment and provide facilities that are kind to it. Some might provide mobile homes that do not need to be dug in, for example, this means that the ecosystem is disturbed as little as possible. Others have developed comprehensive policies to govern their management of elements like waste, energy and water. All of this adds up to responsible tourism and will make sure that you have a green self-drive holiday. Any place that has such policies will be happy to discuss them with you and show you the documentation as well because they are proud of it. This is the key to a green self-drive holiday!

If you make the effort to find a site that fits into the above criteria, with or without accreditation, then you are actually supporting them for that effort. This will ensure that your self-drive holiday as green as possible!

Tips For Your Family
If you find the right place to holiday and have a green car then you are two thirds of the way towards having a green self-drive holiday, but there is something else you could do. In fact, you would need to involve the whole family to make sure that your holiday is as green as possible. The following tips will help:

• Have a rubbish rota to make sure that everything is picked up and no rubbish is left at the site
• Recycle any materials that could possibly be recycled
• Avoid having campfires unless there are designated areas because they would upset the balance of the ecosystem and pollute the area
• Be sure to stay on defined paths, walkways and roads because straying off them could cause unspoken damage
• Recycle water wherever you can because we waste an awful lot when on holiday purely and simply because we are not as conscious of what we do with our wasted water
• Walk wherever possible. There may be tourist areas to visit within walking distance and leaving the car at your camp will undoubtedly save on emissions and therefore pollution!

Guest Article by: Louise Crowley