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

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