Earth Day is less than a couple of weeks away and by now I’m sure you are aware of ways you can “go green” at home, work, and school. But, how many of you actually take that “save-the-planet” philosophy on the road with you when you travel?
These days “green travel” packages are becoming a popular alternative to the traditional family vacation. Don’t get me wrong, opting to “go green” while on vacation doesn’t mean having to sacrifice the comforts of a nice resort to spend the night in a mosquito-filled tent in the jungles of Borneo. All that is required to be a green traveler is to preserve and protect the environment of the place you’re visiting. Sound more like work than a vacation? It doesn’t have to.
Going “green” while you travel could be as simple as conserving plants, wildlife and other resources; respecting local cultures and ways of life; and contributing positively to local communities. For example, I grew up in Hawaii and have seen first hand the negative effects tourism can have on local resources (oceanfront hotels have contributed to massive beach erosion on all of the Hawaiian Islands).
The fact is, with nearly 1 billion visitors crisscrossing the globe every year, it’s more important than ever for travelers to minimize their individual impact on the earth’s natural and cultural treasures.
It may seem trite, but adopting a “green” approach to travel is a simple yet effective way to protect the places you love to visit, not just for you and your family, but for the visitors who come after you, and perhaps more importantly, for the residents who remain there long after you leave. And parents consider this—“going green” while you are on vacation with your children gives you the opportunity to teach them an important lesson. It can also make your trip more rewarding—-especially if you make a conscious effort to connect with the places you visit.
Okay, now that you understand what it means to be a “green traveler,” in my next blog I will provide tangible ways you can make a positive impact at the site of your next family vacation
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