If rising seas, melting glaciers and disappearing wildlife make you wonder if you’ll ever see a glacier or a lion in the wild, you’re not alone. Climate change is real, but it shouldn’t stop travel—especially when tourism is a vital source of income for many countries. Traveling responsibly, however, is essential to help protect fragile places and the communities that depend on them.
In 2002 Brian Mullis founded Sustainable Travel International to help destinations and tour operators protect natural and cultural resources through sustainable tourism. “Travel can be a force for good, and travel dollars ensure national parks and museums exist,” Mullis says. The nonprofit’s Leadership Network includes organizations such as Travel Oregon, Royal Caribbean International, Fairmont Hotels & Resorts, Globus brands and G Adventures.
As sustainability has become fashionable, some operators have labeled themselves “eco” without following green practices. Beware of experiences that exploit wildlife or promote wasteful behavior—if you’re invited to swim with captive dolphins or handed the keys to a Hummer, reconsider.
Trusted sources for responsible operators include national and regional visitor bureaus. New Zealand and Australia both provide useful guidance: New Zealand’s 100% Pure New Zealand campaign has promoted sustainable tourism since 1999, and Kaikoura on the South Island was the country’s first destination certified by EarthCheck for sustainability.
Australia offers many greener options across its states and islands. Hamilton Island, off the Great Barrier Reef in Queensland, Adelaide and Kangaroo Island in South Australia, and Maria Island in Tasmania (popular for walking holidays) all emphasize low-impact travel. Western Australia’s Perth and Fremantle are walkable cities with strong local food scenes, and nearby Rottnest Island—home to the tiny quokka—is a short boat ride away.
Exceptional Kangaroo Island serves great food using local produce and wine, and recycles and composts waste to minimize its environmental footprint © Terry
Gardner
Craig Wickham, who grew up on Kangaroo Island and worked in South Australia’s national parks, founded Exceptional Kangaroo Island to introduce visitors to the island sustainably. A short flight from Adelaide, Kangaroo Island has earned the nickname “the Galapagos of Australia” for its abundant wildlife—koalas, wallabies, kangaroos, echidnas and countless birds. The operator prioritizes local food, local hiring and supporting nearby businesses.
G Adventures, founded by Bruce Poon Tip in 1990, is another example of a company built around responsible travel. Planeterra, G Adventures’ nonprofit arm, invests in community projects worldwide—from clean cookstoves for Maasai villagers in Tanzania to an Ocean Health Fund that supports marine conservation and debris removal efforts.
Children play with tires at Hope Africa School in South Africa, where G Adventures supports accessible early childhood education. © G Adventures Inc.
Crooked Trails, founded in Seattle in 1998 by Chris Mackay and Tammy Leland, designs purposeful trips that benefit travelers, host communities and the environment. Intrepid Travel, launched by two Melbourne backpackers in 1988, runs small-group adventures for more than 100,000 travelers a year and has been fully carbon neutral since 2010; every Intrepid departure is offset 100 percent.
For inspiration and community-driven recommendations, look to travel apps and sites that emphasize sustainable options and user experiences. These platforms can help you find local operators and tailor trips that align with your values without sacrificing enjoyment.
Mullis and leaders from several eco-tour operators offer practical tips for choosing eco-tours and traveling responsibly:
- Ask where your money goes. A United Nations study in 2010 found that only a small portion of tourist spending remains in many developing countries. Choose operators that work with locally owned businesses and can explain how much of your payment benefits the destination.
- Hire local guides. When guides, drivers and porters are from the community, travelers get more authentic experiences while supporting local livelihoods. Ask whether staff are locally hired and trained.
- Prefer locally owned lodging and services. Locally owned hotels, restaurants and transport keep more tourism revenue in the community. Be cautious with all-inclusive resorts, which are often owned by outside interests and can limit local economic benefits.
- Look for certifications and transparency. Ask whether a company is eco-certified, whether it measures and offsets carbon emissions, and whether it supports verified conservation or community projects. Third-party verification adds credibility.
- Reduce your carbon footprint. Choose nonstop flights when possible, and select lower-impact transportation and accommodations. Many companies now offer carbon calculators and offset programs to help travelers understand their impact.
- Minimize waste and water use. At hotels, reuse towels and linens when possible, conserve water in showers, and follow staff guidance to reduce resource use.
- Avoid single-use plastics. Carry a reusable water bottle and use a SteriPEN, charcoal filter or other purification method where tap water may be unsafe. Travelers Against Plastic and similar initiatives encourage travelers to refuse plastic bottles and purify their own water.
Before booking, research the operator’s track record, read reviews, and ask specific questions about local partnerships, hiring practices and environmental initiatives. Even trips that aren’t labeled “eco-adventures” can be planned to minimize harm and support positive outcomes for people and places.
Responsible travel preserves the natural and cultural assets that make destinations special. With a bit of research and thoughtful choices, you can enjoy meaningful travel while helping to protect the places and communities you visit.