With nearly 1 billion tourists 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. Taking a responsible approach to travel is an easy and essential way to protect the places you love to visit, not just for yourself, but for future generations and the people who will continue to live there long after you have returned home. In addition, it often makes for a more rewarding, authentic travel experience, fostering stronger affinities with the people and places you visit.
At Home
With a little planning and a few simple changes to your habits, you can make a big difference when traveling.
- Turn off your air-conditioning/ heating or adjust the thermostat to protect plants etc.
- Unplug electrical appliances such as TVs which can draw or "leak" up to 40 watts per hour even when they are turned off.
- Close all taps fully. A dripping tap can waste up to 75 litres of water a day -enough to half-fill a bath.
- Stop your newspaper subscription while you're away. Some newspapers will let you donate these papers to a school or other group.
- Remember to take your own camera, so that you don't have to rely on a disposable one. To reduce packaging waste, try to use film with more exposures since 36-exposure film uses the same amount of packaging as 12-exposure film, and you'll save money. Even better, use a digital camera.
Getting There
Transportation -particularly air travel -is where most travelers have the biggest environmental impact. It is estimated that taking the train from London to Paris rather than flying releases 10 times less carbon emissions. To minimise your environmental footprint, try some of the following:
- Use electronic tickets whenever possible for plane, train, boat, and bus trips. They generate less waste and cost less to replace.
- If you do have to fly, consider compensating for the environmental impact of your flight. You can offset the emissions associated with your travel and your stay at any Rezidor hotel through our loyalty programme, goldpoints plus.
- For shorter trips, take the train instead of flying, especially on mainland Europe or other regions where train service is fast and frequent. Enjoy the view, the freedom to walk about and lots of legroom. Rezidor has many downtown hotels located within walking distance of the major train stations.
- When planning a road trip, make sure your vehicle is 'road-ready' to improve fuel efficiency, prevent pollution, and save money. Make sure your engine is properly tuned and your tyres are properly inflated. Turn your engine off when idling.
- When renting a car, choose the smallest vehicle that can comfortably accommodate you. Decline any 'free' upgrades which will actually cost you more in petrol.
During your stay
Rezidor has a comprehensive Responsible Business programme in place since 2001 and there are many ways in which you can participate during your stay with us.
- When you leave the room, turn off the air conditioning, heat, television, lights and any other electrical devices.
- Let the hotel know that it's not necessary to change your sheets and towels every day. At Rezidor hotels we will not replace your towels if you put them back on the towel-rail.
- On cold nights, draw curtains to keep heat in the room, and similarly on hot days, draw curtains to keep the heat out of the room.
- If the hotel provides a complimentary newspaper, or if you buy your own, ask the hotel to see that it's recycled. Even better pass it on to someone else or leave it in the lobby for another reader.
- Participate in the recycling program and sort your waste accordingly. If your hotel doesn't recycle, consider taking your empty bottles or other items home with you to recycle them there.
Sightseeing
'Take nothing but photographs, and leave nothing but footprints'. Here are some ideas on how to make this proverb ring true.
- Resist the urge to grab more brochures than you need. Be sure to recycle the ones you don't keep as souvenirs or pass them on to a friend.
- Visit with a tour guide that's environmentally responsible. Before you book, be sure to ask about group size (smaller groups tend to make less of an environmental impact), whether the tours are led by locals and how the tour operator gives back to the community.
- When hiking, always stay on marked trails and maintain a safe distance from any animals you encounter. Don't litter, instead carry your trash with you until find a waste container or take it with you when you leave.
- Coral is extremely fragile and takes decades to grow. When swimming or diving, do not touch the coral or stir up sediment, as these actions can damage the reef's fragile ecosystem.
- Treat the locals with respect. Learn a few words in the native language, be open to cultural differences, and read up on the area before your trip so you're sensitive to issues of dress and behavior.
Shopping and Dining
Making the right choices means you can holiday without guilt and create less waste.
- Buy locally made products, shop in locally-owned outlets and enjoy local food and drink - You'll support the local economy and get a taste of native culture and cuisine.
- Don't buy products made from endangered species or plants such as tortoise shell, ivory, animal skins, coral, shells, starfish, teeth, orchids or feathers.
- Avoid eating seriously threatened fish species: Chilean sea bass, flat fish, wild Atlantic cod, shark.
- Bring your own water filter bottle or purifier with you and refill as necessary.
- To avoid buying more batteries than necessary, use a solar-powered battery charger for cameras, personal stereos or global positioning systems. Now you can even buy solar-powered and wind-up radios and phone chargers too.