In an era when human beings are increasingly curious about exploring the world and enjoying life, tourism ends up being one of the main economic sectors for many countries. However, despite its advantages, tourism also has its negative consequences, being responsible for the emission of about 8% of carbon emissions worldwide.

In this sense, in order to protect the planet and its natural resources, the concept of sustainable tourism emerged, a concept that has been gaining more and more popularity.

What is sustainable tourism?

Sustainable tourism is a type of tourism practiced by conscious people who take into consideration the environmental, economic, and social impacts of their actions throughout their trip. In this way, there is a greater attention to the use of natural resources, the preservation of traditions and local heritage, but also to local needs.

In practice, this means opting for more sustainable transport, eco-friendly accommodations, eating local food, and also avoiding any activity that might harm the place or nature.

Thus, it can be said that sustainable tourism aims to reduce the impact of tourism on local communities, but also on the environment.

Advantages of sustainable tourism

This type of tourism ends up being more responsible and conscious, having advantages in several aspects, namely:

1. Helps preserve wildlife

Unfortunately, due to tourism many habitats end up being destroyed and many animals are kept in captivity, merely for tourist attraction.

In sustainable tourism, on the other hand, all decisions that are made are expected to take into consideration the conservation and needs of wildlife, habitats, and ecosystems. Furthermore, the freedom of animals in nature is respected, this means that a trip to the zoo or circus is completely out of the question!

2. Prioritizes resource efficiency

Another major focus is resource efficiency and environmental protection. In this regard, tourists opt for eco-friendly and sustainable accommodations, meaning accommodations that make efficient use of natural resources (for example, with solar panels or rainwater reuse), that use eco-friendly materials in their construction, and that take sustainable measures (such as recycling or composting).

In addition, the conscious tourist will always choose environmentally friendly transport modes to move locally, such as prioritizing cycling.

3. Supports the local population

Another advantage of sustainable tourism is the fact that the tourist will prioritize local businesses over big chains. In this sense, local producers, artisan stores, small stores, and even local food restaurants will be prioritized.

This will help the economic and financial development of these small businesses and stimulate the local economy.

4. It benefits the tourist's well-being

We all know that traveling and getting to know a new place also implies stress, due to the hustle and bustle from one tourist spot to the next.

In sustainable tourism, one of the goals is to enjoy the moment in a more relaxed way, prioritizing destinations surrounded by nature, away from the confusion of the cities. This way, you can enjoy fresh air, clean waters, and beautiful natural landscapes.

Throughout the trip you will feel relaxed and recharged. 

Main types of sustainable tourism

Sustainable tourism is a large term, which comprises some subcategories, the 3 main ones being:

• Ecotourism: type of sustainable tourism that focuses on ecological and environmental conservation. The goal is to choose locations rich in natural beauty and to know how to enjoy the place while protecting and preserving the natural environment and respecting local communities;
• Community-based tourism: this type of tourism occurs when a local community invites tourists, offering accommodation. This allows the community to have control over local tourism, thus avoiding the negative consequences of mass tourism;
• Rural tourism: type of tourism that gives priority to rural areas rather than urban areas. The goal is for the tourist to participate in agricultural activities and integrate into the rural lifestyle of the local area, all while enjoying the surrounding nature, away from the tourist spots.

Now that you know that sustainable tourism doesn't just involve sleeping in a tent or living like a hippie, you can plan your next trip with the environment and local communities in mind. You can also read our article about tips for making a trip more eco-friendly, where you will discover small changes and some gestures you can easily adopt to make your trips more eco-friendly.