Simple sustainable travel mantra: the key to being a better tourist

TRANSCRIPT

Hi everyone, it’s Jennifer here at Wanderlust for Life. Today I want to share with you my mantra for being a better traveler. This is something that I’ve been working on because I’ve realized that paying more attention to how I travel has helped me to be more in the moment, and frankly to enjoy my travels more.

So I’ll get to the mantra in a moment, but first…

I’m including a written transcript below, as well as some links and sources that relate to the points I make in this video.

Second, if you love cruise and all-inclusive travel and wonder how they fit into the mantra…sorry, but with very few exceptions they don’t. This is a topic for a whole other feature (two, actually), but I’d be lying if I told you that they did.

And last thing before I move on. I’ll be honest with you, sustainable tourism is kind of a jumbled mess of a subject. There are a lot of players and factors involved, and of course a boatload of opinions about what we should do to, quote, ‘fix tourism’. It’s all very confusing, and it can be difficult to figure out what we can do that’ll really matter.

So how much can we do  as individual travelers really do? The short answer: more than you think, and it’s not as hard as you might think! The key is to focus on your choices and behavior when you travel, and keep in mind a few easy-to-remember points. And THAT, my friends, is where the mantra comes in!

So here it comes…ready?

Slow Down, Go Local, Be Mindful

But what does that mean? Well, let’s break it down.

Slow Down

I think we can all agree that beautiful things shouldn’t be rushed. You wouldn’t want to fast-forward through an amazing sunset, right? So why are we always so tempted to race through our travels, checking sights off a list and probably exhausting ourselves in the process? And what impact does traveling that way have on the places we visit, and the people who live there?

Could it be that when it comes to great tourism, less is actually more? That it’s not only more sustainable, but also more satisfying to focus on quality rather than quantity?

Let’s take Italy as an example. If it’s your first visit you may be tempted to try to squeeze in the heavy hitter cities like Rome, Florence and Venice, plus a beach excursion to someplace like Sicily. Awesome Italian itinerary, right? Well, if spending MANY hours just getting from one place to another is your idea of awesome, sure!, And let’s not forget that while racing from one site to the next, you’ll miss out on so many captivating but less crowded places in between, and on really experiencing the places you do go. Trust me, the real appeal of these classic Italian destinations is their atmosphere, not their bucket list sights.

It can be hard to resist the urge to squeeze as many destinations into a trip as you possibly can – I totally get it! But if you remind yourself to slow down and aim for quality over quantity, you’re likely to discover that checking sights off a list just isn’t the best part of travel!

You’re also likely to come home with stories and experiences and memories that are unique to you…like my mom and I doing the Twist on a frozen lake in Lapland in January. 😉

Go Local

This one’s about engaging with and supporting the communities we visit. There are many ways to go local, but here’s a few:

• visit lodgings and restaurants run by locals
• shop at farmer’s markets or community grocery stores instead of big supermarkets
• seek out independent tour guides from the area (bonus: they’re often some of the best you’ll find!)
• look for festivals or concerts to attend, or see if there’s a local art gallery that interests you

For tourists, going local is the difference between looking at someplace vs. experiencing it, between observing a community and connecting with it.

For host communities, going local makes the experience of welcoming visitors into their space a more positive one. In places like Barcelona, where residents have questioned the benefits of tourism and feel like their hometown isn’t theirs anymore, going local can change that dynamic and help repair the tourist-host relationship. In underprivileged communities who are often exploited for profit by outsiders, it can vastly improve local economies and residents’ lives.

Be Mindful

In the psychological sense, mindfulness is about being fully present and aware of your surroundings and actions. It’s sort of the same idea when we travel. Being a mindful traveler means being aware of what’s happening in your destination: the environment, the issues, and the things that matter to the people living there.

Maybe your destination is suffering from chronic water shortages. That’s your cue to watch your personal consumption, but also to look for a lodging that actively works to conserve water. And believe me, if they really do this, they’ll be talking about it!

If a community is dealing with uncontrolled overtourism or has recently experienced a natural disaster, think carefully about whether it’s really the right time to visit that place.

If your destination is more conservative when it comes to dress, make sure you have clothing along that is respectful of the culture. Considering the short amount of time you’ll be there, it’s just the right thing to do.

And if you’re engaging in an activity for the first time – such as snorkeling on a coral reef – make sure you know what to do, like wear ‘reef safe’ sunscreen, and what not to do, such as step on the coral.

Mindfulness pays off in avoiding social and environmental harm to the places you go, but it’s also good for you. Because just like slowing down and going local, it deepens your experience as a tourist.

So to wrap things up: I truly believe that tourism can be a powerful force for good. It’s why I created this website and have spent the past five years learning and sharing about sustainable travel. It takes only a little effort and thought to ensure that we’re part of that ‘force for good’ – but it can bring some surprising benefits.

But don’t just take my word for it, because the statistics back it up. According to Booking.com’s 2024 sustainability report, “62% of travelers recognize that they are the best version of themselves when traveling sustainably”. Who knew that your vacation can actually make you feel better about yourself?!?

So, repeat after me:

Slow Down

Go Local

Be Mindful

…and of course, happy travels!! 👣