Location independence and digital nomadism have grown exponentially in the past 10 years with more and more individuals prioritizing work options that offer time and geographical flexibility. With this increase in freedom comes an interesting conversation about global gentrification. 

We’re finding hoards of burnt out workers from the global north migrate to the global south to take advantage of lower costs of living, greater access to nature, and a slower pace of life. This mass migration has had a negative impact on communities, with locals being priced out of their ancestral homes and increased costs of living for individuals who are not able to support it.

While it’s certainly on the government to protect local communities with advantageous policies, as individual travelers, we have to also do our part by traveling more responsibly. So here are 7 tips for traveling more consciously and reducing the harm that we potentially cause.

1. Do Your Research

Regardless of where you’re traveling to, consult guides and online resources before you go. Learn about the destination’s environmental, social, and political issues so that you can be a more respectful and responsible traveler. Be culturally sensitive and understand that you are the visitor. Traveling is a privilege and we should respect it as such. Going off of that, of course there are some must-sees when traveling but do your best to explore some spots off the beaten path as well (given that you can safely do so). This will give you insight about what it’s actually like to live there and prevent degradation and erosion due to high-volume tourism.

2. Travel Slower

Slow travel is a luxury but if you have the ability to do so, see if you can spend several weeks or months in a destination instead of jetting from one place to the next. This gives you the opportunity to better understand the culture of a place and reduces the environmental harm of travel.

Slower Travel

Always choose trains and public transportation over flights if you can and if you have to fly, opt for airports that are actively taking steps to be more sustainable. Additionally, if you have the means to do so, consider offsetting your travel impact. Invest in blue carbon ecosystem projects that are more impactful than regular forest offsets.

Sustainable Lodging

If sustainability is a huge priority for you, you can also actively seek out eco-conscious hotels and accommodations. Specifically look for places that prioritize renewable energy and have effective waste management systems. When booking these places, also look to see if they’re giving back to the local community or are owned by someone who is from the place you’re visiting.

3. Stay/Eat/Buy Local

Stay Local

The majority of hotels and resorts are owned by huge conglomerates that extract from the local community so rather than staying at such residences, consider booking locally with individuals or small businesses instead. Not only will you have a more personal experience, but you’ll put money directly back into the local economy.

There’s been a lot of debate over the safety of Airbnb and privately owned residences vs that of corporate hotels lately but I think that if you take the appropriate measures to screen for safety (looking over reviews) and also carry some protective items (wedges for doors, for example), you should be fine.

When booking a local stay, look through listings on booking.com, homestay.com, vrbo.com, and airbnb.com. You can also consider networking through Facebook groups or look into housesitting.

Eat Local

Imported food is more expensive, has a higher environmental cost, and detracts from the local culture. When you can, always opt to eat locally. Purchase from local markets and small restaurants. Seasonal foods tend to not only taste better, but are actually better for the environment!

Buy Locally

When shopping for souvenirs, always buy from local vendors. When booking tours or experiences, look into companies that are locally-owned and are considerate of the environmental impact of their services. 

4. Respect Nature

One of the most incredible things about travel is getting the chance to see vastly different natural landscapes. Unfortunately, increased global tourism has also led to environmental degradation and as a responsible and conscious traveler, it’s part of your responsibility to do all that you can to decrease your impact.

When taking hikes or visiting natural bodies of water, follow the 7 principles of leaving no trace. Refrain from taking seashells, coral, and other natural objects. Stay on designated trails and observe wildlife from a distance. Always take your trash with you and avoid introducing anything to existing ecosystems.

5. Continue To Practice Sustainable Living

Although it can be more convenient to just purchase one-off items like toothbrushes and bug spray, do your best to invest in reusable items for travel. By purchasing high-quality items that you can use time and time again, you ultimately decrease the amount of waste that you generate and the negative impact of your visit. 

Consider investing in a water filter and opt to fix things instead of throwing them away. Do your best to reduce your carbon footprint and always do your product research beforehand. If you’re exploring a region that is particularly sensitive (such as coral reefs), make sure that the common household items that you’re bringing do not contain harmful chemicals.

6. Engage Ethically

Responsible and conscious travel involves more than just the environment. When we travel, we come into contact with millions of people and animals, and should always remember that they are more than just a side character in your travel story. Everyone and everything that you come into contact with should be treated respectfully and engaged with ethically.

Ask Before Taking A Photo

With the rise of smartphones and social media comes the widespread exchange of images. Photography can be a powerful way to document your experience and create memories without leaving a physical trace, but before you snap that portrait, please remember that your subjects are still people. Be respectful and ask if it’s okay to take someone’s photograph before assuming that you have the right to do so.

Another extension of this is to be mindful of the way that you are photographing things. Don’t engage in poverty porn as it negatively perpetuates the stereotypes about the country and the people you’re engaging with. Aim to empower people with your photos instead.

Never Touch Wildlife

We talked about this briefly in the nature section, but you should never touch, feed, taunt, or play with the wildlife that you encounter.

Avoid Voluntourism & Seek Out Community-Based Alternatives Instead

White Saviorism perpetuates colonial dynamics. You might not be white but if you’re approaching a country or a situation with the privileged mentality of making a situation better simply through your involvement, you’re wrong. Voluntourism negatively impacts a community by taking jobs away from locals and enabling a dependence on outside charity without the discussion of long-term infrastructure and community development. 

Instead, if you are looking to make a positive impact within your travels, seek out community-based tourism opportunities. Look into events and movements led by local leaders and offer your presence as someone who can take direction and offer support.

7. Share Your Experiences

The majority of the travel industry only superficially glamorizes experiences. Be a voice in the responsible travel community by sharing your thoughts and experiences while promoting conscious practices in your networks in real life or online. The more that people understand the potential impact of global travel, the more they will be inspired to take action consciously.

While conscious travel is always a journey and there are tradeoffs to be made in the name of safety and security, we can do our best by being as mindful as possible. What are some other tips that you’ve gathered in your time traveling? Share with us in the comments down below!