This form of tourism has taken on all sorts of forms. Sometimes it is referred to as responsible travel, ethical tourism, eco-tourism or even sustainable tourism. But although the terms are interchangeable, they are also not actually all the same, although each encourages sustainable travel.
Before COVID-19 shook the industry, travellers the world over were a part of an almost industrialised approach to tourism. While this certainly has had its benefits in that more people than ever before in history have been able to explore what the world has to offer, it has led to some asking if there isn’t a better alternative to this approach.
Conscious tourism is no new concept. Instead, it is something that has been around for years and which has recently been gaining loads of attention and support.
In its essence, conscious tourism is defined as the best alternative to what has become mass tourism and travel. It is based on the idea that certain principles of social and economic justice are taken into consideration, and that a dedication to ensuring that the environment and community cultures are not negatively affected is always kept in mind when on an adventure.
This type of tourism is all about sustainability in the industry, and this is done by ensuring that tourism is “consumed” or approached in a more responsible way, to ensure that the basic principles are adhered to.
With responsible tourism, guests are encouraged to make use of local facilities instead of staying in lodges that are actually owned by overseas companies. It is all about lending your support to local communities and businesses, and through this approach, supporting the local economy.
Conscious tourism is also focused on providing a more mindful, meaningful holiday. Instead of rushing through a trip for the sake of saying you’ve been there and done that, your holiday can become more memorable.
How to be a conscious traveller?
Once COVID-19 passes and we all start travelling again, we should all take the opportunity to be more conscious about the way in which we travel and what we do (and don’t do) while on holiday.
Here are a few very simple things you can do:
- Live local
South Africa, if it is your destination and we hope it will be since you are here reading our blog, is full of beautiful places to stay and the majority of the lodges and hotels are locally owned and play a vital role in supporting the community either through job creation, community support, donations, or all three.
- Eat local
If you are going to live local, you should eat local too. This will give you a great opportunity to try local cuisine.
- Buy local
In South Africa, the souvenirs are handmade by local artists and are something you will want to have displayed in your home. Make sure you stock up on beaded items and other interesting crafts you won’t find anywhere else.
