• What does the term sustainable tourism mean?
• What can we do to make our travels more environmentally friendly?

The holidays are just around the corner. Most of us are starting to plan our leisure trips, dreaming, for example, of relaxing in the pleasant shade of a palm tree overlooking the azure sea. Some of us will certainly choose to travel by plane to popular tourist destinations like the Greek islands or the Italian coast, while others will be captivated by the peace and quiet offered by a summer house on the shores of an enchanting Masurian lake. Unfortunately, a shadow hangs over all these dreams: more and more people are talking about the need for sustainable development, a balance between the factors of civilizational progress, including economics and ecology. And as you know, the tourism industry is not the most ecologically sound. On the contrary, it is blamed for environmental degradation, water and air pollution, soil degradation, increased amounts of waste, noise, and irreversible changes to the landscape. Does this mean that we should forgo our desired holidays for the sake of future generations? Well, no, but we plan our vacation carefully and implement changes, even in small steps, to ensure that our trip does not have a negative impact on the environment or other people.

What does the term sustainable tourism mean?

Despite the coronavirus pandemic, the tourism industry has been one of the fastest-growing sectors in the global industry in recent years. What is eco-travel? Sustainable travel means addressing environmental, economic, and social concerns, but also improving the quality of tourism experiences and meeting the needs of the communities that host tourists. The most important goal of sustainable tourism is to minimize the negative impacts of travel. Protecting the environment, wildlife, and natural resources, reducing waste, and providing socioeconomic benefits to the communities we visit are key themes.

What can we do to make our travels more environmentally friendly?

• Let's start by visiting local places and tourist attractions. Local tourism means two things: first, visiting tourist spots in the immediate vicinity and within the country where we live. Second, we can use the most environmentally friendly means of transport, namely bicycles and trains. The second issue concerns the places we visit, even abroad. It's about making our trip as beneficial as possible for the places we visit. Second, you should support local residents and smaller entrepreneurs, so don't just visit the most well-known tourist attractions, but also visit small family-run pubs and shops. The best thing to do is ask the locals which is their favorite restaurant or shop with the best coffee or ice cream in the area.
• However, if you're not traveling by train, try to choose a destination that can be reached by direct flight without transfers. Airplanes emit the most harmful CO2, especially during takeoff and landing. Also, try to keep your luggage as light as possible. This is an easy way to reduce the carbon footprint of your flight. The more heavily loaded the aircraft is, the more fuel it requires.
• Another issue is the choice of locations that offer a so-called quiet zone. This means that playing loud music is prohibited on beaches, swimming pools, campsites, in the surrounding forests, or at picnic areas. Noise pollution is a serious problem of civilization that negatively impacts our mental health, causing fatigue, diminishing perception, and even provoking unjustified aggression. It also impacts the natural environment – ​​human-generated noise blocks the sonar of bats and mating birds, among other things.
• Let's not litter at our place of rest and respect the environment. One of the basic principles of an ecological vacation is to leave the place of rest in the same or even better condition as we found it. This also includes conserving natural resources and generally not bringing home natural souvenirs like sand or stones. We should also remember to use ecological and, if possible, natural cosmetics and eco-friendly sunscreens. Conventional sunscreens with filters end up in the water when swimming, and the harmful chemicals they contain negatively affect marine organisms.
• Bring a simple zero-waste kit with you, such as a water bottle with a reusable filter, a thermal coffee mug , bamboo cutlery, a reusable shopping bag, or your own toiletries. This will help limit waste production outside the home.

After a long winter, each of us feels the need to rest, temporarily change our surroundings, and relax. Many of us also dream of visiting new places, getting to know a new culture and new people, and connecting with each other. However, let's not forget to travel as ecologically as possible during this blissful, longed-for, and certainly well-deserved respite and remember to respect others and our planet.