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Ecotourism & Sustainable Travel
Unveiling the Secrets of Sustainable Travel with
Erin Hynes Mediaplanet sat down with Erin Hynes, a sustainable travel influencer leading the way to greener adventures, to learn the tips and tricks for how Canadians can be more mindful on their future travels. Why is sustainable travel important? Over the last few decades, people have increasingly embraced travel. With the rise of budget airlines and digital booking platforms, travel has become accessible in a way that it’s never been before. These days, hundreds of millions of tourists travel every year to places all over the globe, and the tourism industry is a huge economic force. Sustainable tourism is important because it ensures the benefits of this mass tourism outweigh the negatives, making tourism a positive force. With sustainable models of tourism, people, culture, heritage, language, wildlife, natural resources, our environment, and everything else that makes this planet special are protected. Some of the goals of sustainable travel are to reduce the effects of overtourism, support local and Indigenous communities, protect natural resources and wildlife, make travel accessible for those with disability, create an inclusive tourism industry, and more.
Do you have any tips for how Canadians can be more sustainable while travelling? There are a few simple things Canadian travellers can do! It all starts with choosing where
you travel to. Many places around the world, including popular places here in Canada, are struggling with the impact of mass tourism, or overtourism. To avoid adding to that pressure, you can choose to travel in the off-season or shoulder season. Or, pick a place to go that is less overwhelmed. You’ll benefit too, because you’ll get to travel without so many crowds. Another important tip is to be cognizant of where you spend your money. Our dollars are a big part of how we can ensure the communities we visit benefit from tourism. Rather than staying in hotel chains, book into locally, independently owned hotels or bed and breakfasts. This way, your tourism dollars go into local hands rather than a foreign corporate entity. This practice extends beyond just hotels. Whenever you can, eat in locally owned restaurants, shop in local markets and stores, and hire local guides. A third tip is to travel slowly. Instead of having a packed itinerary, stay as long as you can at each place you plan to visit. Spending more time makes it possible for you to connect with the place you’re visiting – you can get to know the culture and people better. This also means you can spend more tourism dollars in that community.
What are some of your favourite sustainable travel activities?
Read the full interview with Erin Hynes on truenorthliving.ca.
Definitely spending time outdoors! I really enjoy hiring hiking guides, regardless of where I am in the world. Going on a hike with a local guide gives you a chance to spend quality time with a person who knows the place you’re visiting well. And because you’re out on a trail, there’s lots of time for conversation! You have the chance to learn about local life, beyond the hike itself. I’m also a big fan of homestays, for the same reasons. Spending time with a host family gives you insight into local life that is otherwise hard to experience. Every time I’ve booked a homestay, it’s ended up being the highlight of my trip.
Publisher: Hannah Morreale Business Development Manager: Melanie Kosev Country Manager: Nina Theodorlis Production Lead: Michael Taylor Creative Lead: Kylie Armishaw Designer: Giuliana Bandiera Web Editor: Christina Morgan Digital Media Coordinator: Kristen Neals Digital Traffic Strategist: Karm Rathod All images are from Getty Images unless otherwise credited. This section was created by Mediaplanet and did not involve The National Post or its editorial departments. Send all inquiries to ca.editorial@mediaplanet.com.
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