SALKAN x ILLWOOKIE
July 23, 2022
Check out our collab with Brighton-based artist, Will Richards A.K.A ILLWOOKIE and buy the one-of-a-kind backpack that he made for us.
How To Be a Responsible Traveller
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Our tips on how to make some travel decisions that can not only lower your effects on the planet, but also benefit the communities you are visiting.
We love travel as much as you and thanks to cheaper and more convenient travel, the world has got a lot smaller, which means the travel industry continues to grow. This comes at a cost for some, with some tourist hot spots now starting to reject tourism in the melting-pot that it creates. The queues at the top of Everest and the mounting trash at base camp is just the tip of the problem. The Philippines even closed down an entire island for 6 months because tourism had got out of control. However, there is a solution and it’s up to us as travellers to travel responsibly. The best thing about responsible travel is that we think it leads to a more authentic travel experience.
Responsible travel is a growing movement and something we are passionate about. If your’e heading on the adventure of lifetime and you are worried about your impact on the world, we have put together a guide of the practices that we believe can make a difference.
Flying
Travelling all the way to South East Asia in a Tuk Tuk would be fun but just not practical and sometimes jumping on a flight is the only option. So why not carbon offset your travel? All major airlines that operate long hall flights offer an option to offset the emissions caused by air travel. London to Bangkok one-way is roughly around £10. The money is used to help fund enterprises that reduce the same amount of carbon in the atmosphere after you have flown.
Travel Like a Local
When you have touched down and the journeys become shorter, it’s time to travel local; hop on the local bus, travel to the next island by local ferry and take the night train. It’s such a fun way to get around and at the same time you will be paying into the local economy. Better still you are getting to where you need to be with the least amount of impact on the environment. Either that or jump on your bike.
Stay in the Right Place
Eco is the buzz word when booking accommodation abroad and sometimes it’s hard to tell what that means. Eco Hostels and hotels are popping up all over the world and most of the major search platform allow you to search eco. Look out for water refill stations and good recycling practices when booking into a new place. You can also try looking out for a local guest house or a hostel that isn’t part of foreign chain, chances are you will have a story to tell by the time you check out.
Buy Local
Sometimes it hard to resist a slice of home when you see a familiar chain restaurant, but we travel to experience something new. Look out for local restaurants and markets when buying food or souvenirs. We love helping local business at home, so you have a great opportunity when you are away to do the same. Try your best to chat to the locals and find out where to go and avoid the trip advisor queues.
Haggle Less
Know your maths – 10,000 Dong in Vietnam sounds like a lot but when you start haggling over 33p when buying your mum a fridge magnet, it’s probably worth way more to the person that you are buying it from than you. So it’s always good to avoid the haggle.
Reduce Plastic
Plastic and waste disposal in developing countries is a big problem. Base camp at Everest has a mounting trash problem and climbers are asked to take rubbish down with them. Reject single-use plastic where you can by using a reusable containers or water bottles that you can throw in your daypack. Most accommodation offers refill stations of safe drinking water.
Check out Local Culture and Law
We have all heard the stories of tourists getting arrested when backpacking after not abiding to local laws and culture. It’s really important to learn about the country you are visiting and make sure you respect the culture. Locals will love the fact you are integrating into their society and it will make you feel good when you get a smile in return.
Volunteer
If you are on the road for a long time why not find out what’s going on in the area and help out, get involved with a beach clean or pop into a school for a few days. It feels great to give back to the community and you will look back on your time knowing that your trip really made a difference.
Spread the Word
Now you have some ideas of how to be a responsible traveller you can help teach your friends and strangers about the importance of responsible travel. It’s only through conversation in our travel communities that we can give this movement
Have a look how we are being responsible with our manufacturing and product development here at Salkan.
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