Focusing On How To Become a Responsible Tourist

Aspects of responsible tourism include finding ways to support local communities while minimizing negative impacts on the environment. Our travel choices should aim to respect and maintain natural and cultural resources while also contributing to their preservation and growth — particularly within Indigenous populations.

Bringing awareness to this and the many other issues our planet currently faces is why I joined the Climate Change Collective; a group of environmentally-minded bloggers who want to share climate action news that motivates and informs — keeping the subject at the forefront of everyone’s minds.

Created by Michelle from Eco Boomer Crusader and Jamie of Jamie Ad Stories; each month a different member of the collective takes turns to write a lead/focus post that shares key details, concerns and/or unique perspectives about climate change. Once the post is published, the rest of the group will link to it in a response-style blog on their own sites; discussing any thoughts and ideas about the information/issues raised.

The collective is currently open to any other bloggers who want to join; if you’re interested, get in touch.

Collective Climate Action

The eighth installment and most recent lead/focus post for the collective was written by Michelle from Eco Boomer Crusader; where she writes about how to reduce the environmental impact various enriching experiences can have (like music festivals, traveling, creative activities, etc). As mentioned in her post, Michelle highlights how an increasing shift away from accumulating material possessions/gifts is being replaced with a desire to receive fulfilling experiences instead. Encouraging this sounds like it could be a more sustainable option, however, this may not always be the case.

They don’t come with a physical object, so it’s easy to overlook their environmental impact. In reality, there are environmental costs associated with both goods and services. In some cases, replacing physical goods with experiences may increase our carbon footprint. | 6 Ways to Reduce the Environmental Costs of Experiences – Eco Boomer Crusader

The information explored in Michelle’s post got me thinking about the environmental implications of travel and tourism, particularly with regards to how this impacts Native communities — who are often disproportionately impacted by climate change due to their close relationship with the land and a reliance on natural resources for their livelihoods and traditional practices. Facilitating growth of the tourism industry, for example, can increase extractive practices that restrict Indigenous land rights and access to culturally significant areas. It can even put a strain on the availability of everyday amenities by monopolizing/minimizing access to everyday supplies.

To explore this further, I decided to look at one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world; Hawaiʻi …

The Economic Impacts of Tourism in Hawaiʻi

It’s clear that Hawaiian tourism helps to drive the local economy; in recent years it has brought in about 20% of the state’s revenue — undoubtedly helping to create job opportunities, support small businesses and fund vital state infrastructure. However, this financial boon can often come at a detrimental cost to Native Hawaiians.

While homelessness has been an issue long before the state became a prime vacation destination; tourism is helping to fuel the crisis. Hawai’i currently has the second highest rate of homelessness in the United States — with Native Hawaiians accounting for 51% of homeless people, even though they only represent about 10% of the state’s population.

Communities around the islands are experiencing a loss of land and housing to increasing numbers of properties being turned into holiday rentals or other forms of tourism-related development (hotels, bars, entertainment districts). The demands created by the tourism industry for land and housing drives up the price of real estate making it harder for locals to afford homes. This cycle of being priced out of an area disproportionately impacts Native Hawaiians; according to a 2022 ALICE report Native Hawaiians are more likely to live at or below the poverty line than any other ethnic group in the state. Finding affordable housing is increasingly being limited in favour of expanding tourism.

The tourism industry in Hawaii powers its state revenue, but that reliance on tourism has resulted in Native Hawaiians getting priced out of their homes, climate change wreaking havoc on the natural landscape, and a lack of respect for the 50th state that is also the ancestral land of more than half a million people. | How a Vacation to Hawaii Can Be Relaxing for Tourists – and Harmful to its Residents – CNN

The Cultural Impacts of Tourism in Hawai’i

Vast numbers of visitors coming to Hawaii each year can have both positive and negative outcomes for Native Hawaiians; it’s important that all tourists are mindful of this and behave in a way that minimizes as many adverse effects as possible.

On one hand, tourism can provide opportunities for Indigenous businesses and help fund cultural preservation projects (such as securing and protecting sacred sites) as well as supporting organizations/programs that improve everyday life. It can also help educate people from around the world to be more aware of Native Hawaiian history and culture. In contrast, tourism can lead to cultural appropriation and commodification when visitors treat a culture as a commodity to be consumed rather than a living, evolving tradition. This can occur when tourists engage in sacred or meaningful practices to a culture without understanding or respecting their significance. It can also happen when tourism businesses profit from selling cultural experiences or products that may not accurately represent the culture or exploit the people who create them.

While in Hawai’i, tourists should make sure they support Indigenous-led, community-based organizations like ‘Āina Momona which is dedicated to improving environmental sustainability through restoring social justice and Hawaiian sovereignty.

Ever since wealthy, self-interested U.S. businessmen (with U.S. Navy support) illegally overthrew the Hawaiian government and forced the abdication of Queen Lili‘uokalani in January 1893, Indigenous Hawaiians have seen access to their lands, language and culture persistently restricted and under threat. And while these particular events reflect the history of Hawai’i; it’s pretty much what the vast majority of Indigenous Peoples around the world have experienced (and continue to experience) because of colonialism and imperialism — sadly, tourism can further perpetuate these issues.  

The Environmental Impacts of Tourism in Hawaiʻi

Our need for idyllic destinations and vibrant holiday experiences play a part in encouraging (and even funding) the destruction of land throughout Hawai’i. Central to Native Hawaiian’s cultural identify and spiritual beliefs is Aloha ʻĀina, which translates to ‘love of the land’ or ‘that which nourishes you’. The land is viewed as a sacred, living entity with its own consciousness and life force and is treated with profound respect and reverence — it’s family. Being aware of this while visiting and making choices that protect this bond cannot be separated from environmentally conscious tourism.

I think at this point everyone understands how travel for tourism contributes to greenhouse gas emissions and global warming. There are, however some other significant environmental impacts that tourism plays a part in. For example, Hawai’i also experiences:

• Overcrowding and Resource Depletion: Large numbers of visitors can put a strain on natural areas and damage sensitive ecosystems. It can also lead to overuse of water, energy and food, which many locals worry will not sustain them. An issue compounded by the fact that Hawaii is the most isolated archipelago in the world and currently imports around 90% of its food.

• Pollution: Increased tourism can result in more pollution from transportation, waste/garbage and other sources, which harms wildlife, sacred sites and the everyday health of residents.

• Habitat Destruction: Development of tourist infrastructure, like hotels and resorts can displace wildlife as well as increase pollution. Tourists can also lead to the destruction of natural habitats — one example being the degradation of delicate coral reefs by snorkellers and scuba divers through pollution and/or physically breaking them (either accidentally or on purpose).

Ecologically, the tourism industry consistently creates problems of sustainability and environmental degradation for the land of Hawai’i. Housing an ecology with many endangered flora and fauna, the environment of Hawai’i is constantly tested by land development and tourists themselves. | Paradise Lost; The Damage Done by the Tourism Industry in Hawai’i – Drew Pagaduan/SnoQap

How To Be a Responsible Tourist

Hopefully, this brief look into Hawai’i reveals just how intricate and complex the impacts of tourism can be — perhaps most notably when it involves Indigenous communities and their cultural identity, traditions and sacred sites. Being mindful of local customs, respecting the environment and supporting local businesses in a sustainable way is all part of how we become better travellers.

No matter the destination; here are twelve ways to become a more responsible tourist:

1.| If applicable to the country/area you’re visiting; choose local Indigenous-led tourist initiatives and experiences that provide unique and authentic insights into their history, culture and traditions.

2.| Donate to, volunteer at or visit cultural revitalization organizations that support preserving and restoring cultural heritage, languages, traditions and customs.

3.| Learn about and respect local customs; carefully follow rules and regulations of the places you visit, especially if they are areas or sites of environmental, spiritual or cultural significance.

4.| Support the economy by shopping and eating at local stores and restaurants.

5.| Choose eco-friendly accommodation with a clear, specific sustainability policy. Make sure it includes being certified by credible independent organizations, such as Green Key Global, Green Tourism Active, EarthCheck and Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED). Look for places that have/use:

• Eco-friendly products.
• Energy-efficient lighting and appliances.
• Water conservation practices such as low-flow toilets and showerheads.
• Recycling and composting programs for waste management.
• Support of local businesses and products.
• Green transportation options like bike rentals or electric car charging stations.
• Support for local and sustainable food sources in their restaurant and room service offerings.

6.| Donate to, volunteer at or visit environmental revitalization organizations that focus on local sustainability projects and ecosystem conservation.

7.| Safeguard the natural environment by leaving no trace: take your trash with you and dispose of it properly; avoid disturbing natural features and wildlife; use designated camping areas and follow all fire ring and portable stove regulations when cooking, etc.

8.| Avoid single-use plastics and travel locally by public transportation or walk/bike whenever possible.

9.| Steer clear of activities that potentially interfere with animal welfare; seek out genuine sanctuaries that focus on conservation and do not support experiences that involve animals in captivity or exploitative conditions.

10.| Do not get too close to animals in the wild as this can cause them stress and put them (and you) in danger; they may perceive you as a threat and react to defend themselves. Feeding them should also be avoided as this can disrupt their natural behavior by leading to dependency on human food — which can be toxic and cause health problems.

11.| Do not travel during peak tourism seasons to help reduce overcrowding and limit damage to local trails and other areas of nature.

12.| Reduce travel-related pollution by enjoying a staycation instead of travelling aborad.

In Summary

Hopefully this post has made clear that focusing on responsible tourism involves much more than just finding sustainable holiday accommodation, for example. It’s also fundamentally important we understand how our presence as visitors disrupts local biodiversity and impacts the lives of local people — which, as highlighted here can be devastating and far-reaching. It’s our responsibility to make sure we travel with integrity and genuine care.

The desire to have experiences that enrich shared memories, develop connections to family and friends and nurture our own growth and enjoyment can be more meaningful than material possessions. There are so many positives to going out into the world and exploring/celebrating it’s diversity and beauty — how we go about achieving that should never aid the degradation of either of those things. Every choice we make has an impact, what that ends up being is on us. 

How are you making sure your tourism is sustainable and responsible?

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Further Info:

What Native Hawaiians Want You to Know Before Your Visit – Lonely Planet

Ecotourism: What Is It and Why It Matters in 2023 – Earth Org