What Is Green Travel?


Green travel is an overarching term used to describe responsible travel practices that focus on economic, socio-cultural, and environmental sustainability. Green travel is about making sure that travelers choose businesses, tour operators, and transportation methods that maintain and preserve the ecological integrity of the environment and contribute to local community development; meeting the needs of the present without compromising the needs of current or future generations.


Too much information to digest? If you want to keep it simple, be sensitive to these six areas of consideration when planning your vacation and while traveling. This can make your trip better—for the environment, for the local peoples in the places you visit, and for you, the M-O-D-E-R-N traveler.





  • M - Modes of transportation


    Consider walking or cycling during your trip, using public transportation, renting hybrid vehicles, and choosing to travel by train rather than plane when possible.




  • O - Offsets & environmental policy


    Calculate and offset the carbon dioxide emitted by your travel and buy your trip from companies with policies that consider environmental, economic, and socio-cultural impacts.




  • D - Dollars spent locally


    Ensure that local people benefit from your trip by spending money in community or locally owned businesses and working with tour operators and lodges that employ local people.




  • E - Environmental conservation


    Choose a trip that strengthens the conservation efforts for and enhances the natural integrity of the places you visit, including protected areas and wildlife habitats.




  • R - Respect for local culture


    Immerse yourself in and accept the differences of other cultures...learning about their customs and social norms before you visit, and speaking their language when possible.




  • N - Natural resource use


    Reduce, reuse, and recycle...and consider the efficient use of water, energy, and building materials as well as the method of waste disposal used by your tour operator or lodging establishment.





Note: Developed in conjunction with Frances Figart.


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