Responsible Tourism: What is and examples

The social conscience forged in the last twenty years and the incorporation of sustainability in the different sectors of our economy, have broken into the traditional practices and policies of the tourism sector. Thus arises responsible tourism that takes as a base the criteria of sustainable tourism and ethical behavior of all the people involved in the production-consumption process.

Herein Definition of responsible tourism The relationship with sustainable tourism is reflected, although they are not the same. Sustainable tourism is more reactive while the person responsible has a more preventive character. However, these are not the only types of tourism committed to the environment. Others have also emerged, although they are all closely linked to each other, such as Rural tourism or solidarity tourismbased on the latter on the restoration of natural environments and on social or environmental research exercised by volunteers in more disadvantaged countries, always with the aim of eradicating poverty (SDGs, sustainable development objective 1). In any case, all are based on sustainability and should serve to reduce the environmental, social and economic impacts that are negative.

The main characteristics of responsible tourism are:

• Its purpose is to sensitize people so that through responsible actions a complete and successful transformation of the tourist model that, so far, we have taken as unique.
• It derives for the benefit for the local community.
• It favors the personal growth fed from enriching experiences.

These are some Responsible Tourism Examples:

• In Spainthere are sites very committed to the reconciliation of tourism and the preservation of nature. Such is the case of Vitoria-Gasteiz, La Rioja Alavesa, the Pyrenees and what we currently know as emptied Spain, Cáceres, León, Teruel or Zamora, among others.
• Icelandreference in the use of renewable energy sources, it is another country of sustainable and responsible tourism. It offers activities to raise awareness and that allow to assess its natural beauty such as: Responsible sighting of whales and seals, hiking, glaciers excursions or to see the northern lights.
• In the town of Werfenweng, Austriathe use of clean energy in the transport and tourism sector has been enhanced.
• Finally, it stands out Greenlandwhere ecological tourism offers adventure sports and sustainable activities such as walks, sightings responsible for cetaceans, guided routes in kayak …

Responsible tourism generates very important social and environmental benefits that, unlike what can be thought, favor conversion to a circular, ethical and environmental economy model. Some of the main benefits of responsible tourism are:

• Minimum impact on the environment.
• It favors and contributes to responsible and respectful consumption, totally contrary to consumerism in which we are mostly submerged since the last decades.
• It generates social benefits and ecological benefits on flora, fauna and ecosystems.
• It allows maintaining constant surveillance and control processes for the conservation of the natural environment, in which citizens can actively participate.
• It encourages respect for local cultural communities, their culture and traditions. This avoids conflicts between tourism and citizenship, in addition to promoting the local proximity or trade economy.
• At an economic level it is another source of employment.
• It promotes not only the conservation of cultural heritage, but also that of historical and natural heritage.
• It values ​​rural areas and a greater social awareness arises with respect to their conservation and care.
• Given the ethical foundations of responsible tourism, it can be expected that this activity allows breaking inequalities, precariousness and fighting for the eradication of poverty.
• It enhances an integrated development of the economy, avoiding imbalances between the different sectors or activity groups. That is, it allows to carry out an economic diversification of the non -exclusive and conciliatory territories.

Are you aiming to make responsible tourism on your next trips? Take note that, first, to Make responsible and sustainable tourism We must take into account the needs of the place of destination to which we travel and what benefits can we report to the town with our trip. However, for Achieve tourism sustainability It is also important to keep in mind that:

• There are stamps and certificates of responsible tourism, recognized internationally, such as Biosphere Responsible Tourism or the Green Destinationswhich can help us choose our destination.
• To properly choose the accommodation there are various platforms such as Origorooms, where we can see what sustainable hotels that exist, or Ecobnb, similar to Airbnb but with another philosophy.
• Respect the nature of the area, avoiding the deliberate collection of plants, stones, shells or fossils.
• Fulfill the signs that can be found both on the mountain and on the coast (eg.
• The opportunities to perform responsible and sustainable tourism begin to try to ruralize, go to the field, rediscover new perspectives of the areas we visit, such as gastronomy, crafts, the sighting of respectful animals.
• If you want to positively impact the area, you can visit animals recovery centers or environmental education centers and participate in your volunteers.
• Avoid traveling in low-cost packages and in performing activities that have a negative impact on ecosystems such as sport fishing, underwater fishing with harpoon, bottles in the street and on dates, etc.
• Minimize waste generation, especially plastics.
• Travel by public transport as much as possible, avoiding taking private transport, to minimize greenhouse gas emissions.

Here you can learn some tips more related to how to make sustainable tourism, which, as we have seen before, is similar to the person responsible and should be practiced jointly, such as a lifestyle related to trips.

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