“Conscious” travel is a buzzword for holidays in 2019 - along with “green”, “sustainable”, and “ecotourism”. As a result of the BBC’s Blue Planet II series, much attention has been drawn recently to environmental issues and single-use plastics, so this is having an impact on the choices people make for their holidays - particularly in the millennial and Gen Z age groups. Due to this, some tour operators are adjusting their offerings to take these environmental considerations into account.
In addition to green concerns, many travellers are also thinking with a social conscience when choosing their holiday destinations. The local culture’s human rights, equality, working conditions, LGBT+ friendliness, and safety for lone travellers are all important aspects for holidaymakers to consider, as well as how their visit will impact upon the permanent residents. Such considerations will become paramount in holiday trends in the future.
Here are some suggestions for your conscious trip in 2019:
Enjoy a plastic free handicraft holiday in Puglia, Italy
Image Credit: andresumida
This holiday from Responsible Travel gives travellers the chance to experience Italy and to learn from locals, whilst supporting operators in eradicating single-use plastics. The trip involves meeting local artisans and producers, visiting workshops and wineries, enjoying the local cuisine and scenery of the Apulian coastline, and relaxing in a wellness spa. Numerous date options are available, starting at €1700 per person excluding flights.
Visit: responsibletravel.com
Volunteer on an organic farm
Image Credit: Egan Snow
WWOOF is an organisation that has been around since 1971 and aims to link volunteers with farmers and growers around the world to promote cultural and educational experiences. As a volunteer, you live alongside your host on an organic farm and help with daily tasks as a farmer; you can connect with the land and locals, support the organic movement, and help to build a sustainable, global community. With many worldwide destinations, the possibilities are endless.
Visit: wwoof.net
Plan your trip in a Kynder way
Image Credit: Susanne Nilsson
Kynder is a platform featuring the best in kind, eco-conscious hospitality. Search to find the establishments that care about you, their staff, their community, and the planet. Whether it’s a yoga and meditation retreat in Sonoma County, California, an EcoCamp with hiking and local, organic cuisine in Peru, or simply a recommended community-centric coffee shop that you’re after, this site covers it all. It’s primarily centred around destinations in the Americas at present, but looks set to grow in popularity.
Visit: kynder.net
Visit the French Alps
Image Credit: Jean-Raphaël Guillaumin
With the added bonus of being able to reach the Alps from the UK by rail, you can already start to reduce your carbon footprint by not flying to this destination! Undiscovered Mountains is a company that takes pride in creating sustainable and responsible tourism solutions in their destinations, which are stunningly beautiful, and rich in both wildlife and traditional culture. They have teams in place to help you holiday like a local, whether it’s with one of their summer or winter activity holidays, a road cycling trip, a snowshoeing adventure, or a ski tour. The company specialises in the Southern French Alps and have plenty to offer for all the family.
Visit: undiscoveredmountains.com
Take a luxury trip to South America
Image Credit: psyberartist
Aracari is a specialist tour operator which has been designing luxury, sustainable trips for the past 20 years. They offer the possibility of enjoying community-based tourism with low impact trips to Peru, reaching off-the-beaten-path destinations in Bolivia, or visiting the wildlife-rich Galapagos Islands - all whilst maintaining their commitments to educate travellers on best practice guidelines, to favour local initiatives, to minimise environmental impact, and to promote and facilitate visits and media coverage for the community-run tourism projects that Aracari believe in.
Visit: aracari.com
Title Image Credit: Güldem Üstün (Image Cropped)