How you can help: Travel smart
Top tips for your next vacation...
Make the smart decision
Take the Travel Smart pledge and become a responsible
traveller
More ways to travel smart
Find out more ways to help the environment when you are on
holiday
a.. Make tourism and conservation compatible - the money you spend on
your trip helps determine the development and direction of tourism. Use your
money to support reputable, conservation-minded tour operators and suppliers.
b.. Learn about the culture and customs of the areas you will visit
before you go.
c.. Visit parks and nature reserves - visitor demand and tourist
expenditures support existing protected areas and can lead to the protection of
additional nature. Get any necessary permits before visiting nature reserves or
other protected areas. Leave these areas as you found them and do not disturb
the wildlife there.
d.. View and photograph wildlife from a distance and remember that in
the optimal wildlife viewing experience, the animal never knew you were there.
Suppress the natural temptation to move too close and respect signs of distress
such as alarm calls, distraction displays, laid-back ears, and raised hair.
e.. Respect the environment, stay on trails during hikes, do not remove
plants or feed animals, and never litter. At the sea do not take any corals,
shells, dried fish, starfish, sea-fans and other marine souvenirs - removal can
seriously disrupt ecosystems. Navigation in reef water needs special care - do
not anchor on reefs which can be easily damaged.
f.. Reduce your air travel
When you travel to your holiday destination by plane you are
contributing to significant emissions of climate change causing carbon dioxide.
Take vacations nearer to home, or get there by other forms of transport such as
train, bus or boat. If you have to fly, consider buying carbon offsets to
compensate for the emissions caused by your flight.
g.. Reduce your car use - choose other ways to get around like trains,
buses or bikes. Share taxis and take shuttles to and from the airport.
Encourage drivers to turn off their engines when they're parked, or stuck in
traffic.
h.. Respect local culture, traditions and religious places. Insensitive
behaviour such as taking photographs of people without their consent, or
failure to observe local customs, can cause offence. Note that being nude or
semi-nude in public is unacceptable and illegal in some countries (e.g Islamic
countries).
i.. Conserve water - take showers rather than baths, and use a
refillable water container, sterilising water when necessary, rather than
buying bottled water.
j.. Limit energy use, including your use of air conditioning and hot
water. Turn off all lights and taps when you leave hotel rooms.
k.. Minimise your use of personal care products and detergents to wash
linen, and reuse your hotel towels and bed-linen. Dispose of sanitary waste
properly. Don't flush cotton buds, condoms, tampons and plastics down the
toilet - or you might just find them on the beach next time you visit.
l.. Reduce the impact of your recreational activities by avoiding
sports which have a significant harmful impact on the environment or choose
more progressive establishments (e.g golf courses which recycle water).
m.. Recycle newspapers, magazines and your beverage containers (many
can be returned for refunds), and reduce the number of bags, napkins and
disposable cups you use when you eat fast food.
n.. Choose lodgings that have effective waste treatment systems, that
recycle, that are energy efficient, and, where possible, that use
environmentally friendly energy sources such as solar energy or hydroelectric
power.
o.. Respect rules and regulations, pay attention to signals and behave
responsibly (e.g do not light fires where it is forbidden).
a.. Say "No" to Bad Souvenirs
Some souvenirs could end up costing a lot more than you paid for them.
Think twice before you buy any products made from any endangered
species, including animal hides and body parts, tortoise-shell, ivory, or coral
- they could be illegal.
Visit WWF-US's Buyer Beware website for information that can help you
say "no" to illegal wildlife products. And check out our tips; Ten things not
to buy for Christmas
a.. Your feedback makes a difference. If a tour, tourist service, or
supplier was environmentally sensitive and informative, or if it could have
been better, tell the owner or operator.
Sumber : www.panda.org
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