Summary: Years ago, the concept of eco-tourism was little more than a dream in a hippie's eye. But the movement gained momentum, and has now passed through popularity and out the other side. Now, everyone wants to be seen to be green. But appearance isn't the same as genuinely good for the environment. Tour companies greenwash their tours so they seem eco-friendly when actually they are the same as they were last year, and consumers choose a “green holiday,” because it makes them feel better, not because it's something they believe in. People throw money at schemes promising to “offset your carbon footprint”, but don't investigate where that money is going, and airlines introduce such schemes to improve their image. There are a lot of ways to make your trip a bit more eco-friendly, which will not only help the environment, but will increase your enjoyment and the enjoyment of others with you or following you. It doesn't matter what sort of trip you're taking, there are some things you can do. Camping is a great way to interact with the local environment. It's cheap, it's easy, and there's often some fantastic views to be had just around the next corner. It isn't difficult to minimise your impact on the often unspoiled natural beauty of popular camping spots, just take your rubbish with you and don't light any fires – if you do light fires, use existing fire pits wherever possible and follow fire-safety procedures. Also, use biodegradable soap and go to the toilet away from water sources. If you're backpacking, you're sure to stay in a shared environment occasionally. You can make this environment more pleasant for all concerned by thinking about the others around you – don't just think about what's good for you, consider how others might like to live. Most people don't really enjoy having to wade through other people's belongings, or to see a random stranger's undies in the middle of the room. For hostel-dwellers, please don't spray on your cheap deodorant in the dorm room – some of these “scents” are almost toxic, and can frustrate the efforts of people trying to breathe. On a similar note, be quiet when you come in late at night, so others can enjoy an uninterrupted night's sleep. One of the biggest ways you can tread lightly in a hotel is to reduce the amount of laundry you create in terms of linen and towels requiring washing after you use them. So, stay longer. If you stay for one night, all your linen must be washed. But if you stay a little longer, they don't need to wash everything. Most hotels change the towels daily, but there's a growing movement against this policy. You'll often see a sign in the bathroom giving you the choice – if you want fresh towels, throw your old ones in the bath or shower, and if you're happy to reuse, hang your towel on the rack. It goes without saying that choosing the latter is the greener option. Tourism is often a large part of a nation's income, but with huge tour companies, sometimes as little as 10% of the money you spend stays in the country. Plus, it's cheaper to buy local. Or use Responsibletravel.com – they book the local tours for you. Or you could try a volunteer holiday – donate some of your time into improving the place you're visiting. There are a lot of options to choose from – teach English, work in an orphanage, or do farm work like WWOOF– Willing workers on organic farms. Make sure you buy your souvenirs from local market stalls, and not at the airport where you'll get charged triple the price and the producer will get even less of your money. Of course, feel free to give a donation to a carbon-offset scheme. But you might be better giving your donation to a local forest preservation group, who will keep you informed about the state of your personal source of air.
