The impact of traveling on cross-cultural understanding is inestimable, and tourism in emerging countries contributes a lot to the development of their economies. 

Unfortunately, traveling is also responsible for a huge percentage of our carbon footprint, and we can’t continue to travel in the same way we did.

On this page, discover how innovative businesses are helping to make travel less harmful for the environment and to make sure tourism benefits the local population.

1) Reduce and compensate your carbon footprint

By offsetting, airlines can also be critized as this can be seen as a way to pay others to be allowed to keep polluting. Innovations in the airline industry is therefore critical for them to reduce their emissions, for example by using biofuels. The industry is also pumping in research and development into electric aircraft.  Beside offsetting your trips, you can also prioritze companies which are working harder on reducing their carbon footprint.  The Atmosfair Airline Index offers a comparison of airline’s carbon efficiency but its latest index is from 2018.

2) Choose experiences that benefit local communities

Traveling gives you an opportunity to have a positive impact on the communities in the country you  visit. The number of platforms allowing you to find and book unique and authentic experiences with locals have mushroomed over the past few years.  To name a few : Localalike, I-likelocal, Rutopia, Authenticitys (B Corp), Backstreet Academy, Better Places Travel (B Corp) or Grassroutes for trips in Indian villages. They usually commit to give 70 to 100% of what they earn to the locals. Check for the certification B Corp to ensure the authenticity of their commitment. The platform The Better Traveller, edited by the non profit Our Better World, offer also rich advice to support local social enterpreneurs while on the go in Asia.

3) Eat at restaurants and book accommodation that give back to a cause/the community

FEATURED STORIES