Sustainable Travel
Trafalgar Falls on Dominica is a picture of sustainable travel. Photo: Tonya Fitzpatrick
“We cannot hope to create a sustainable culture with any but sustainable souls.”
– Derrick Jensen
Sustainable travel stands hand in hand with responsible tourism, sharing a common focus on the impact of tourism on local communities. However, sustainable tourism takes it a step further by addressing conservation and the environmental impact of tourism development.
Sustainable travel strives to revolutionize tourism by minimizing its negative impacts in the long term and effectively protecting natural and cultural environments. As a conscious traveler, you have the power to make eco-friendly choices that contribute to these goals.
Reduce your carbon footprint, opt for local or indigenous products, volunteer for conservation trips, and actively engage in protecting nature and its resources. Together, we can pave the way for a more sustainable future for travel and our planet.
Six and a half million acres. That’s the size of Indonesia’s Leuser Ecosystem, one of the most ancient and biodiverse places ever documented and the last place on Earth where Sumatran rhinos, tigers, elephants, orangutans, and sun bears roam freely together.
Madagascar’s Nosy Be was recently identified as a hotspot for whale sharks, which could boost the island’s ecotourism to rival the likes of global whale shark hotspots in Tanzania and Mozambique. One woman – the lead author of the study that identified Nosy Be as a feeding hotspot-- has now introduced a code of conduct to protect the sharks, enhance tourists’ experience and ensure any income to the island generated as a result is sustainable.
Hydro-therapy circuits, infinity pools, Mayan-inspired culinary delights, a kids club, and even a PGA-sanctioned golf course all await travelers anxious to unwind at The Bahia Principe Luxury Akumal, along Mexico’s pristine gulf coast. An all-inclusive villa-style retreat located directly between Tulum and Cancún, Akumal features exceptional amenities for families of all ages. The property also includes an attentive staff that values the importance of genuine hospitality
Known for its incredibly biodiverse rainforests, Borneo, the world's third-largest island, offers a walk on the wild side. Borneo also boasts the distinction of being the only island in the world controlled by three countries: Malaysia, Brunei, and Indonesia. I took a deep dive into Malaysian Borneo's jungle by experiencing three wildly different and rustic lodgings. An exceptional family runs the lodges. The inspiring family also makes a difference by protecting this part of Malaysia’s most precious resource: nature.
Saying the mainsail on the 100-year-old schooner Zodiac is big is like saying Babe Ruth knew how to play ball. A massive understatement, at 4,000 square feet, the Zodiac's mainsail is not just the largest working sail on the West Coast — it's larger than the average American house.
The sleepy village of Licin is situated in the Banyuwangi regency of East Java, Indonesia. It’s a 30-minute drive from the town of Banyuwangi – Java’s easternmost tip – and an hour from the slopes of Kawah Ijen, the legendary volcano famous for its electric blue flames. It’s often used as a base for hiking the world’s most fascinating crater, and foreigners usually pass through it. But during my travels in Indonesia last November, I was instantly drawn to Licin’s wild beauty and tranquility, making it my home for the remaining two weeks of my stay in the country.
Travelers to Southeast Asia are no strangers to Siem Reap. The city's world-class wonder, Angkor Wat, attracts curious tourists from all over the world. This beautiful destination continues to increase in popularity. And with this boom, opportunities to flourish emerge.
When you’ve spent your life telling other people’s stories, sitting down to write your own—especially one with global implications—feels daunting, exhilarating, and deeply personal. In a short behind-the-scenes video, my husband and World Footprints co-founder, Ian Fitzpatrick, interviewed me about the beginning of my writing journey for my first business book. This is more than just a publishing project. It’s a calling. A shift. A response to the urgent challenges facing the places we love to visit—and the people who call them home.
Our 4x4 safari vehicle heaves and jolts through the deep recesses of the primeval forest. This is early March, and the dry deciduous jungle is laced with post-winter earthy shades of green. But the towering cotton and palash trees have splashed fiery red hues onto the canvas. The afternoon sun filters through the overhead canopy to illuminate the moss-ridden tract peppered with fragrant flowers and withered leaves.
This show illuminates the intersection of the California winegrowing industry and environmental activism.
My nephews don’t know it, but we’re engaging in a resurging travel trend: agritourism. This type of tourism involves visiting any local agricultural setting, including farmers markets, U-pick farms, and fun activities like corn mazes.
Out of view, built into the hill above, rises Arcosanti, a prototype of arcology. Arcology, a concept coined by Soleri himself by combining “architecture” and “ecology,” is the idea that architecture can be in harmony with the landscape.
