The Building Need for Responsible Travel
Support for responsible travel continues to grow. In Alaska, the cruise ship industry was surprised to see grassroots support of a legislative initiative taxing their passengers to pay for port infrastructure and environmental compliance oversight. Travelers have concerns over the impact their vacations may cause to the environment. I have written several articles on responsible, clean boating including a new edition coming in the Alaska Sea Grant's Seas and Coasts periodical series on the subject.Jennifer Miner, a fellow writer at Suite 101, just wrote a outstanding article titled Responsible Luxury Travel Plans: Easy Sustainable Tourism can be Part of Leisure Vacations that offers suggestions for the ecologically aware traveler. As Jennifer says, "…disproportionate amounts of nonrenewable natural resources are used for the leisure of luxury travel - can lead to an uncomfortable feeling of guilt. And who needs guilt when taking a well-earned vacation?
Responsible boating and travel are built on a foundation of respect. Respect for the safety of your passengers, respect for coastal communities effected by tourism and most of all respect for the environment. We should be selfish. Protecting our natural lands and waters preserves them for out future enjoyment.
Labels: Clean Boating, Ecotravel, Environment, Responsible Travel
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posted by Harbormaster at 10:25
9 Comments:
Here! Here! Is that your family? You all look lovely!
It's all about being adults our whole lives, isn't it, not quitting adulthood just because we're on holiday.
Lovely blog you have here!
Makes me want to get outside and out on the water, instead of pining after pictures of it on a 15 inch screen.
Good advice about respecting our environment too.
Lake Taupo in New Zealand is having a problem balancing the needs of tourism against preserving the water quality of the lake. The water is still clear, but when I remember it from my childhood, it is certainly not as clear as it once was. Main problems are farms right on the lake edge where fertilisers are leaching into the lake through the ground water table and too many developments too close to the water. Slowly, the council is winning the battle.
Responsible tourism - we all need it.
Travelers should be concerned about the impact their visits have on the environment. The problem is no one wants to kick in to cover the costs associated with it.
That's a good idea Alan. We have ecotourists in New Zealand who plant new trees to replenish the carbon they have used in the travel.
Excellent work. I love looking through your blog for the bits on Alaska. A cruise up there is one of our future priorities.
Interesting. I personally haven't been boating in years, but I still have bad memories of high school when I went on a trip with my class. Some of the kids managed to crash a boat. So I applaud your call for this.
Eric
I think its a great place in the middle between respect for the environment and the enjoyment of its wonders. VMcNeill
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