News

The Perils of a Tourism Boom: Palawan’s Popularity Problem

Palawan’s Popularity Problem: An Interview with Photographer Duncan Murrell This past fall (autumn for those outside North America), I was lured to Palawan, a culturally and ecologically rich archipelago in the Philippines made up of nearly 2,000 islands. Seeing the name pop up repeatedly on “world’s best islands” and “world’s best beaches” lists in recent […]

Unique Ways to Practice Sustainable Travel Without Actually Traveling

While traveling, we try to be as efficient and eco-friendly as possible. But what about when we return home? We’ve come up with simple ways you can practice sustainable travel at home as well as abroad. While going through the motions of daily life, prioritize sustainability by supporting your local community and its natural resources. […]

Eco-Friendly Advice on Vacation Souvenirs

You’ve just taken a vacation that you’ll never forget, so it only makes sense to mark the occasion with a souvenir that will remind you of your getaway forever. The only problem? You’re an eco-conscious traveler and shopper, so you want it to be both special and sustainable. It might seem an impossible task, but […]

How Can Travelers Sustainably Help the Places and People They Visit?

As ethical travelers, we’re always looking to give back to the people and places we visit. The classic problem with international charity efforts is that they can fail to create local buy-in, and particularly fail to achieve a sense of local ownership of the new project. We’ve all heard about the unintended consequences of do-gooder […]

Can Technology Contribute to Responsible Tourism?

It goes without saying that technology has revolutionized the travel industry. A light tap or two on your phone can lead you to the right accommodation or the perfect travel partner. So why couldn’t technology serve as a vehicle for travelers to explore the world more responsibly? In many ways, it has. Numerous apps and […]

The Role of the Travel Industry in Sexual Exploitation and Trafficking

Sex tourism and trafficking remain prevalent issues in the travel industry. Within the thriving sex industry, women and girls – and young men and boys – are trafficked due to a boom in tourism and cheap flights to countries such as Cambodia and South Africa. In 2016, there are an estimated 45.8 million people in […]

The Arctic: A New Travel Frontier

The United States Navy predicts that the Arctic Region will be “ice-free” by 2030. Though this date is hotly debated, it is difficult to argue that the ice is melting. For the first time in history, mainstream travel enthusiasts can explore an environment previously inaccessible. For those with wanderlust, there is no greater thrill than […]

Green Destinations Day 2016: Preparing for Mass Tourism

The first global gathering of Green Destinations was held last month in Ljubljana, Slovenia – Europe’s current Green Capital. It tied in with Global Green Destinations Day – the only day dedicated specifically to celebrating sustainable tourism worldwide. The event brought together representatives from more than a third of the top 100 most sustainable destinations, […]