Now more than ever, it’s more important to travel sustainably. In an era where travel is more accessible than ever, the way that we travel the earth should also shift with the times. No longer is tourism solely tick-boxing or travelling only to mainstream destinations and staying in one place; it has now evolved into a more aware experience, culturally and environmentally. This means that travellers are becoming more aware of their environmental footprint, cultural impact and the consequences of their travel, whether that be in the short or long term. The broader shift to sustainability in society has led to a more mindful approach that looks out for the world and the local people in the form of sustainable travel.
Eastern Asia, in the last 20 years, has emerged as a popular destination for all kinds of travellers, whether they’re looking for an adventure-style holiday or a relaxing few weeks in paradise. With huge cities, ancient landmarks and natural landscapes, this content has so much to offer. Just like many other popular travel destinations, Eastern Asia has started to see the more negative effects of tourism, from inflation to environmental degradation, which is pushing out locals and ruining the local environments.
This is where sustainable tourism can swoop in as an effective solution to overtourism and environmental concerns, which allows tourists to responsibly travel to East Asia and allows locals to benefit from tourism financially.
So, if you’re planning on travelling to East Asia and you want to travel responsibly, this article aims to help you by providing tips and tricks so you can feel good about your travel.
Master Local Transit
Transit is essential for any kind of travel. Whether you’re flying, getting the train or driving in a car, transport can be a high polluter. While you may not be able to help with flying to East Africa, once you’re there, you can try to offset your travel as much as possible. In East Asia, you are in luck with sustainable transport available continent-wide, with some of the best public transport in the world. Once you’re in Asia, you can use this transport to get from city to city. You can buy a train pass, such as the KORAIL pass, that is available in South Korea. Travelling by train instead of plane can help to reduce carbon emissions by 90%, which can reduce environmental effects.
Pack and Consume Mindfully
When you’re on holiday, it’s easy to consume mindlessly. Whether you’re buying multiple bottles of water every day or eating takeaways every day, the non-reusable plastic can pile up. Not only is this wasteful, but it creates unnecessary costs, which you wouldn’t have to pay if you bought a reusable shopping bag or a reusable bottle, for example, which are located all around cities in Korea and Japan.
Support the Local Economy
Eat local: Many travellers, when they go to another country, especially those with British citizenship, tend to stick to the restaurants that they know, such as McDonald’s or KFC; however, if you want to travel responsibly, you should try to stick to local restaurants and bars to support the local economy. As many Eastern Asian countries rely on tourism, these local restaurants need tourists to come in and spend money to fund their livelihoods, which are often taken over by huge conglomerates. Not only does supporting the local economy help to improve the lives of the local people, but it gives you a true look into local dishes an dthe live sof teh local people. Rather than a faceless organisation, you get to talk to real locals who can tell local stories and provide recommendations which can make the trip extra special. You also get a chance to try foods such as pad thai, sushi and tom yum in its true form.
Book local guides: The truest way to explore a city is not through TikTok and Instagram but through the knowledge and expertise of local guides. This includes when you’re booking excursions and trips to visit landmarks such as the Great Wall of China or the Buddhist temple in Thailand. When you are booking, ensure that you know that the guide is local and not a massive international tour company, so that you know that you are supporting the local community. This is especially important in Eastern Asia, where Western companies often take customers from more knowledgeable local guides.
Respect Nature and Local Culture
Cruelty-free wildlife: Like in many other holiday destinations, Eastern Asia has many issues with animal cruelty, especially when it comes to elephant sanctuaries and performing zoos. Before attending any of these sanctuaries, it’s important to do research to ensure that they are ethical and do not mistreat the animals, so you are not funding cruel and unethical sanctuaries and businesses. To do this, ensure that these sanctuaries are verified.
Visit cultural sites respectfully: To show respect to locals, their religions and cultures, you should ensure that you have reached local norms before entering the country. When visiting temples and monasteries, it’s polite to cover your shoulders and dress modestly, even removing your shoes in some places of worship. This shows respect for the local people and the local culture, which can help to make your trip more enjoyable and culturally enriching.
Final Thoughts
Travelling doesn’t have to be unsustainable. When you actively make sure that you’re enriching not only yourself but the locala nd the environment around you, you can not only be an ethical and sustainable traveller, but you can make a global impact on the environment that can ensure that the earth is protected for years to come
So, if you’re travelling to Eastern Asia this year or in the next few years, to implement one or more of these elements into your travel and support the locals and the environment on your next trip, wherever you may be travelling in Asia.
