The term eco travel is being bandied about more and more as our environmental aware attitudes are embraced in all aspects of our daily lives. Though you may feel confident that you know what eco travel means for you, it’s good to know exactly why we should all be aware of the positive effects that eco travel can have, all over our planet. Many eco hotels take the great step of creating local employment opportunities, but the best go a step further by supporting indigenous trade and produce, from food to crafts. In doing so, not only do the hotels support their local economy and keep their carbon footprint down, but they also add depth to a holiday. Guests return home knowing exactly how their stay has helped to improve the lives of the people close by, and many continue to show their support once the holiday is over.
Green hotels follow strict green guidelines to ensure that their guests are staying in a safe, non-toxic and energy-efficient accommodation. Here are some basic characteristics of a green hotel:
• Housekeeping uses non-toxic cleaning agents and laundry detergent
• 100% organic cotton sheets, towels and mattresses
• Non-smoking environment
• Renewable energy sources like solar or wind energy
• Bulk organic soap and amenities instead of individual packages to reduce waste
• Guest room and hotel lobby recycling bins
• Towel and sheet re-use (guests can tell housekeeping to leave these slightly used items to reduce water consumption)
• Energy-efficient lighting
• On-site transportation with green vehicles
• Serve organic and local-grown food
• Non-disposable dishes
• Offers a fresh-air exchange system
• Graywater recycling, which is the reuse of kitchen, bath and laundry water for garden and landscaping
• Newspaper recycling program
The argument for eco travel is extremely convincing, but it’s not always easy to turn a good idea into reality. Happily eco holidays are becoming more and more common. The importance of eco travel has never been greater, as environmental damage continues to develop at an alarming rate. Consumer demand is the key to the growth in the eco travel industry, and it’s up to us all to push for more great options like these in eco travel.
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