From sustainable hotels to regenerative travel, here’s how to make post-pandemic travel greener than ever
Let’s face it: Travelling is not exactly good for the environment. From the carbon emissions of excessive air travel (that resulted in flygskam or the flight shaming movement in 2017) to the enormous amount of resources it takes to run a hotel, the way we travelled before Covid-19 was not wholly sustainable.
A lot of the changes that need to be made are systemic and depend on major players in the travel industry. But as consumers, we also have the power to shape the way travel will look as we emerge from the pandemic. While we’re all itching to get away, now is the perfect time to stop, rethink our approach and demand better alternatives.
Sustainable travel has long been heralded as a solution but in this post-pandemic era, we need to go beyond eschewing plastic and progress to choices that truly regenerate the earth. “The biggest difference between sustainable travel and regenerative travel is that the former talks about net-zero impact whereas the latter is about creating a positive impact,” says Amanda Ho, co-founder of Regenerative Travel, a company that champions regenerative hotels and experiences.
See also: How To Be A Responsible Traveller
“Regeneration is a mindset and a daily practice that a traveller should embody as their aspiring outlook on life, both at home and on the road. It is understanding that all parts are interconnected through a regenerative principle called 'whole systems thinking'. We need to make daily decisions that contribute positively back to our community and play an active role in being part of that change,” stresses Ho.
See also: 8 Travel Experts Share How The Pandemic Has Changed Travel And Where To Go In 2021
This fully aligns with Earth Day 2021’s theme of 'Restore Our Earth'. So, before you embark on your revenge travel trip, why don’t you mull over these easy ways to make a positive impact: