Responsible Tourism: Eco-Friendly Family Vacations

By Erin Stringer

While many of us toss bottles into the recycling bin rather than the garbage, turn our kitchen leftovers into compost, or carpool to combat both toxic emissions and the steep incline of gas prices, we give no thought at all to the environment when we're packing a suitcase for our next family getaway.

Our first priority usually isn't to reduce consumption and be kind to the earth, especially when taking some time away often means overindulgence and gobbling up local experiences and exotic foods without a care. For all of us who mean well but also want to enjoy the luxury of being a tourist, there are ways to stay environmentally savvy when vacationing.

Choose Alternate Transportation

The environment takes a beating from the aviation industry: worldwide air travel is responsible for emitting millions of tonnes of climate-changing carbon dioxide every year. The popularity of cheap flight bonanzas and an increasing number of air passengers is only adding to the problem of global warming, so cut down on waste by choosing an alternate method of travel.

“The best eco-friendly travel is train, and beyond that, bus is a good way to go,” says Margaret Mahan of BEST (Better Environmentally Sound Transportation), a non-profit charitable association in Vancouver that promotes sustainable transportation and environmental initiatives. “Followed by that - four-seater economy vehicle. If you're in the city, Vancouver is wonderful for walking, cycling and transit.”

If you must fly, book a direct flight, as take off and landing use a lot of fuel. You can purchase Carbon Offset Credits against your flight, which means you are buying emission reduction credits from a company that uses the money to support eco-initiatives. However, the program has been criticized for yielding few if any benefits – another form of “chequebook environmentalism” amidst reports of some companies taking credit for projects that were already going forward, or not changing polluting practices at all. If you do buy offset credits, do some research first and find a project with proven results, or buying them may only be effective in lightening your green guilt baggage.

Choose Green Accommodation

This doesn't mean a spartan stay in a log cabin, a late night stumble to an outhouse or foregoing running water. As eco-friendly itineraries become more of a priority for visitors, a number of luxury hotels have gone from green beginnings to completely developed sustainability programs.

"Green travel has certainly become a noticeable trend,” says Amber Sessions of Tourism Vancouver. “But unlike a lot of trends, this is one that many consumers are very passionate about and in some cases it will make or break travel decisions.”

Most of Vancouver's hotels are US Green Building Council-certified or British Columbia Hydro Power Smart partners. The Pacific Palisades on Robson has added low-flow water valves to all rooms, uses eco-conscious cleaners, and composts kitchen waste. The downtown Fairmont Hotel has implemented the Green Partnership Program, to improve recycling and reduce waste, while the Listel Hotel has Environment Matters, including the installation of solar panels and a heat capture system.

Be An Ecotourist

Plan your holiday to be as carbon-neutral as possible. Find earth-friendly activities to take part in: go canoeing rather than renting a gas guzzling motorboat, or try horseback riding rather than jumping on an ATV. See the sights on foot or bicycle rather than renting a car, and if you do rent a vehicle, try a hybrid.

Consider an eco-tour, which will give your family a way to see local greenery, marine life or architecture without attacking the environment. Note: gawking at polar bears from a double decker bus on the tundra or going eco-wilderness camping to hunt black bears does not count. Wherever you go, respect your surroundings - if so many people hadn't wanted just a teeny piece of the coral reefs, they wouldn't be in such grave danger.

As pollution-free activities go, Vancouver has plenty. “Vancouver boasts a number of great eco-friendly hotels and tour operators,” says Sessions. “There are also lots of 'no-impact’ activities to be enjoyed in Vancouver – kayaking in False Creek, biking around the seawall, swimming in English Bay, and building sand castles at the beach.”

Shop Smartly

Finally, ensure you're making sustainable food choices – avoid eating endangered fish and shop locally and organically as much as possible on your next trip.

Buyer beware when it comes to products from abroad: many unsuspecting tourists returning from a vacation don't realize that the souvenir they just bought contains real ivory or tortoiseshell, or is trimmed with endangered wildcat fur. Not only will you be contributing to a dying trade, you'll also be banned from bringing your trappings through Canada Customs, so find out what's in those souvenirs before you head home.