Fostering Responsible Travellers

Jul 6

Written By rTraction

1) Reduce Waste

Aid travellers to manage their waste by providing easily accessible recycling and composting bins.
Display signage indicating what goes in each waste bin.
Provide water dispensers to not only improve the visitor experience, but encourage the use of reusable water bottles. Communicate your gratitude for travellers using reusable water bottles with this graphic.
For resources on plastic waste visit this site.
Build a recycling program with the assistance of this document created by Thompson Okanagan.
Remind visitors that when they are out and about that if they brought it with them, take it with them. Also, if they didn’t bring it, leave it behind. More information available on this blog. This information can be communicated with graphics, writing message in brochures, or discussing it at visitor information centres,

As many of us do, we get in a vacation head space where we forget about the impact we have on those around us, including residents.
Inform travellers to respect those who help make their visit a memorable/enjoyable experience (e.g. restaurants servers, hotel attendants, tour leaders, all locals, etc.).
We want to reduce the possibility of tourist-resident conflict, so visitors always feel welcome and residents don’t resent visitors.
Unbalanced should be top of mind, so the impacts of tourists don’t become detrimental.
Ensure travellers comply with regulations and possess necessary licenses (e.g. fishing license).
How can this be done?
- Create a “treat every destination like it is your home” campaign.
- Make a social media post showing the locals and the impact tourists have on their lives (both positive and negative), or post messages from locals. The following video is beneficial to understand the local perspectives that can be acknowledged.

With the abundant number of “green” certifications that exist, it is challenging for travellers to know if the restaurants they eat at, accommodations they stay at and attractions they visit are truly being sustainable/responsible or if greenwashing is taking place.
Greenwashing: the process of conveying a misleading impression of being an environmentally friendly organization. For more information visit this article.
Be as transparent as possible and demonstrate how your organization chooses to be responsible, including the initiatives you take part in.
Answer the following questions-What do the certifications you possess entail? What are other trusted certifications visitors can look for on their travels?
Examples of trusted certifications

A component of responsible travel is contributing to the local economy to aid with sustainable growth.
Encourage travellers to not only purchase from local shops but buy local products (e.g. not visiting a local shop to buy a fridge magnet that has a “made in China” sticker on the back).
Purchasing local products guarantees that travellers are purchasing a souvenir that is from the destination they are visiting and has a positive contribution to the local economy while producing fewer carbon emissions.
Promote that visiting local businesses provides travellers with a more immersive experience.
Reminder-we can’t ask travellers how much to spend, but can ask where they spend it.
Inform travellers to say NO to plastic bags when shopping.
As a business, only purchase promotional materials made in Canada.
Make it easier for visitors to choose restaurant menu options that use local products.
Visit here to download the guide “Sustainable Purchasing: What You Need to Know”.
How can this be accomplished?
- Featuring local artisan’s products in your storefront, brochures, and email blasts. For example, Arrowwood Farm features pottery from local artisans in their storefront.
- Using signage that says “shop local”.
- Provide a list of local businesses to employees, so when asked by travellers where to visit, they have a list of local ideas.

Ensure that informing about being a responsible traveller is educational without shaming travellers for their actions.
Remember that everyone has made mistakes during their past trips due to the lack of education, so use this opportunity to prevent future mistakes.
Watch this episode of Let’s Talk Tourism in Ontario’s Southwest where we discuss responsible travel from a traveller’s perspective.
How can this be done?
- Show stories from travellers in video, poster or presentation form of how they travel responsibly now that they are aware of the topic. Example of poster available here.

Don’t stop at educating travellers only when they are visiting your destination.
There are opportunities to educate before, during, and after a traveller’s visit.
Many of the reasons travellers act irresponisbly is due to the lack of education that exists on the topic of responsible travel. How many travellers know to clean off their boots after a hike to prevent transporting dirt from one place to another? Did you know this?
Making a point to have a continuous conversation on the topic will develop awareness creating responsible travellers who are aware of their impact.
Note: prevent information overload
Suggestions:
- Post weekly on social media about tips for being a responsible traveller (e.g. Sustainable Sundays).
- Provide information in email blasts, your website, brochures, and bottom of receipts.
- Ask visitors to sign a pledge (e.g. Thompson Okanagan’s Seven Affirmations for Seven Generations pledge).
- Create videos for travellers that focus on a specific issue or mention tips for being a responsible traveller. Examples below.

rTraction