Your Spring Break Plans: Sustainability and Social Accountability
Is it even possible?
By Jessy Rehmann with art by Alex Kozak
With pandemic panic fading away and warmer weather approaching, more people are giving in to pent-up wanderlust and preparing their international getaways. A report by Economic Intelligence predicts global tourism will increase by 30% in 2023, edging closer to pre-pandemic numbers. Especially for us Midwesterners, swapping out a hot chocolate and the muddy melting season for a piña colada on the beach sounds like heaven. Spring break trips are a high-reward trade, but what are the costs?
While tourism helps sustain the economies of many places, “over tourism” can damage the environment and the quality of life for locals. Venice is sinking and residents are leaving due to rising costs of living. Tulum’s Indigenous populations are being evicted to make way for luxury condos. Hawaii’s residents have faced water shortages and agree their island “is being run for tourists at the expense of local people”.
The glaring negative effects on communities and their ecosystems has led to the rise of ecotourism. The concept emphasizes supporting a location’s environmental conservation efforts, contributing to its local economy, and learning about its culture in a non-exploitative manner.
Navigating this concept can seem vague and intimidating at first, especially when you want a blissful mental escape during spring break. At the same time, it’s crucial to recognize that where you lounge and party for a week is home for many people. So before you embark on your jet-set adventures, here are some considerations to help protect those slices of paradise:
Swap out cruises and all-inclusive packages for local experiences
I get that cruises are an all-in-one vacation experience. (And whose adolescence wasn’t marked by “The Suite Life on Deck?”) However, those luxury trips are harmful to the earth and local economies. For one, many cruise ships are powered with heavy fuel oil, which can destroy tropical marine environments and pollute the air of port cities. Moreover, cruises and vacation packages implement a pseudo-monopoly on your travel experience. You eat and drink through these companies, buy from their gift-shops and go on their tours. As a result, the destinations you visit gain little economically.
So instead, look for options that help fund the community. Book tours with local travel organizations. Stay in independently-owned hotels. Eat in mom-and-pop shops. Buy souvenirs from local artisans (these make for less tacky gifts anyway). Small swaps like these not only make your experience more authentic, but it directly supports the residents of destination cities.
Consider places of conservation over destination
If you’re still debating where to go for spring break, consider traveling to a country where nature is appreciated and conserved. Some examples of these places include: Costa Rica, Kenya, Belize, Iceland, New Zealand and the Galapagos Islands. Not only can you enjoy gorgeous landscapes and wildlife in these locations, but you can do so knowing they’re being protected.
Another way to promote environmental conservation during your vacation is to simply do activities in nature. Instead of just hitting the beach, maybe try hiking in a national park or going to an animal conservation sanctuary. But please, don’t be that tourist that hurts ecosystems by going off trails, touching wild animals, carving into rocks and trees, taking shells or littering. The best way to love nature is to let it be.
Arrive educated and listen to locals
Wherever you end up going for spring break, whether it’s nearby or half-way around the world, try to read up on the place’s culture and conduct. After all, you’re a guest in someone else’s home. It’s respectful to know rules and customs—plus it creates more of an immersive experience for you! Especially when it comes to visiting historical or sacred sites, going in with knowledge of a place’s significance is not just valuable, but essential.
Arriving in a new place informed by its culture can also open the door for you to discover hidden gems. Talking with locals could lead to experiences you never would have known otherwise. Just remember that everyone is human—a passport stamp may grant you entry, but it doesn’t give you permission to be invasive. Travel should benefit everyone involved. So even in our spring break bliss, we need to be cognizant of exploitation to instead foster appreciation.
Sources:
https://www.eiu.com/n/campaigns/tourism-in-2023/#mktoForm_anchor
https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20220927-italys-plan-to-save-venice-from-sinking
https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2021/08/03/maui-hawaii-water-shortage/
https://www.rd.com/article/what-is-ecotourism/
https://www.humanrights-in-tourism.net/card/136
https://www.exploreworldwide.com/blog/most-eco-friendly-places-to-visit