How do you travel responsibly when travelling in another country? Becoming a responsible traveller is actually quite easy. Learn these easy and effective ways to travel more environmentally friendly and responsible.
These are our 13 simple tips that will help you travel more responsibly when visiting the Nordic countries.
Buy locally-made souvenirs to support the local community and ensure that the money is used to develop the community and the region.
Do not buy plastic water bottles, bring your own reusable water bottle to fill with tap water which is very good in Scandinavia. Norway is said to have some of the best tap water in the world. Use reusable bags, refuse plastic bags in shops, and say no to plastic straws.
Support the local food producers and restaurants. Take reasonable servings at buffets and keep a good balance between vegetarian and non-vegetarian meals.
Make sure you collect your own garbage. A popular activity in Scandinavia is called plogging, which is a mix of the words jogging and picking up and is a popular fitness trend that combines jogging while picking up trash. Always follow the local recycling rules for your trash.
Leave it at your hotel desk for future guests to use instead of throwing it in the trash. Better yet, download your location in Google Maps on your phone when you are in Wi-Fi, turn on your GPS tracking abilities, and you will be able to get your location even when you are out of cell service!
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For many, hiking in Scandinavian nature is an exciting part of the tour. It’s always a good idea to check the level of traffic on the trail you are considering. Look for less-traveled options, there are plenty of amazing hikes available in Scandinavia. To protect the local flora, stick to the trails. The trails exist for a reason.
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Prefer short showers over baths and turn the tap off when brushing your teeth. Be mindful of your electricity usage, for example, switch off the lights and air conditioning when leaving your hotel room. Reuse the same towels when staying at a hotel several nights.
When visiting the destination choose public transport, hire a bike, or walk when convenient.
Find and support ethical non-profit organizations or community projects at your destination before you visit and support them by booking an experience or purchase any products that are produced.
Pay attention and respect local rules and signs, for example, do not take photos, do not climb, do not use drones, etc. Try to learn some simple phrases in the language of your host country: “Hello”, “Good Night”, “Thank you” etc. Be kind, smile, and treat everyone you meet with respect.
Seek out cultural experiences in your free time, for example by joining a local tour, visit museums and local markets. Chat with locals to grow your understanding of the destination you visit – the Scandinavians might seem shy, but they are friendly and often up for a chat.
Promote sustainable awareness through your social media by tagging your pictures and the destination with #responsibletravel #recycle #respectnature.
Each traveler has a carbon footprint that can be calculated and compensated. It is quite possible to offset this footprint by participating in greenhouse gas compensation programs. Here is a list of websites that offer to offset your footprint:
My climate | Green Tripper | Chooose
Remember, no action is too small, and we all have the power to change our perspective, impact, and reality.
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