TIPS ON PRESERVING OUR ENVIRONMENT |
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- Make tourism and conservation compatible - the money you spend on your trip helps determine the development and direction of tourism. Use your money to support reputable, conservation-minded tour operators and suppliers.
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- Visit parks and nature reserves - visitor demand and tourist expenditures support existing protected areas and can lead to the protection of additional nature. Get any necessary permits before visiting nature reserves or other protected areas. Leave these areas as you found them and do not disturb the wildlife there.
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- Choose lodgings that have effective waste treatment systems, that recycle, that are energy efficient, and where possible, that use environmentally friendly energy sources such as solar energy or hydroelectric power.
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- Conserve water - take showers rather than baths, and use a refillable water container, sterilising water when necessary, limit buying of bottled water.
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- Limit energy use, including your use of air conditioning and hot water. Turn off all lights and taps when you leave hotel rooms.
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- Minimise your use of personal care products and detergents to wash linen, and reuse your hotel towels and bed-linen. Dispose of sanitary waste properly. Don't flush cotton buds, condoms, tampons and plastics down the toilet - or you might just find them on the beach next time you visit.
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- Respect the environment, stay on trails during hikes, do not remove plants or feed animals, and never litter. At the sea do not take any corals, shells, dried fish, starfish, sea-fans and other marine souvenirs - removal can seriously disrupt ecosystems. Navigation in reef water needs special care - do not anchor on reefs which can be easily damaged.
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- Recycle newspapers, magazines and your beverage containers (many can be returned for refunds), and reduce the number of bags, napkins and disposible cups you use when you eat fast food.
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- Respect local culture, traditions and religious places. Insensitive behaviour such as taking photographs of people without their consent, or failure to observe local customs, can cause offence. Note that being nude or semi-nude is unacceptable in public.
Reduce the impact of your recreational activities by avoiding sports which have a significant harmful impact on the environment or choose more progressive establishments.
Respect rules and regulations, pay attention to signals and behave responsibly (e.g do not light fires where it is forbidden).
Think twice before you buy any products made from any endangered species, including animal hides and body parts, tortoise-shell, ivory, or coral - they could be illegal.
Your feedback makes a difference. If a tour, tourist service, or supplier was environmentally sensitive and informative, or if it could have been better, tell the owner or operator.
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