Travel more sustainably: Eco-friendly escapism for 2021

Our bucket-lists are long and a gorgeous shade of green

Text: Livvie B

As The Soothe team optimistically begin compiling our travel bucket lists for 2021 (just us?), one of our key considerations is how we can explore the world and all of its wonders in a more eco-friendly, sustainable travel and responsible fashion.

At the start of the pandemic, when travel swiftly came to a halt, we were inundated with news articles about the incredible environmental recovery that followed our halted movement; the canals in Venice were crystal clear without the ongoing slog of tourist boats, the ordinarily smog-blocked vistas of the Himalayas were visible from the Indian state of Punjab, and wildlife once again roamed freely through Yosemite National Park.  

Even prior to this, some of the globe’s most popular tourist hotspots made headlines for their anti-tourism movements, with the likes of Santorini, Borocay and Komodo National Park closing their doors to visitors in a bid to protect the pristine environments that made them so popular to begin with. 

As it slowly becomes safer to reinvigorate the tourism industry, what are some of the key steps we can take as travellers to minimise our own detrimental impact on the environment? 

Choose your escapism destination wisely: 

·      Stay closer to home: 2020 has been the year of the staycation and if it has taught us one thing, it’s that there is so much to discover on our own doorstep. By staying within the Little Red Dot, or visiting destinations that can be reached without the need for air travel, we can help to reduce our carbon footprint

·      Avoid over-tourism: I’s tempting to be lured to Insta-popular destinations (think Venice, Machu Picchu, and Santorini), but they have previously been overwhelmed by tourists, and are likely to be once again in the coming years, causing a strain on infrastructure and pricing locals out of the communities. When planning your next trip, venture off the beaten track and explore somewhere new.

Take longer trips: 

Thanks to the ease of travel in and out of Singapore, many of us were guilty of taking many ‘micro-vacations’ (trips ranging from 2–7 days). Taking longer trips fewer times a year is an easy way to reduce our carbon footprint — we don’t need telling twice.

Move consciously: 

·      Explore by foot. Walk Japan has an unrivalled range of tours spread across the length and breadth of Japan, focusing the development of Japan’s little-known and less-visited regions. The team are keenly aware of the need for the responsible and sustainable development of Japan’s tourism resources and are widely recognised for their endeavours 

·      Air travel is often the only viable way to reach some of the world’s most coveted destinations, but if you have to fly, try to fly direct as much as possible, select eco-friendly airlines and look for carriers that use sustainable aviation biofuel. To avoid air travel altogether, consider destinations that are closer to home — once it reopens, The Sanchaya is just a 50-minute ferry ride from Singapore 

·      Consider the romance of rail travel and embark on an unforgettable rail journey through the likes of South Africa or Tibet  

Credit: Capella Ubud

Stay sensibly: 

Opt for a hotel or accommodation option that holds itself to high sustainability standards. A couple of our favourites include: 

·      Singita: Conservation brand Singita follows a 100-year purpose to preserve and protect the African wilderness for future generations through the three pillars of biodiversity, community and sustainability. Through partnerships with non-profit funds and trusts, they implement conservation projects in each of their six regions to ensure the existence of Africa’s magnificent wildlife populations. The programmes they run aim to help create economic independence within communities that live alongside their reserves

·      EAST, Hong Kong: Now that details of the Singapore-Hong Kong travel bubble are coming to life, we can’t wait to get back to our second home. When we’re in Hong Kong, one of our go-to hotels is EAST, Hong Kong, who prioritise sustainability with measures such as in-room water filters to cut down on plastic waste, and a dedication to providing plant-based menu items for guests 

·      Capella Ubud: A luxury tented camp designed by Bill Bensley; Capella  Ubud is nestled amidst the unspoiled beauty of Bali’s luscious rainforest. With the conscious idea of “minimal intervention”, thoughtful care was taken in the design of the hotel, and all trees and local plants were left untouched and protected throughout the construction process. As such, there are several trees intercepting the property’s accommodation, restaurants and the spa tents

·      Ovolo: Earlier this year, Ovolo hotels announced the ‘year of the veg,’ denoting a year of exclusively vegetarian cuisine across their properties — a bold move, but this hotel group is all about appealing to the modern traveller. The group consists of boutique hotels across Australia and Hong Kong 

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