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Some of the best memories we carry with us through life are created on vacations. We reminisce about the roller coaster adrenaline rushes, gooey marshmallows around campfires, romantic walks on the beach, and savory brunches in European cafes.

Those memories, like our travels, are about our enjoyment. We could care less about how the resort we stayed in handled our trash or if the waitresses who served us earned a living wage. We return home oblivious to the lingering impacts we had on the natives and wildlife we left behind.

But it doesn’t have to be that way. We can all travel responsibly in ways that not only benefit ourselves, but guarantee the social and environmental health of the places we visit.

For example, we can conserve resources by choosing accommodations that recycle wastewater on site or use energy-efficient appliances. We can refuse to purchase products made from endangered plant and animal species, and help fund efforts to improve medical care or education in the communities we visit.

And don’t think this applies only to backpackers, kayakers and other people who prefer to spend their vacations outdoors. Everyone, from convention-attending corporate executives to sports fans can make better choices (i.e. check out Marriott's extensive initiatives). Of course, this might require some of us to reduce the number of vacations we take in order to spend more money on better quality accommodations and venues. Find tips for sustainable travel here and here.

Interest in sustainable tourism is growing throughout the world as the industry adapts to changing consumer preferences, government regulations and grassroots advocacy. (I recently wrote about efforts to improve recycling rates at special events.) The North Carolina Center for Sustainable Tourism at East Carolina University promotes changes through research, outreach and a new master’s degree. The center is also studying the effects of climate on tourism and second homes in tourism communities.

“In the last year we’ve seen literally an explosion in interest both from travelers and tourist destinations,” said Alex Naar, the center’s outreach coordinator. “Almost everybody that I’ve talked to from the mom and pop businesses to large businesses has shown an interest.”

The center lists several North Carolina businesses that practice environmental and social responsibility: the N.C. Zoo in Asheboro, Proximity Hotel in Greensboro, Bed and Bike Inn near the Uwharrie Mountains, Weeping Radish Farm Brewery on the Outer Banks.

Elsewhere one can find sustainable practices at Devil’s Thumb Ranch in Colorado, the Biosphere Reserve in Mexico and Kapawi Ecolodge & Reserve in Ecuador.

The Ol Donyo Wuas Lodge and the Maasailand Preservation Trust in Kenya use proceeds from tourist fees to provide education and medical care to the resident Maasai community. The trust and partnering organizations also reforest the land and protect wildlife by compensating the tribe for cattle lost to predators.

Tom LaRock, of Winston-Salem, has organized private safaris on the land and said these partnerships help maintain ecological diversity and preserve the cultural heritage of an indigenous group pressured by industrialization. Only about 20 people visit the 270,000 acre preserve at one time, he said.

“It’s not just about the ecology,” said LaRock, of Safari Professionals Unlimited. “It’s not just about the environment. It’s just not about the wildlife. It’s about the whole community and the people who live there.”

Learn more:
N.C. Division of Tourism
Ecotourism.org
Sustainable Travel International
Renewabletourism.com