Sustainable travel and tourism: Tips for responsible travel

Want to know how to travel more sustainably? 

Sustainable travel and tourism can feel like a contradiction, but there are ways to make your travel experience more eco-friendly. We sat down with Mila, Head of ESG (Environmental, Social, Governance) at TrustedHousesitters, to share sustainable travel tips and explore how house sitting or finding a pet sitter can make a difference.

What is sustainable travel and tourism?

The UN World Tourism Organization defines sustainable travel as “tourism that takes full account of its current and future economic, social and environmental impacts, addressing the needs of visitors, the industry, the environment and host communities.”

This means recognizing the full impact of tourism – economically, socially, and environmentally – and making a conscious decision to maximize the good while minimizing the bad. 

The goal of sustainable travel and tourism is to ensure that all sectors of the industry have a positive environmental and social impact for generations to come.

What is responsible tourism?

While the terms ‘sustainable tourism’ and ‘responsible tourism’ are often used interchangeably, there is a slight difference (if we’re going to get technical). According to the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC), “responsible travel refers to the behavior of individual travelers aspiring to make choices according to sustainable tourism practices.”

So, in essence, responsible tourism is where we, as individuals, come in.

Responsible tourism is about making sure our behavior contributes positively to the places we visit. This goes beyond just protecting the environment – it also means supporting local communities, respecting their cultural heritage, and ensuring tourism provides lasting economic benefits.

Why is responsible and sustainable travel and tourism important?

The benefits of sustainable travel and tourism are endless. It empowers local communities to shape their own future, creating jobs and economic opportunities without sacrificing their natural and cultural heritage.

For visitors, it creates a more meaningful travel experience – one that offers a genuine connection to local life rather than a passing view of it from a hotel window.

Last but certainly not least, sustainable travel helps to protect valuable ecosystems and preserve the natural environment. As the number of people who can afford to travel grows, so will travel and tourism’s environmental footprint. This means adopting sustainable travel practices en mass isn’t just a nice idea; it’s essential for a greener, brighter future.

Sustainable tourism: Key statistics

As we now know, the travel and tourism industry has one of the biggest environmental footprints in the world. In fact, global tourism is responsible for roughly 6.5% of global carbon emissions. Within this sector, transport is the biggest culprit, accounting for almost 50% of a vacation’s carbon emissions.

Looking at transport in more detail, flying is usually the most carbon-intensive option. “This is why it should be avoided wherever possible, especially for short trips where other options are available,” says Mila.

Although driving petrol and diesel cars produces less carbon per trip than flying, their widespread use means they collectively contribute an unsustainable amount of emissions each year.

“Simply swapping flights for car journeys isn’t enough,” Mila explains. “To travel more responsibly, we need to move away from petrol and diesel cars and opt for lower-carbon alternatives like push and e-bikes, trains, ferries, and coaches.”

Beyond transport, the remaining emissions from the travel industry come from: 

• Goods & souvenirs: 12%
• Food & beverages: 10%
• Agriculture: 8%
• Services: 8%
• Accommodation: 6%
• Construction: 6%
• Other: 1%

Sustainable travel and tourism tips

So what can we do about this? Here are some eco-friendly travel tips that could help reduce your carbon footprint and ensure you travel more responsibly and sustainably.

Transport

• Use a low-carbon travel option, such as: Foot, bike, ferry, train, bus or coach.
• Select “Greener Choices”: Use this skyscanner.net label if you can’t avoid flying.

Accommodation

• Book only what you need: Avoid oversized spaces and unnecessary extras like pools if you won’t use them. Unused rooms and facilities still consume energy. 
• Choose eco-friendly stays: Look for places powered by 100% certified green energy with recycling facilities. 
• Swap hotels for homes: Hotels use more energy than homes, and house sitting is a far more sustainable option. Learn more about house and pet sitting here.

Destination

• Travel shorter distances: Pick places closer to home or accessible by sustainable transport.
• Avoid touristic places: Choose lesser-known, sustainable travel destinations where your visits will have a more positive impact.

Time of year

• Travel in the low season: Avoid peak crowds and support local economies all year round.

Packing

• Pack light: Reduce waste, make travel easier, and lower fuel usage. 
• Use local products and services: Support communities by spending your money locally. 
• Avoid single-use plastics: Bring a refillable water bottle, coffee cup, containers, and a shopping bag.

Once you’re there

• Respect local culture: Follow customs, dress appropriately, and ask before taking photos. 
• Protect the environment: Dispose of waste properly, avoid single-use plastics, and leave natural items like shells and stones where they belong.

Why house and pet sitting can help us travel more sustainably

If you’re looking for sustainable travel ideas or more responsible travel tips, put house and pet sitting on your list! It’s a great way to travel affordably while supporting local communities and reducing your environmental impact.

Let’s explore how socially responsible travel and house and pet sitting go hand in hand.

The problem: Overtourism

Empty as a ghost town in winter and wall-to-wall with tourists in summer, overtourism negatively impacts the lives of locals all year round. It contributes to neighborhood erosion and gentrification, putting a strain on infrastructure and increasing pollution and environmental damage.

What we do about it

Our pet sitting model follows a one-in, one-out approach. In other words, when a resident leaves, a sitter moves in. This keeps the population steady and avoids overcrowding.

TrustedHousesitters also brings people together. Mila recalls,

“Last April, I went to visit my mum in Palermo for a month, and someone came to stay and look after my cat. When I got back, my neighbor upstairs told me she’d spent an evening with the person pet sitting for me. They’d really gotten into some things that were going on for my pet sitter at the time, and they swapped numbers to stay in touch. Now that doesn’t happen if you’re only surrounded by people who are also visiting.”

The problem: The global housing shortage

Short-term rental platforms are making it even harder for local residents to find affordable housing, contributing to the global housing shortage crisis. It’s gotten so bad that some cities – like New York and Berlin – have put strict rules in place when using these platforms.

What we do about it

Our visitors stay in real, lived-in homes, not short-term rentals. And because our platform is membership-based, no one’s making a profit by renting out their place. This helps to preserve local communities by ensuring that homes are for residents, and locals don’t have to compete with visitors who can afford higher prices.

The problem: Hotels and high energy use

“Hotels typically have significantly higher energy usage vs a home because of extra facilities like gyms, pools, restaurants, and lifts – just think of all the hallway lights constantly on,” Mila says.

Add to this the heating and cooling systems that keep guests comfortable around the clock (even when rooms are empty) and the maintenance of large areas like lobbies, staff rooms, and storage areas.

“In short, the bigger the building, the more energy it’s going to consume - so you might only be in a small room, but your footprint also incorporates a portion of the total energy consumption,” she says.

What we do about it

Staying in a home uses far less energy than a hotel because it’s designed for everyday living, not round-the-clock service. While energy use varies depending on factors like size, facilities, and energy sources, homes don’t have the same large-scale demands as hotels, making them a more sustainable choice.

The problem: Hotels and waste

Ever thought about what happens to all that buffet food at the end of breakfast? “Some of the stats around this are frightening,” says Mila. And behind the scenes, a whole team of staff has to travel in just to cook, clean, and look after guests – adding to transport emissions and overall resource use.

What we do about it

In a home, you naturally use less. There’s no daily towel replacement, no food thrown away, and no one leaving the lights and AC blasting. Essentially, “you’re more likely to behave responsibly because no one else is there to do it for you,” Mila says.

Want to learn more about how TrustedHousesitters aims to make travel and tourism more sustainable through pet caring and home sharing? Take a look at our Impact Report below.

Useful resources

• Top 10 cat sitting tips
• House sitter guidelines for happy house sitting stays
• How to connect with free pet sitters