Green Travel

Ecotourism

Indigenous Tourism

Common Questions

Global sustainable tourism criteria (40 KB)

Green Travel

Green Travel is travel with a green lens applied. The principles of ecotravel are not exclusive to vacations and getaways. Just like many things today, you can travel with an awareness of the environment and minimizing impacts and this can be done for all types of travel. When planning a trip, apply the following:

• Buy local and give back to the community
• Protect, enhance and respect the local culture and the environment

These two ideas can be used in selecting transportation, accommodations and activities at your destination. In North America, you can find lodges and hotels built or remodeled with energy efficient appliances, lighting, and insulation and using recycled and sustainable materials (See The Cree Village Ecolodge, Great Northern Adventure, Great Places - on your own). Travelers can support locally owned businesses, museums or parks at any destination like the Phoenix Desert Botanical Garden (See Concierge Services - Great Ideas). And you can choose low impact means of transportation using transit systems, high mileage vehicles and trains (See the Toronto urban ecoadventure, Great Places - on your own). Green Concierge Travel encourages you to green your travel - whatever trip you are taking!

Staycations

Staycations – a new word for vacationing closer to home. It might be a tour of a national park or renting a cottage on Lake Michigan or a cabin in the Smoky Mountains; regardless you have just experienced a staycation.

Since opening in 2006, Green Concierge Travel has encouraged green travel in North America. By staying closer to home, travelers can save money while reducing their environmental footprint especially greenhouse gas emissions from transportation. So a staycation provides travelers with a win win – think green while you enjoy a vacation and save money!

Sustainable Tourism

Global sustainable tourism criteria: Released in October 2008, the criteria help define a common understanding of sustainable tourism and provide a minimum set of considerations for businesses seeking to be a credible part of sustainable tourism. The criteria are organized around four main themes:

• effective planning;
• maximizing social and economic benefits for the local community;
• enhancing cultural heritage; and
• reducing negative impacts to the environment.

In their current form, the criteria are directed at the accommodation and tour operator sectors of the tourism industry. Read the criteria

Agritourism (Agritourismo!) (Based on a May 2010 article for Madison Originals)

Whether its picking apples or berries, waking up to the sound of cattle or the smell of coffee, enjoying a local breakfast or tasting wine with a picnic lunch, welcome to agritourism. It’s where visitor and farmer, historian or host come together to interact and enjoy the rural landscape and life.

In 1985, Italy officially put a name to it - “Agritourismo”. Over the years, it has provided an additional revenue stream for farmers. Abandoned small farms in the Italian countryside have been restored and put back into “production”.

In some ways, agritourism has always been a part of the lifestyle for many in North America with farm stands and pick your own opportunities. A fall drive would not be the same without the flatbeds loaded with pumpkins, gourds and squashes and payment on the honor system. Between 2000 and 2001, more than 62 million people age 16 years and older visited farms nationwide. . If the estimate includes children and youth under 16 years of age who visited farms, the total number of visitors to farms approximately 82 million.

Agritourism comes in many different shapes and sizes. Some popular experiences include:

• Food: On any given weekend, your destination may very well involve food – whether it’s a cheese factory, a farmer’s market or a place to pick berries or apples.
• Overnight stays at farms and inns: An immersion experience might include an overnight stay at a local farm or inn where you have breakfast, engage in farm activities or simply enjoy being away from home.
• History: Plan a trip to a living history historic village where people in period costume demonstrate to trades of the time.
• Wine: Wineries across the country welcome visitors and many offer “trails” that one can follow for a single or multi-day experience. Picnicking rounds out this experience.

Appreciating the rural character and assets of an area can be an incredibly enjoyable experience and an economic boost to those who have chosen this way of life. So wherever you head, take a moment to scout out some of these places; it’s all part of agritourism!