The Ethical Traveller: 10 ways to roam the world without ruining it

Yes: travel and flying in particular does cause carbon emissions. However, tourism also creates one out of every 10 jobs globally. Many of these are in remote corners where communities play a crucial role in protecting delicate ecosystems and ways of life. Others allow those on the margins to gain independence in societies where that is far from a given.

Travel can be one of many pathways to making our planet a safer, fairer and kinder place – somewhere people and nature thrive in harmony. Here’s how to see the world while helping to save it, one trip at a time…

The below tips are taken fromThe Ethical Traveller: 100 ways to roam the world (without ruining it!) by Imogen Lepere, illustrated by Julia Murray (Smith Street Books, £12.99) Out now

Consider where you are most needed

Approach your holiday planning strategically so you can pick somewhere that really needs your support. Disaster Tourism may sound gross but the aftermath of a natural disaster or terrorist attack is when your dollars are needed the most. It’s also important to engage with destinations that are dealing with negative publicity and tell your friends the real story – if it is safe to do so, of course. Other destinations where your money means more are those that are highly dependent on tourism. Take the tiny Caribbean Islands of Antigua and Barbuda, where visiting beach-lovers bolster 90 per cent of the local economy.

Give high season the cold shoulder

Lower prices, fewer crowds and a warmer welcome are just a few reasons to travel during the off-season. In spots that struggle with overtourism – the point at which the needs of the tourism industry become unsustainable for a destination – resources such as water and transport may become harder for locals to access. Low season can be wonderfully atmospheric (picture Venice’s deserted backstreets in January mist), while ‘shoulder season’ – those months between high and low – may actually provide preferable weather. Hiking Crete’s Kydoni Gorge, for example, is far more enjoyable in May, when the floor is carpeted with wild herbs and temperatures are a comfortable 21 degrees Celsius (70 degrees Fahrenheit).

Be aware of greenwashing

Many more people care about creating a sustainable future and understand that every dollar or euro they spend could be seen as a vote for the kind of world they want to live in. Unfortunately, those canny folks in the marketing department have also…