The current period has profoundly changed the traditional idea of “travel”: whereas only a few years ago it was possible to travel without restrictions, Covid-19 has imposed numerous limits and new rules to respect.

Between Green Passes, mask requirements, tests and quarantines, travellers must undergo extensive checks, both at home and abroad, to guarantee their own safety and that of others.

Moreover, the ever more pressing need to protect the planet has set further challenges for those wishing to enjoy the beauty of unfamiliar lands: eco-sustainability is no longer a pipe dream but a necessity everyone must adapt to, even far from home.

This is why many travellers are asking themselves an interesting question: is it possible to travel sustainably? Yes, if you know how.

Indeed, at a precise moment in history when the future of the environment and its resources is at risk, the tourism sector too must answer the call and be ready to change its structures, not only to adapt supply to demand, but also to “educate” travellers in new ways of getting about.

Sustainable travel is unfortunately still a controversial topic: in many cases tourists still embody the very antithesis of sustainability.

A traveller is often addicted to “everything&now“: they have little time and want to live the experience intensely, whatever it involves. So they choose the fastest means of transport, the most convenient accommodation for their itinerary and the fastest and cheapest food, without checking whether more sustainable alternatives exist.

In the rush to discover, important aspects of the journey are often overlooked: first and foremost, respecting the place one has arrived in.

Without doubt, travelling to other places has an impact, but there is no need to give up travel: it is enough to become careful and responsible travellers.

Travelling sustainably

Usually, when you decide to plan a departure, organising the journey itself is indispensable.

Among the things to consider, first of all, there is transport: what are the possible alternatives for reaching the destination? How does the tour operator handle travel within the area?

When you choose to visit a place, getting around is unavoidable. Opting for a travel operator that organises low-impact trips, with a limited number of participants, could prove an excellent green solution: fewer vehicles used, fewer resources consumed, greater respect for the places visited and for the physical and mental well-being of participants.

Staying in green accommodation is also an option in keeping with sustainability. There are, in fact, establishments that have made eco-sustainability the core of their existence, or businesses that have received environmental certifications precisely for their care for the environment.

Another theme is that of food and cooking: a sustainable holiday favours zero-mile food, local produce, genuine flavours. Indeed, avoiding fast-food outlets and focusing on restaurants frequented by locals makes a difference. The tour operator you choose should be able to point you in the right direction.

Respect while travelling

Respecting the place where you are a guest, leaving it intact, is a sign of great intelligence.

Moreover, it is not only the places that must be respected, but also those who live there. All too often tourists lose their bearings and fail to consider their actions fully.

Think of Barcelona, an enormous city visited every year by more than 70 million tourists. In the Catalan capital, residents organised a sort of general protest to make tourists aware of the need to respect the place.

Another example is Dubrovnik, the Croatian city made famous by the series “Game of Thrones”, invaded by tourists from all over the world. To protect the city’s beauty and the lives of its citizens, the mayor limited entry within the walls to around 4,000 people a day.

So, sustainable travel is possible. It takes respect for the places, the environments and the cities visited, moving away from the idea of being mere tourists.

That is why relying on a top-level tour operator is the wisest choice both in terms of sustainability and of enjoying the trip.

Choose sustainability, choose Guiness Travel

For us at Guiness Travel there is a big difference between a journey and a holiday. For us, in fact, a journey is a wonderful frame of life.

That is why our aim is not to “show” places, but to accompany travellers as they immerse themselves fully in the culture and beauty of the destination they have chosen.

Indeed, most of our tours include a guided visit to the most evocative and important UNESCO World Heritage sites.

Visiting these undeniably fascinating places with a green approach allows you not only to enjoy the cultural experience to the full, but also to leave perfectly intact territories that must be preserved.

In fact, at Guiness Travel we have always organised tours with the utmost respect for the environment and for travellers’ comfort: the only way to guarantee the well-being of participants and respect for the places visited is to open the tours only to a limited number of selected participants.

According to our philosophy, it is an enriching experience to be savoured in every pleasant moment, feeling pampered by our care and by every kind of comfort.

Every itinerary in the catalogue is 100% independently planned and carefully designed and tested, allowing the product to evolve constantly and reach a high, wide-ranging cultural level.

This is why we created the Guiness Exclusive Tour: a unique travel experience, mindful of sustainability, which offers you considerable advantages:

  • organisation;
  • attention to detail;
  • a search for excellent services on the ground (designed to give you maximum comfort, leaving you free to think of nothing but enjoying the moment).

Thanks to the Guiness Exclusive Tour you will return home with a bag full of wonderful new memories.

Discover our travel options

Team Guiness