by Mia Taylor
Last updated: 3:31 PM ET, Thu August 24, 2017
Amid growing anti-tourist protests throughout Europe and proliferating measures to mitigate impacts of travelers worldwide, the World Tourism Organization has announced a new sustainable tourism campaign.
The consumer-oriented campaign, called "Travel.Enjoy.Respect." is aimed at raising awareness regarding the contribution sustainable tourism can make toward development, according to UNWTO press release.
As part of the effort, a new manual of 'Tips for a Responsible Traveler,' has been developed by the World Committee on Tourism Ethics.
For those who may need a few pointers, the manual includes recommendations regarding responsible choices when visiting a country and having a positive impact on the destination.
Among the tips included in the manual are:
- Learn to speak a few words in the local language
- Reduce water and energy consumption
- Buy locally-made handcrafts and products
- Research well before engaging in voluntourism
"Whenever you travel, wherever you travel, remember to: respect nature, respect culture, and respect your host," UNWTO Secretary-General, Taleb Rifai said in a statement released by the organization. "You can be the change you want to see in the world. You can be an ambassador for a better future. TRAVEL, ENJOY, AND RESPECT."
[READMORE]READ MORE: A Booking Platform for Sustainable Tourism[/READMORE]
Over the past year, more countries around the world have increasingly been grappling with the impacts of record numbers of visitors.
Cities such as Venice and Barcelona have not only been the locations of anti-tourist protests but have also implemented new measures designed to address the variety of issues associated with floods of visitors.
Barcelona, for example, recently banned the use of Segways and electric scooters in its Old City and along the seafront.
Meanwhile, the South Pacific island nation of Palau recently proposed a law that would only allow five-star hotels to open, according to Lonely Planet. The president of Palau said the plan is aimed at reducing the number of visitors and attracting "quality over quantity."
The new sustainable tourism manual and toolkit is available here.
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