Becoming a More Sustainable Traveler成为更可持续的旅行者

Whether you call it ecotourism， green travel， responsible travel， nature travel or ethical travel， the ethos1 of traveling more sustainably has become an increasingly hot topic in the tourism industry over the past decade.

生态旅游、绿色旅游、负责任旅游、自然旅游或是合乎道德的旅行——不论是哪种叫法，其中都蕴含着一个理念：让旅行更可持续。这个理念，在过去十年间已成为旅游业中越来越火的话题。

Here are 11 easy ecotourism examples and tips that will help you travel more responsibly and sustainably.

以下11个关于生态旅游的简单例子和建议，能助你更负责任、更可持续地旅行。

1. Do your research

1. 做好调查

When it comes to taking a sustainable vacation， make sure all the details are spelled out2. Do some research into the company3 you’re staying with， the excursions you’d like to go on and the places you’re visiting.

谈到可持续度假时，要确保所有细节都理清楚了。对于你的同行伙伴、你想参加的短途旅行、你将要游览的地点，都要做些调查。

As long as you’re keeping the health of the environment in mind when you plan your vacation， you’ll be doing your part as a responsible traveler.

只要你在做度假计划时，把环境健康牢记在心，你就尽到了一名负责任旅行者该尽的责任。

2. Pack light

2. 轻装上阵

Lightening up your load saves money on baggage fees and increases plane fuel efficiency. Pack items that can be washed in the sink and are quick drying so they can be worn multiple times during your trip.

减轻行李重量，可以节省托运行李的费用，还能提升飞机燃油效率。带上那些能在水槽中清洗、风干迅速的衣物，以便能在旅途中反复穿用。

3. Travel slow

3. 放慢旅行速度

Traveling slow minimizes the impact on the environment and saves money. For instance， choosing the train over other means of transportation both reduces the ecological impact and is a cheaper option. But this is not all. Traveling slow also allows you to enjoy the scenery along the way.

放慢旅行的速度，可最大限度减少对环境的影响，并节省开支。例如，选择火车而非其他交通方式出行既能减轻对生态造成的影响，在经济上也更实惠。好处还不止这些。慢慢旅行时，你还能欣赏到沿途美丽的风景。

4. Save energy

4. 节约资源

When you leave your hotel room， turn off the lights， heat/AC4 and TV. Consider leaving the “Do Not Disturb” sign on the door so that the housekeeping staff won’t clean your room every day， which will save on harsh chemical cleaning supplies and the electricity of vacuuming and washing bed linens5.

离开酒店房间时，要关上灯、暖气/空调以及电视。可以考虑在房门挂上“请勿打扰”的提示牌，客房服务人员便不会每天都清理你的房间，如此就节省了刺激性化学清洁用品，节约了吸尘器和洗涤床上用品产生的耗电。

5. Respect the culture of local com-munities

5. 尊重当地文化

Respecting the culture of local communities conserves cultural and artistic heritage. The interaction with locals is one of the most rewarding things of sustainable travel and preserves traditions passed down from generation to generation. It is essential to respect traditions as they form the identity of the local community and create a sense of unity among people.

尊重当地文化可保护当地文化遗产和艺术遗产。与当地人交流互动是可持续旅行中最有意义的事情之一，能维护当地代代相传的传统风俗。尊重传统风俗至关重要，因为这些风俗塑造了当地人的身份认同，并把他们凝聚在一起。

6. Buy local

6. 购买本地产品

When it comes to eating， sleeping and buying souvenirs， choosing where you spend your money can have a massive impact on the community.

就食宿与纪念品来说，你选择把钱花在何处能对当地社区产生巨大的影响。

By having dinner at a hole-in-the-wall restaurant6， staying in a family-run guest house or purchasing a trinket7 from a street vendor， you are helping to inject money directly into the local economy.

在朴素小店吃晚饭，在家庭旅馆过夜，或是在街头商贩处买小饰品，这些行为都是在直接为当地经济注入资金。

Seek out indigenous artisans and learn about their craft. When we were in the Riviera Maya8 near Coba9， we saw tons of assembly line art， but wound up10 buying from a man who taught local children and tourists the ancient craft of Mayan pottery and distributed profits equally among families in his village.

找寻本土工匠，了解他们的技艺。我们曾到科巴附近的里维埃拉玛雅旅行，在那里我们看到了大量流水线上生产的工艺品，而最后我们选择了向一位匠人购买，因为他把古老的玛雅陶艺传授给当地孩童与游客，还将所得收益均分给同村其他家庭。

Besides creating a more authentic travel experience for yourself， you are also helping someone create a better life for themselves.

由此，不仅你自己能获得更真实的旅游体验，你也是在帮助其他人，使他们能够为自己创造更好的生活。

7. Avoid animal entertainment activities

7. 不参与动物娱乐活动

When making plans for an overseas vacation， a lot of people have exotic dreams of riding elephants， swimming with dolphins or having their photos taken with tigers， but these irresponsible activities often do more harm than good. It is reported that 75% of all wildlife tourism has a negative effect on animals.

在计划出国旅行时，很多人都会幻想到国外去骑大象，和海豚共游，或是与老虎合照。但这些都是不负责任的活动，通常弊大于利。据报道，75%涉及野生动物的旅游活动都会对动物产生负面影响。

For one hour of entertainment for yourself， you could be contributing to a lifetime of distress for the animal.

你一个小时的娱乐，可能会给动物带来一生的痛苦。

If you are really interested in visiting a place that houses11 and protects animals， make sure you contact one that is a registered NGO， and is transparent about their business dealings.

如果你真的感兴趣，想去参观一个安置动物且能保护动物的地方，要确保你联系的是登记在册的非政府组织，并确认其商业活动公开透明。

8. Leave only footprints

8. 只留下脚印

There are hiking trails waiting to be explored that offer colorful views of nature and close encounters with diverse species. Instead of paying to view animals in captivity， go sightseeing to see them in their natural habitats. Stick to marked trails to avoid harming native flora， and consider taking a bag to pick up trash along your journey. Not only is it a great way to help keep the outdoors beautiful， but it also protects wildlife that might eat or get tangled in the garbage.