When King Writes

A dear friend who recently conquered med school is now discovering the joys of traveling. He’s been hopping from country to country, spending a few days at most in each, and sending me photos of his wild adventures.

While I am happy for him, ultimately we had to have a chat, especially after he mentioned he has no plans to stop collecting new stamps on his passport. He said his pure intention is to keep visiting countries he’s never been to; it doesn’t matter if he only stays for a day or two.

I then introduced my friend to the concept of sustainable travel, which, to my surprise, he had never heard of.

This was a reminder for me that just because I’ve known something for a long time doesn’t mean everyone does. What is common knowledge to me might be a completely new dimension for others.

And since I’m a serious advocate of sustainable travel, I am writing this for my dear friend, Jude, who regularly reads my  blogs. And for everyone else who Fate decided needs to read this just in time, this one’s for you too. 

What is sustainable travel?

Some call it “ethical” travel. But discussing that word alone could take a while, and I don’t intend for this short blog to run longer than my usual opinion pieces. So here’s what I will say:

The ultimate goal of sustainable travel is to enjoy travel and tourism long-term, not just for us, but also for the people who will come to these places long after we leave this world.

It’s about being mindful of all the hows and whys we travel to minimize the negative impacts of tourism, all while maximizing the positive ones on the environment, local communities, and economies. We make conscious choices to reduce our carbon footprint, respect local cultures, and contribute to the well-being of the places we visit.

Most of what we do on Earth has negative impacts somewhere. But in enjoying all the world has to offer, we can choose to maintain these pleasures for the long term without harming natural and cultural environments. Or at the very least, reduce the harm we cause.

Sustainable travel matters now more than ever!

The number of people traveling post-pandemic is higher than ever. In some way, we’re all like my dear friend Jude, who is reclaiming the freedom to roam the Earth untethered. Many of us are making up for those years of lockdown when everyone was either learning to make dalgona coffee or discovering the joys of being a plant mom.

And because the world is open again, and travel influencers are encouraging more people to explore, we’ve seen plenty of damage to fragile environments in overcrowded destinations. 

For example, in the Philippines, which I will discuss in a bit, some of our most popular provinces have had to close entirely to rehabilitate from overtourism. And such damages are more far-reaching than we know, because that’s just how environments go; everything is connected.

How I do sustainable travel

When so many destinations are just a drive or a flight away, it matters more than ever to be mindful of such power we yield.

That said, I’m not trying to be a good example of a sustainable traveler, but I do my best and would like to share a few examples of how I do it.

I was raised to honor this specific saying: Just because you can, doesn’t mean you should. 

Even if we have the means—time, money, and opportunity—to travel often, I try to reduce the number of flights or long drives I take for each trip. If I can stay longer in one place, exploring it in depth, I will. I plan itineraries strategically, grouping nearby attractions to avoid back-and-forth travel.

But perhaps most importantly, we never travel for the sake of saying we’ve been to this place. Travel is a privilege, yes, but I will never want to use it as a bragging right. We travel because we are privileged enough to immerse in other cultures, support their local goods, and perhaps in the process, leave behind something positive for the people who welcome me—just as they give me experiences I’ll cherish for a lifetime.

I guess what I’m trying to say is… travel shouldn’t be a numbers game. It’s not about how many stamps fill your passport, but how deeply you connect with the places you visit and the lives you touch along the way.

A picture of unsustainable tourism

Boracay is one of the Philippines’ most famous islands, but in 2018, it had to close for six months. Years of unregulated development and a flood of tourists left the island struggling with pollution, sewage problems, and degraded natural habitats. It wasn’t just the beaches that suffered; the local community’s long-term livelihood was at risk.

What saddens me most is that our local governments still haven’t found a consistent balance between allowing communities to profit from tourism and protecting the environments that draw people there in the first place. Visitor numbers often remain unchecked, and policies to safeguard these areas are rarely enforced year-round.

Clincher: There is no such thing as “sustainable” in a finite world

After everything I’ve said so far though, I also want to tackle this question very briefly: Is travel itself inherently unsustainable?

Years ago, I learned a lesson from an economics class. I no longer recall the specifics, but it goes something like, because Earth has finite resources, the very concept of sustainability is impossible.

That at the rate humans consume everything, someday food, water, fuel, and natural beauty will run out.

When applied to tourism, this means that no matter what we do, travel itself consumes resources. And when millions of people do the same without replenishing what’s taken, the damage is inevitable.

From this perspective, sustainable tourism sounds like an idealistic dream. But I leave the last section to show you how I choose to see it:

Sustainable travel as a mindset; not a checklist

We might never achieve perfect sustainability, but that’s not the point. The goal here is to prolong the time humankind can enjoy the world’s natural and cultural treasures. We must travel in a way that slows the damage, gives back where we can, and leaves a lighter footprint.

What I’ve shared here is just a very very small glimpse into the topic. If you’re new to sustainable travel, consider this your first step in learning more. 🙂

To Jude, and the rest of you curious cats patient enough to read my pieces, the rest is up to you, and the choices you make the next time you pack your bags.