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Talking about Responsible Luxury. |
Let’s talk about Responsible Luxury today.
Solo Travel, Backpacking Trips, Family Vacations, Weekend Getaways and more – the Travel Sector
has seen exponential growth in recent times. And with this, grows our carbon
footprint and the impact on the environment. Personally, I want to travel in
style, but I also want my travel and stay to be environment friendly, and I try
to make my trips as responsible as possible. No doubt, Eco-tourism is a concept
that has become very popular amongst Travellers today, as even the most cynical
travellers are aware of the need to go green, and the undeniable need to travel
responsibly.
the environment in any way. Responsible Tourism allows local communities to
earn through tourism; it supports conservation; it supports local community
initiatives; and it tries to limit the environmental impact of the vacation
itself. It means that while travelling, we ensure the conservation of
environment, we help and preserve the local heritage and culture, and possibly,
we also give back to the destination in as many ways as possible.
but it is also much more interesting and memorable.
Littering, and following the Leave No Trace policy. All this, to make sure that we do not harm
the planet we live on. Which is why most responsible and aware travelers will
choose a hotel that employs locals, a restaurant that offers local delicacies
and will support the local economy by doing so.
stays and couch surfing. You can have a clear conscience and follow the rules
of Responsible Tourism while doing these kind of trips because you are in a
much better position to understand the impact of your travel when you design it
yourself, or when the scope is not that big.
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And your path should be responsible. |
while staying at a luxury hotel, where re-using your bed linen or not getting
unnecessary laundry done just isn’t enough?
or Resorts, and holidaying at a private Yatch sailing in the ocean?
In short: Can Luxury Travel Be Responsible?
travel trends, the need for big airlines and hotel conglomerates to be
environmentally considerate is immense. In recent years, sustainability in the
travel industry has progressed from a truly niche consideration to an
industry-wide priority. And it is good to see that a lot of them are adopting
eco-friendly initiatives and embracing the concept to responsible and
sustainable travel practices.
towards the planet, even during my stay at a five start hotel. But an important
thing to keep in mind here is that Responsible Luxury should NOT be a burden on
the guest.
bath because it is a wastage of water, right? I once stayed in a hotel in
Singapore, that has an Only One Item For Laundry Per Day rule because they claimed
“We Are A Responsible Hotel!”. Not fair for the traveler who’s paying you a
hefty sum, right? Strangely, I don’t see many people taking about it openly.
not become the luxury traveller’s liability?
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And to Travel Responsibly is the only way. |
the community. Luxury travel is now increasingly defined by a rising commitment
to people, planet and self-improvement as much as indulgence, pampering and
conspicuous consumption. High End Hotels and Air Lines need to integrate
sustainability into their offerings in exciting and inventive ways, I think,
and need to continuously keep pushing boundaries.
into ticket prices – like British Airways, New Zealand airlines Pacific Blue,
Jetstar and the world’s first carbon-neutral airline, Silverjet. It might not
be the biggest step towards a sustainable and responsible luxury, but it’s a
start.
already practising it. The best example that comes to my mind is the ITC Maurya
in Delhi, which is ITCs flagship property, and is a LEED Platinum certified
hotel that recycles 100% of its used water. They have a water treatment plant
right at the back of the property, where all the hotel’s used water is ozone
polished and is then re-used in toilet flushes and other appropriate ways. The
ozone polished water looks crystal clear and is completely odour less -such is
the capability of this plant. This plant has helped reduce the total water consumption of the hotel by 50% as compared to a same sized luxury hotel. Talk about responsible luxury done right!
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A bottle of recycled water at the ITC Maurya’s STP Plant – clear and odour less. |
sources.
budget trips and the luxury stays, can now be responsible, sustainable and have
a minimum impact on the environment. You can read more about Responsible Luxury on the ITC Hotels Website.
to increase your travel fare, but if you can afford the luxury airline, I’m assuming you can afford this as well. And, when you stay at a luxury hotel, do ask them about their sustainable practices and their responsible tourism
policy. And if you are not satisfied, you should give your feedback on how they could change their ways and improve their responsible tourism practices. And do not just lecture, do your bit too! Every bit helps, and Responsible Tourism is a responsibility of the travelers as well, in terms of how aware we are and how we help.
Happy Travelling!
5 thoughts on “Travel Talk: Can Luxury Be Responsible?”
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