Good Travel Blog
Need more insights on sustainability?
Explore our catalogue of papers and blog posts!
Our aim is to spread awareness regarding a variety of topics linked to sustainability for a responsible travellers like you! Find topics such as the climate crisis, the failure of the common offsetting programs and over-tourism that is disrupting the local communities.
Photo © Leah Kelley
Scorecards, Not Eco-Labels, Will Show You Where To Find Real Eco-Hotels
There is no world police to punish countries for allowing local businesses to take fresh water away from locals so that tourists can have a half-hour-long steamy shower. There’s no penalty for toilet and sink water to be flushed out to beaches and rivers where tourists snorkel […]
Is Sustainable Gastronomy Possible? Here’s the Truth about the Food Production Chain.
A research blog by the Good Travel Guide takes you inside the food industry and disassembles it into its main parts to show you why it’s not sustainable and what farmers and businesses need to do to protect […]
Will Europe’s vast Railway expansion lead to a shift in sustainable transportation?
Read on to learn about some quick science on why trains are the least carbon-emitting form of transportation, Europe’s expanding railway coverage, what regular train goer’s like and dislike about train travel and, finally, the future of […]
Is Voluntourism Sustainable? Insights into a multi-million dollar industry
Before you learn about the dark side of the voluntourism industry and learn how to choose a good volunteer program, we want to know that we have been in your shoes before. […]
Environment & Climate action: The case of Townsville City, Augusta Margaret River and Menorca Biosphere Reserve
On this occasion, we will travel from Australia to Spain to discover three examples of environmental and climate action taken in the aftermath of the pandemic. […]
Plastic-free Weekend Getaway Hacks You Haven’t Heard Of (and the story behind them)
Do you travel on the weekend and want to reduce your plastic waste? As much as we love and respect Mother Earth, most of us probably don’t want to scrub dishes in a hotel sink to rid ourselves of guilt from using eco-system murdering plastics. […]
How tourism can enhance community development: the case of Futaleufú, Nan, Tivat and Jingzaijiao
When we think about how to build a more sustainable tourism, the words pollution, waste and therefore, how to preserve the environment often come to mind. But what about the people who live in the destinations? How can residents be empowered by tourism? […]
7 days in Spain without private car
Spain is one of the most visited countries in the world, but the most popular destinations are not always the most sustainable. Through this guide we want to promote 6 green destinations and inspire you for your next adventure in Spain.
How to spot greenwashing? A practical guide.
In this article we explain how to spot greenwashing, covering what is greenwashing, its relation to the tourism industry, and a guide on how to identify most common signs on greenwashing [….]
14 Days in Slovenia with public transport (Part II)
Slovenia is the green heart of Europe, where everyone can find something for themselves. It’s difficult to find such a small region offering four different worlds combined into a magnificent symphony that can be felt in culture, gastronomy, and natural wonders. Our trip continues in the Eastern part of Slovenia. [….].
7 days in Honshu, Japan by train
Japan is very dense in cultural and natural heritage. Thousands of shrines and temples can be visited at any corner. What makes it a very special place are its crafts and ancient tradition, such as the old and accurate techniques of paper production. Anthropic landscapes concentrate in small areas, while natural ones cover the majority of the Archipelago [….].
5G Towers in the Rice Fields: Sacrificing Landscapes for Deeper Pockets.
Thailand is a dream holiday destination for many and it’s been featured in many Hollywood films. You’ve heard about the beautiful beaches, temples, and wide landscapes, but maybe you haven’t heard about the economic and cultural impact that China has on it […]
How to promote your sustainable attributes without promoting them - Marketing tips for sustainable destinations
Even though Marketing practices are often associated with consumerism and unnecessary expenses, destinations need to market themselves in order to attract tourists. The trend is to have less invasive forms of tourism, as well as more ethical marketing strategies. However, sustainability is a complex and still vague concept to communicate [….]
14 days in Slovenia with public transport (Part I)
If you have ever heard about Slovenia, skiing, spectacular caves and abundant green forests will pop up in your mind. Slovenia is located in Central Europe and well-known for its rich culture, customs, language and the marvelous landscapes and so forth. 60% of Slovenia is covered by forest. Over a third of the country is protected for nature conservation […]
Olympic games - Is this the most sustainable Olympics ever?
Olympic medals made from recycled smartphones and laptops donated by the public, athletes sleeping on recycled cardboard beds, podiums made from recycled plastic, the torchbearer uniforms made from recycled Coca Cola bottles, a hydrogen fueled Olympic torch created with aluminium that comes from the construction waste of temporary housing built after the earthquake […]
Destination Scorecards - Transparent Sustainability standards for Destinations
When it comes to sustainability it is important to be transparent. Transparency, builds trust and shows what an organisation believes in and what they are working on to improve. If you’re anything like us at the Good Travel Guide, you are becoming more aware of what is honest and not just marketing greenwashing, and are looking for trusted standards and real action to make choices. […]
QualityCoast program- Interview with the founder
On the 6th July 2021, our team has interviewed Albert Salman, founder of Green Destinations and of the QualityCoast program to learn more about it. He explains the history of the program, its characteristics and differences with other certification or award schemes, and its contribution to the protection of coastal destinations. […]
7 days, 7 sustainable destinations in Estonia by bus
Welcome to Estonia, the greenest country in Europe! Estonia is relatively flat land, largely covered by forest (more than 50% of its land) and nature. Experience bog shoeing to traverse the marshy ground and enjoy the rich wildlife. Estonia is indeed a privileged spot for birdwatching and its forests are home to lynxes, wolves, and brown bears, so watch out! […]
In Vino Veritas: The truth about sustainable wine
Wine growing and wine making are a centuries old tradition. It is seen in many parts of the world to be a large part of their heritage and culture, similar to gastronomy. When discovering a destination, part of the experience is indulging in the local gastronomy, which is sometimes paired with a nice (local) glass of wine! There is a term used to describe the wine side of tourism which encompasses […]
7 days, 6 sustainable destinations in Portugal without a car
Portugal has much to offer. Its rich culture, nature, and gastronomy have a taste that does not make you want to leave the country once you are in it. It is also home to incredibly generous and hospitable people. Well, it is for a reason that Portugal won the Best of Europe Award for sustainable tourism in 2019 at the ITB Berlin! We propose here […]
7 days, 7 sustainable destinations in the Netherlands by bike
Biking in the Netherlands is easy with its 35,000 kilometres of biking lanes making it easy for even an inexperienced cyclist. At the Good Travel Guide we support bike riding as an alternative to other forms of transport as it has a low carbon footprint and it keeps you fit. We want to share with you how easy it is to travel in the Netherlands and not only see lots of windmills (which you will!), but also […]
Sleeping responsibly: Finding a sustainable place to stay
We all need a place to sleep when we travel. But where you choose to rest your head while travelling is a major factor of your travels’ impact. We are not only talking about your carbon footprint or the environmental impact your accommodation choice has on the destination, but also how it contributes to social and economic impacts on local communities and individuals. They can be both […]
Travelling waste-free:
Be part of the solution!
Prior to the COVID-19 Pandemic, 2019 saw a record total of 671 million international tourists arrivals in the first half of the year. This was 30 million more than in the first half of 2018. If the COVID-19 pandemic had not hit, these numbers were expected to continue rising in 2020. The problem with these rising numbers is that tourists were found to generate up to […]
Schouwen-Duiveland: A model for travelling safely during COVID-19
As part of our Covid Safe Series, we’d like to highlight the efforts of the Dutch island of Schouwen-Duiveland. The coastal village of Renesse operates a park and ride facility just outside Schouwen-Duiveland, from there tourists take a free bus helping to reduce traffic in the coastal villages. It’s a long-running initiative that started in 1998: “Liberation of the car-driver starts in Renesse.” Tourists can […]
Safe travels in Taiwan
As of today, most people are not allowed or choose not to travel outside of their country. Covid has had a huge negative impact on destinations that rely on foreign tourists. However, Taiwan is more popular with domestic tourists, just like many of the destinations in the Sustainable Top 100 list. Even though Taiwan is not open for international tourism right now, it has remained open following stringent and transparent rules. There are no domestic restrictions as long as you […]
Palau: Pioneer amidst the Pandemic
Palau is one of the few countries in the world that has successfully been COVID-19 free for the past few months. In order to achieve and maintain its COVID-19 free status the country has suspended all commercial flights since the beginning of this year and will continue to do so until further notice. Prior to the COVID-19 outbreak the outlook in the first quarter of 2020 was very promising and tourism numbers were on track to grow more than […]
Travel emissions, carbon offsetting and the climate crisis: questions, dilemmas and suggestions
When you buy a ticket to travel online, you might have noticed a little check box that offers you the chance to offset the CO2 emissions of your journey for a very small cost. It often involves planting a tree which can offset the CO2 your journey produces. Feels good, right? Guilt-free travel by paying someone else to remove the CO2 that your long or short haul journey produces. As travellers […]
Coral reef diving:
finding a reef or a ruin?
There are many attractive diving sites around the world. Among them are a couple of sustainable destinations: Bonaire and Statia in the Caribbean, Douglas Shire along Australia’s Great Barrier and Chumbe Island Coral Park along the East Coast of Africa. Tourists make a beeline for diving trips to see the vibrant colours, astonishing coral formations, and diversity of marine life. Unfortunately, coral reefs are at high risk because of climate change and […]
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