Traveling Responsibly in Sri Lanka

Traveling responsibly in Sri Lanka, or in other countries, should be a priority for anyone who loves traveling and discovering world cultures! Responsible tourism is within everyone's reach, especially during a tour in Sri Lanka. Whether you prefer a seaside stay by the Indian Ocean, a discovery tour through rice fields and temples, or an immersive trip with locals, sustainable tourism is possible no matter how you choose to travel. Here's why and how you should get started!

What exactly is responsible travel?

It's simply common-sense tourism. A type of tourism that respects the environment, different cultures, and people. When you travel, you are invited. It's an opportunity to meet, discover, share, and show humanity.

Responsible travel can and should contribute to improving the well-being of everyone in Sri Lanka as well as for every traveler.

This involves many small actions you can take and attitudes to adopt during your trip. Because we are all actors like Pierre Rabhi's hummingbird.
To the little hummingbird that was modestly busy trying to extinguish a massive forest fire by carrying a few drops of water in its beak, an armadillo said: And the hummingbird replied:

(c) John Gibson – pixabay

Traveling responsibly in Sri Lanka is about behavior and respectful gestures towards the environment and people.

Sri Lanka and the environment

Sri Lanka is an extraordinary country filled with nature, culture, and incredible people.
Known for its temples and UNESCO World Heritage monuments, such as the ancient cities of Polonnaruwa, Sigiriya, the Golden Temple of Dambulla, or the sacred city of Kandy to name a few.
Sri Lanka also boasts natural sites and national parks listed as World Heritage: the Central Highlands of Sri Lanka and the Sinharaja Forest Reserve.
The beauty of the landscapes, tea plantations and animals, the richness of culture, and the hospitality of the people make Sri Lanka an exemplary green destination.

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Actions are currently being taken in Sri Lanka in favor of environmental protection as highlighted by Green Globe:
Sri Lanka is the first nation in the world to protect all its mangroves. The goal is to protect this ecosystem of over 10,000 hectares.
In 2015, the country was one of the first to permanently ban glyphosate.
The recent measure aimed at banning chainsaws and closing sawmills within 5 years to increase forest cover also shows the importance of nature in Sri Lanka.

7 tips for responsible travel in Sri Lanka

Here are some simple tips, rooted in common sense, to add more meaning to your trip to Sri Lanka:

#1 Travel with a local agency

Your responsible travel in Sri Lanka begins with choosing a local agency that respects environmental and human balances.

The local travel agency Aloka Sanna offers you the opportunity to take time to experience nature-related activities, go hiking, bike rides. Immerse yourself in the local culture, take cooking classes, massages, yoga, meditation…

A local agency that avoids attractions disrespectful to animals. Riding elephants or taking a boat trip to see whales and dolphins often hides animal mistreatment.
It is much better to observe animals in their natural habitat, in a national park like Minneriya or in a refuge based on animal welfare.

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#2 Offset your CO2 emissions

It's true that flying is faster and more convenient to get to Sri Lanka. This inevitably results in CO2 emissions. However, you can offset your carbon impact by visiting goodplanet.org. It's already a first step.

You can also choose an airline that develops a real policy of limiting single-use plastics.

#3 Waste management

Many Western countries prefer to send their own plastic waste to Asian countries. Therefore, waste management is crucial in Asia and Sri Lanka.

As a precaution, before leaving, you can leave unnecessary disposable packaging behind rather than taking them to Sri Lanka.

Plastic pollution is one of the greatest ecological challenges. A garbage truck's worth is dumped into the sea every second. The sea is not a trash bin.

Sri Lanka is an island where the sea is essential. It must be preserved. A simple plastic bag can be fatal to sea turtles that choke when swallowing it.

"Plogging," inspired by Sweden, involves picking up trash while jogging. We propose "Plogbeach." While walking on the beach, spend a few minutes picking up some trash. This helps clean up the environment a bit and also raises awareness among the local population. Beautiful beaches deserve just a little bit of your time! During a family trip, you'll see your children will find it very entertaining!

At the beach, prefer sunscreen lotion over oil because oil forms a film on water's surface which blocks photosynthesis of underwater plants.
If possible, choose biodegradable personal care products.

Sri Lanka currently does not have a waste collection system today. You have an active role and responsibility in raising awareness to avoid waste overloads.
Of course, it's important to throw your waste into bins during visits or activities—when unavailable—take them back with you for disposal in towns or at your accommodation bins.
You can also bring back harmful or non-recyclable waste like batteries for example when returning home.
Smokers may consider carrying a pocket ashtray so that cigarette butts take two years less time decomposing.
Opt for reusable containers such as stainless steel flasks instead of plastic water bottles.

#4 Food and shopping management

Make use of your trip to Sri Lanka by reducing your meat consumption—an effective way to reduce environmental impact.

Don't miss out on enjoying fresh fruits & vegetables from this land; coconut bananas rice tea spices—all bursting with flavor!!

Tips should align with local living costs so as not destabilize economies.

#5 Water management during travel

Globally water remains essential; specifically within Sri Lankan context it's sometimes luxury—prefer quick showers over baths consuming five times more water average.

To save both electricity & water request towel changes less frequently while staying multiple nights hotel stays longer timeframe wise. When possible avoid air conditioning use; turn off electric appliances lights—electricity also resource preserve needed here there being power cuts occasionally increases awareness importance energy usage generally globally speaking! iiiieeeeeeuuuuuuaaaaaaayyyttttttttttttaaaaazzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzztttttttttttttttbhhhhhttyyyyyyyyyyyhhhhhhhhhhhhhnyyyyyyyyyyyhhhhhhhhhhhhhnyyyyyyyyyyyhhhhhhhhhhhhhnyyyyyyyyyyyhhhhhhhhhhhhhnyyyyyyyyyyyhhhhhhhhhhhhhnyyyyyyyyyyyhhhhhhhhhhhhhnyyyyyyyyyyyhhhhhhhhhhhhhnyyyyyyyyyyyhhhhhhhhhhhhhnyyyyyyyyyyyhhhhhhhhhhhhhnyyyyyyyyyyyhhhhhhhhhhhhhnyyyyyyyyyyyhhhhhhhhhhhhhnyyyyyyyyyyyhhhhhhhhhhhhhnyyyyyyyyyyyhhhhhhhhhhhhhnyyyyyyyyyyyhhhhhhhhhhhhhnyyyyyyyyyyyhhhhhhhhhhhhhnyyyyyyyyyyy