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After a year of extreme weather and growing awareness about climate change, more travelers are beginning to consider the impact of their trips on the planet. It's not just about reducing your footprint anymore — it's also about choosing travel that respects nature and supports local communities.
In this article, we’ll look at 7 smart and simple ways you can travel more sustainably. From quiet sightseeing to slow travel and more mindful choices, these trends are shaping a better future for tourism — and every traveler can play a part.
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1. What is silent tourism, and how to travel more peacefully
In the coming years, an increasing number of travelers are seeking calm, quiet getaways. Silent tourism is all about finding peace during your trip — whether that means a break from noisy cities, taking time for yourself, or enjoying nature without screens or constant distractions.
This style of travel includes things like meditation retreats, quiet stays that help you rest deeply, and walks in natural settings where you can simply enjoy the moment. Some great places to try this kind of travel are the European Quiet Parks, the Peace & Quiet Hotel in Swedish Lapland, Silent Living guesthouses in Portugal, and Spain’s famous Camino de Santiago walking route. You can also try the peaceful Kumano Kodo paths in Japan or explore the stillness of Finland’s Arctic region.
More people are even getting into silent walking — a trend that’s been growing on social media — as a way to clear their minds. It’s especially popular among solo travelers, who now make up 17% of all trips worldwide. If you’re someone who wants to slow down and reconnect with yourself, silent tourism could be a great fit.
It also happens to be a more eco-friendly way to travel. By moving at a slower pace and choosing quiet spots, you're likely to support smaller local businesses and treat the environment with care. As wellness travel is expected to grow by 21% by 2025 (according to the Global Wellness Institute), it’s clear that many people are choosing quiet as part of a healthier way to travel.
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2. The growing appeal of slow tourism
More and more travelers today are choosing to slow down — and for good reason. Slow tourism encourages you to take your time, stay longer in each place, and get to know local culture, nature, and people in a more meaningful way. Instead of rushing from one attraction to the next, it’s about fully enjoying where you are and making thoughtful travel choices.
A growing number of people are now interested in this way of travel. In one survey, over 94% of Americans said they wanted to take slower, more intentional trips in the future. Similarly, more than half of French travelers said they prefer experiences that let them enjoy local life and explore a place deeply rather than just pass through.
One of the biggest benefits of slow travel is its lower environmental impact. Choosing trains over planes, walking more, and spending extra time in one area reduces your carbon footprint and helps avoid overcrowding at popular sites. It’s also a great way to support local communities — when you stay in family-run guest houses, eat at neighborhood cafés, and shop from local markets, your money goes directly to the people who live there.
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3. Travel paperless with smart technology
Travelers can reduce waste and support sustainable tourism by going paperless. Instead of carrying printed maps, brochures, or guidebooks, opt for digital tools that make your trip smoother and more eco-friendly. For example, self-guided audio tour apps like SmartGuide digital audio guide allow you to explore destinations and attractions at your own pace—no need for paper handouts or scheduled group tours. You can listen on your phone, choose when and where to go, and enjoy destinations without noise or interruptions. It's a simple way to travel independently while staying informed and respectful of your surroundings. Furthermore, this tour guide app gives AI-powered personalized recommendations based on your interests, helping you find hidden gems and lesser-known sights that fit your travel style — so you can enjoy a calmer, more personal journey.
Personalized recommendations by SmartGuide digital audio guide
Navigation apps like Google Maps or Maps.me help you find your way without printed maps, while tools like Google Translate eliminate the need for bulky phrasebooks. You can also use e-ticketing apps such as Trainline or airline-specific apps to access your boarding passes and reservations digitally. Booking accommodations through platforms like Airbnb or Booking.com also reduces the need for printed confirmations. By using these smart technologies, travelers can minimize paper use and contribute to more sustainable, low-impact tourism.
4. Travel that gives back – Community-Based Tourism
Travel is changing — more people now want their trips to do good, not just feel good. Community-Based Tourism (CBT) is a growing way of exploring the world that puts local people at the heart of tourism. When you choose this kind of travel, you're not just visiting a place — you're directly supporting the people who live there.
Growing awareness of sustainable tourism is prompting a focus on positively impacting local economies and communities. This shift fuels the rise of CBT as an alternative to the adverse effects of mass tourism. These can include weakened local traditions, loss of traditional jobs, people having to move away from their regional houses, and locals feeling left out of tourism decisions.
Instead of large tour companies taking the lead, CBT allows local residents to plan, manage, and benefit from tourism in their region. It helps protect traditions, keeps money within the community, and reduces the pressure on popular destinations. It’s also a meaningful way for travelers to connect with authentic culture and gain a deeper understanding of a place.
Organizations like ECOCLUB, a global community based in Greece, are also helping to make these changes possible. It supports sustainable tourism practices worldwide by providing networking, promotion, support, and career services for ecotourism practitioners, academics, and job seekers. ECOCLUB promotes responsible tourism that respects local cultures, environments, and communities, emphasizing community ownership, cultural sensitivity, and environmental sustainability.
When you travel with community in mind, you help preserve heritage, protect nature, and ensure your trip has a lasting, positive impact — not just on you, but on the destination you visit.
5. Why traveling in the shoulder season is a smart, sustainable choice?
Traveling just before or after the busiest times of the year — also known as the shoulder season — is gaining popularity among travelers who want to avoid crowds, save money, and make more thoughtful travel decisions. With the rising cost of living, many people are choosing to travel during these less busy months when prices are usually lower and destinations are quieter.
A recent Booking.com survey shows that for 62% of travelers, cost plays a major role in their travel plans. In fact, nearly half of those surveyed are open to traveling outside of school holidays — even if that means taking their kids out of school — to benefit from cheaper prices and less crowded experiences.
Shoulder season travel also helps reduce the strain on popular destinations during peak times. As warmer temperatures affect travel patterns and remote work becomes more common, it’s easier than ever to plan trips during quieter periods. Visiting places during shoulder season doesn’t just benefit your budget — it also supports local businesses by spreading tourism more evenly throughout the year and easing the environmental stress caused by large tourist numbers.
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6. Going beyond the surface - How travelers can support green stays
Behind-the-scenes sustainability isn’t always visible — but it matters. Back-of-house tours are a growing trend where travelers can learn how hotels reduce waste, save energy, and protect local ecosystems. These tours give insight into what responsible operations look like and help guests recognize efforts that might otherwise go unnoticed.
For example, the Sustainability Back of House Tour at Six Senses Laamu offered by Maldives Underwater Initiative (MUI) in the Maldives introduces travelers to composting systems, marine conservation, and resource-saving technology — all of which are part of daily hotel operations.
According to a Booking.com report, 87% of travelers want to make more eco-conscious choices, and many are willing to pay more for it. To support greener travel, visitors can start by asking their accommodation about any eco-certifications or sustainability tours they offer. Choosing places that clearly share their environmental practices can make a big difference. Even simple things like learning about water and energy-saving efforts during these tours can help travelers apply the same habits during their stay — and back home too.
The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) reports that tourism contributes around 8.1% of global greenhouse gas emissions. When travelers support businesses that are working to reduce their impact, it encourages more places to take real action.
Sometimes, the most meaningful travel choices happen behind the scenes — and they begin with travelers who take the time to notice.
7. The next step in eco-friendly travel - Regenerative tourism
Regenerative tourism is a travel approach that not only avoids harming nature and communities but actively works to improve them. Unlike traditional or even sustainable tourism, it focuses on giving more back to the environment and local people than it takes.
For travelers, supporting this trend can be simple yet powerful. You might choose to volunteer in a reef or beach clean-up, book eco-conscious tours that help restore forests or wetlands, or support local businesses that invest in social and environmental projects. Every small step—whether it’s picking up litter on a trail or staying at an eco-lodge that funds local conservation—adds up. When visitors take part in regenerative tourism, they help ensure that destinations don’t just survive tourism—but thrive because of it.
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Explore the world sustainably with SmartGuide
Traveling with care for the environment and local communities is becoming more important than ever. By adopting trends like silent tourism, slow travel, community-based tourism, and regenerative tourism, you can make your trips more meaningful and less harmful to the places you visit. Simple actions such as choosing shoulder season travel, supporting green stays, and using digital tools help create a positive impact. Every traveler has the power to contribute to a more sustainable future for tourism, ensuring that destinations remain vibrant and welcoming for generations to come.
Ready to explore the world responsibly and enjoy personalized travel experiences? Download the SmartGuide app now and discover destinations like never before!
