Borrgoron Coast to Creek Tours.
Image credit: Tourism Australia.
Concepts such as ‘Conscious Travel’ and ‘Regenerative Tourism’ have been gaining traction in the wake of the pandemic that brought the world to a standstill in 2020. Reflecting on the slower lifestyles and restricted movements during COVID-19 lockdowns and mandates, many of us are reconsidering how and why we ramble on, fly over and tour irreplaceable ecosystems, living cultures and built heritage.
In some ways, the pandemic was a wake-up call we desperately needed. It forced people from every corner of the earth to reassess our lifestyles, habits and consumption. It made us acknowledge a need for more compassion and kindness in our daily interactions. It heightened the urgency with which we need to ameliorate and bear responsibility for the condition of our shared planet.
Although there has never been such a flood of research and observation to expose how much travel and tourism can wreak harm on wildlife, environments and communities, a growing and optimistic cohort of travellers and travel suppliers have connected around initiatives that hold real potential to enable a more equitable, pro-local and transparent tourism industry.
Initiatives that offer actionable strategies to rebuild a slower and more considerate travel and tourism industry, such as Responsible Travel, Regenerative Tourism, Slow Travel and Sustainable Destination Management, are all equally intriguing and have their own place in changing our world for the better. While they all take different approaches to bettering the world and solving problems, they ultimately work in alignment with each other to achieve universal goals of equality, justice, peace and respect for all things living and nonliving on our shared planet.
Why Liv Australia Especially Loves the Conscious Travel Concept
We’ve chosen Conscious Travel and Tourism to be our rally cry for a brighter future. Here’s why:
1. It underpins the big picture:
We see Conscious Tourism as an umbrella ideology that we can use as a pathway towards reaching the goals of many of the other tourism ideologies along the way. When we are genuinely curious, empathetic, considerate and observant in our travels, we become slower and more sustainable travellers as well.
2. It touches all parts of the traveller journey:
From planning to sharing, travellers can make conscious decisions and adopt conscious practices. Some describe Conscious Travel as “empathy meeting exploration.” We believe travelling consciously means you, the traveller, take initiative and responsibility to be aware, considerate and intentional about where and why you’re travelling before, during and after your trip.
3. It puts individuals in the driver’s seat:
Rather than relying on government policy or industry initiatives to make the necessary changes in the travel and tourism industry, Conscious Tourism can be adopted by the “little people” of the travel and tourism landscape by encouraging tourists and local suppliers to be agents of change throughout the entire traveller journey – and beyond.
4. It aligns with our founding values:
Our mission was inspired by our founder’s experiences and studies in travel and tourism as well as by her passion for change-making tactics akin to those of Conscious Travel. In fact, we’re so excited to empower individuals to be responsible and respectful in their travels that we’ve devoted an entire blog series about Conscious Travel, full of traveller-centred, thought-provoking and conversation-sparking topics.
How Can You Be a Conscious Traveller?
Conscious travelling can apply to all five phases of the traveller journey (dreaming, planning, booking, experiencing and sharing). There are endless possibilities to ensure your actions and travel decisions respect Traditional Owners, empower local communities, support eco-certified and local operators and minimise your footprint when travelling to, from and within a destination.
Wula Gura Nyinda Eco Cultural Adventure.
Image credit: Tourism Australia.
Planning and Booking Consciously
A significant part of Conscious Travel involves careful trip planning and research in order to make informed choices as you build your travel itinerary. Travelling consciously shouldn’t start when you board your flight, but right when you first start dreaming about your holiday.
In an expansive destination such as Australia, careful decision-making of in-country transportation is critical to reduce emissions. Choosing not to travel during high traffic times and to overcrowded locations can help reduce stress on over-visited and fragile heritage sights or wildlife habitats.
Plus, choosing regional or lesser-known destinations, over influencer-trendy hot spots, as well as travelling in a destination’s off season, not only creates a better experience for you, the traveller, as there are less crowds and chances for travel setbacks, but it also opens up a world of unique experiences and sometimes surprising off-season, or niche activities, most visitors miss.
Travelling and Experiencing Consciously
Your actions while travelling are important and you can be conscious in-country by showing respect and taking time to learn about the local customs and culture. You might also decide to research local recycling laws, or bring your own coffee cup. Try to take a tour from Traditional Owners when you arrive. Observe before you offer your (potentially naive) opinion.
Sharing and Repeating Consciously
Finally, your decisions about how you will share your experiences when you return from your trip also matter. We are big believers that travel and tourism can be instrumental in galvanising passive tourists to become advocates and ambassadors for the destinations they visit.
Are you an ambassador, or an influencer when you share your travels? Before putting up a post on social media, conscious travellers might ask themselves a few questions, such as, “Am I sharing sensitive content? Do I have permission to share this? What are my intended outcomes and potential impacts of sharing this insight or knowledge? Do I explain the story or topic adequately and truthfully?”
Finally, being conscious is not a one-off action on a single trip, but something to strive for every time you travel. Think of it as a lifestyle or mentality you choose to adopt not only when you’re on the move abroad, but also at home.
Why Travel Consciously?
The benefits of being a conscious traveller are endless for you, your destination, your planet and your peers. When you travel consciously, you are armed with a heightened awareness of the positive and negative consequences of your actions and the impact you have on a place, allowing you to be more mindful of cultural insensitivities and the opportunities of travel that are only present once we become more in tune with both our mind and the local culture.
Conscious travel also establishes lifelong and memorable connections with places and people, giving you insight into the local’s passions and pastimes. It can also open doors to new friendships and learning opportunities you couldn’t find anywhere else.
Wilpena Pound Resort.
Image credit: Tourism Australia
Finally, when you are conscious about your travels, you are doing the planet a favour. Through careful trip planning with Liv Australia, we’ll ensure your itinerary is thoughtful and intentional, with logistical recommendations so you can reduce your footprint. Whenever possible, we will always encourage you to spend more time off season and off-the-beaten track, soaking up the local’s way of life and learning from Traditional Owners.
Travelling is a privilege that, when done thoughtfully, offers a beautiful way to see the world, connect with culture and form lifelong friendships. Ultimately though, it comes down to you and how you approach the world, both at home and abroad. The next time you pack your bags, remember that ‘Conscious Travel’ is not a fad for the future, but a legitimate and impactful ideal we can embody today.
