Travel without a footprint

With Venice up in arms over a celebrity wedding and the Himalayas buckling under the weight of tourists from the plains, the debate over tourism's impact on local communities and ecology is back in the spotlight. While there are no straight answers to questions such as whether travel should be just a photo-op, and why tourists shouldn't think about their footprint, the truth is that travel is a double-edged sword: it can heal as well as destroy people and places.

If you are an avid traveller interested in how to travel with purpose, a desire to give back to the places you visit, and an understanding of the various definitions of eco/sustainable tourism, then do give Conservation Careers' podcast episode Revolutionising Ecotourism a listen. The guest for this episode is Daniel Kaul, founder of Conscious Explorer and Natucate - two supercharged initiatives blending travel, conservation and community empowerment.

Kaul talks about what constitutes 'conscious travel' and explores what responsible tourism looks like on the ground, the balancing act between access and preservation, and how travellers can make better choices that don't cost the Earth.