Although tourism industries and providers are demonstrating environmental concern and implementing sustainable practices, tourists themselves must be reeducated to make the most meaningful impact.  With large numbers of tourists visiting destinations all over the world, the damage to the environment can be tremendous.  However, there are steps that all tourists can take to travel more sustainably and responsibly.  Tourists have the ability to influence the industry by selecting and supporting sustainable providers and options, which demands the industry to accommodate environmental travelers.  Through reeducation, an increasing number of tourists will invest in sustainable tourism providers and practices to protect the environment. 

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An environmental sign in Hawaii

Reeducating is more than simply posting signs and distributing brochures.  This sign (pictured on the left) was posted on a trail along the Hana Highway in Maui, Hawaii.  Although this sends a positive environmental message, this is often not enough to influence tourist behavior.  Unfortunately, it is a common sight to see garbage littering the trails right next to signs such as this one.  Signs (or other written information) can be easily ignored and can only make so much of an impact.  Therefore, signs act more as visual reminders for responsible actions, but further action must be taken to truly impact tourist behavior. 


Face-to-face and hands-on re-educational experiences are considerably more effective in positively shaping the environmental-conscious behavior of tourists.  Resources such as guided tours, interpreters, and visitor centers are invaluable to this effort.  When traveling, tourists are typically open-minded to learning and are eager to gain more information regarding the destination they are visiting.  This provides the prime opportunity to reeducate tourists not only about the history and attributes of the area, but also how it is being impacted environmentally.  The reeducation process also includes explaining the actions that can be taken to best protect the environment, and illustrates why such actions are necessary.

The reeducation process can also further elicit emotions of attachment and may influence a person to travel sustainably.  Environmental “educators” (such as guides and interpreters) can further depict the sheer, natural beauty of an area, and describe the devastating effects if environmentally-friendly measures are not taken.  Tourists may gain a deeper emotional attachment to a particular area (or the environment as a whole) and obtain a stronger commitment to protect it.  These tourists will want to protect the area for personal reasons, and for the enjoyment of future generations.  This is quite powerful in altering behavior, and will assist in influencing them to make future sustainable choices and act as advocates for protecting areas from environmental damage.  These tourists may even influence others to travel sustainably because of their re-educational experience.

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Traci on the Amazon Canopy Walk-way
Personally, I was most impacted by my re-educational experience in the Amazon Jungle in Peru.  I visited this destination when I was only twelve years old, yet it was an impressionable experience that opened my eyes to the concept of sustainable tourism.  The entire trip was an environmentally educational experience, and impacted my view on the environment and the importance of sustainable tourism.

The exposure to the vast rainforest was an indescribable experience.  I was surrounded by massive trees and plants that seemed to continue endlessly in each direction.  There was such an incredible range of wildlife, including peaceful and intimidating encounters.  During this trip, I had the unique opportunity to walk along the canopy walk-way which provided a breath-taking view of the jungle’s canopy and all of its beauty.  These sights and experiences contributed to a personal passion and emotional attachment to this area, but these feelings were further influenced by the reeducation I received.


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Traci using a blowgun in a Peruvian village
Our native guide, Raul, provided us with fascinating information that illustrated his knowledge and passion for the natural home where he grew up.  The education he provided regarding the jungle has left a lasting impression on the manner in which I view and appreciate the environment.  Unfortunately, during this trip, I witnessed the destruction that logging was causing, and Raul explained how much the jungle was being damaged.  It was depressing to see, but it strongly influenced me to want to protect the jungle from such destruction.  My family and I also had the opportunity to visit Raul’s village, and it was fascinating to see how the native people lived off of the land, without destroying it.  Instead of disregarding the environment, they demonstrated how to live in a sustainable manner.  I began to realize that if these native people could live sustainably, then as tourists, there is a moral responsibility to travel sustainably.


The travel provider, Amazon Explorama Lodges, also provided as a wonderful example for implementing sustainable tourism practices.  Their lodges reflected the native huts of the area, which included minimal modern convinces.  This made the experience more authentic, protected the integrity of the area, and reduced the environmental damage that building a resort would have caused.  In addition, all of the guides were local natives.  This meant that they were experts of the area, and this company was supporting the local economy.  In general, this travel provider made every effort to make the minimum environmental impact.

Since taking this trip and receiving this reeducation, I have put more consideration into how I travel.  I now seek sustainable travel providers whenever possible and encourage others to do the same.  If tourists can all be reeducated when they travel, tourists and the travel industry as a whole, can leave less of a damaging impact on the environment, so that we may all have the opportunity to enjoy it.

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Traci and her family in the Amazon Jungle
 
            When considering the “R Words,” as discussed by Middleton, “Reuse” is a concept and sustainable practice of significance.  According to an online dictionary source, reuse is defined as “To use again, especially after salvaging or special treatment or processing” (The Free Dictionary).  When employed in various manners by the tourism industry, reuse is a tremendous tool that can result in substantial environmental benefits.  Such benefits may explain and justify its inclusion within the infamous “Three Rs: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle,” in addition to Middleton’s “Ten Rs.”  As stated by Middleton, “Individually the re-use savings may appear relatively trivial, but collectively over twelve months can produce quantifiable benefits if a monitoring system is in place” (pg. 136-137).  Small and simple actions can have desirable benefits not only for the environment, but also for all of those involved within the tourism industry including tourism businesses/providers, tourists, and members of the local community.

            Various reuse methods are utilized within the tourism industry, and hotel operations specifically provide as an ideal example of various manners in which to reuse.  When implemented, these result in environmental benefits and are often more cost-effective as well.  A common practice in hotels is providing guests with the option to reuse their towels and sheets instead of requesting them to be washed daily.  If guests select this sustainable option, the amount of water and detergent use can be greatly minimized.  Additionally, hotels may provide reusable items as apposed to disposable options, which includes sustainable alternatives such as glass cups and ceramic mugs, and soap dispensers instead of miniature bottles.  These items can be continuously reused by guests and therefore considerably reduces waste.  Hotels that provide food services should elect to utilize reusable items such as cloth napkins, ceramic plates and silverware, and hotel staff may also further implement this sustainable practice by utilizing reusable containers and bags for laundry and other hotel functions.  Often hotels also reuse old furniture by either refurbishing it or donating it, instead of simply disposing of it.  The hospitality industry demonstrates these reuse principles in hotels throughout the world, which can make a strong impact in protecting the environment.

            Other examples of reuse are demonstrated in various tourist destinations all over the world.  Countries such as Jordan and China are enacting wastewater reuse programs for agricultural and landscaping purposes, to reduce water use and waste.  Instead of simply disposing of their old airline blankets, British Airways donates their old blankets to elephant orphanages in Kenya and Zambia.  Many resorts throughout the world offer rentals, such as snorkeling gear, for the repeated use of their guests.  This practice can minimize the need for new equipment, which saves resources and reduces the amount of equipment that is unnecessarily disposed of at the conclusion of a vacation.   

            The concept of reuse will also be demonstrated in regards to the upcoming Olympics in London, England.  The Olympics attract a considerable amount of tourists, therefore large structures are built to host these tourists and events.  In past cases, the stadiums and facilities remain unused after the Olympics, despite the considerable cost to the local communities to build these structures.  However, following the London Olympics later this year, the Olympic stadium and the Olympic Aquatic Centre will be repurposed and reused by the local community.  Both facilities have been built so that additional seating can be removed at the conclusion of the Olympic Games; after which point, the Olympic stadium will be converted into a soccer stadium, and the Olympic Aquatic Centre will be repurposed for the use of the community.  In this instance, reuse provides benefits for all facets of the tourism industry, especially since the community will benefit in addition to tourists and travel providers. 

            Due to the tourism industry’s growing concern for the environment, I have encountered methods of reuse throughout my personal travel experiences.  About ten years ago, I had the unique opportunity to travel with my family to the Amazon Jungle in Peru.  Overall, this trip included numerous sustainable components; however, there is a specific example that comes to mind in regards to reuse.  During our stay, the lodge provided drinking water stations, which included purified rainwater with reusable glass cups.  Rainwater was additionally utilized to provide water for the showers at the lodge.  This made for a chilly shower, but this reused water was refreshing after hiking in the excessive heat of the Amazon.

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Traci at Angkor Wat in Siem Reap, Cambodia
            This past summer, I also had the amazing opportunity to travel to Cambodia, which was an incredible tourism experience that also included elements of reuse.  The most fascinating aspect of my trip was visiting the breath-taking temples of Angkor Wat; one of the Man-Made Wonders of the World.  During my visit, portions of the temple were in the process of being restored; however, I was pleased to learn that the original stone was being reused as much as possible for the restoration.  This is important not only to protect the environment (because transporting new stone would be quite damaging), but also to protect the integrity of the temple as a heritage site.  In such a case, reuse is by far the best course of action for protecting this stunning architectural treasure.

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Traci in Angkor Thom in Siem Reap, Cambodia
            I was also fascinated to learn that reuse has been an ancient practice within Angkor Wat (and surrounding temples), architecturally speaking.  When first built in the early twelfth century AD, it was intended “as a Hindu capital for the Khmer Empire” (Richter, 2009).  However, as Buddhism began to grow in popularity at the end of the twelfth century, Angkor Wat became a place of Buddhist worship.  The temple then reflected elements of both the original Hindu influence as well as the Buddhist religion.  Again in the mid-thirteenth century, the Hindu religion was re-established in the Khmer Empire, altering the focus of the structures.  During this period, some of the faces of various Buddhas, which had been added in Angkor Wat and nearby Angkor temples, were temporarily removed.  However, this was a brief period, and by the end of the thirteenth century, Buddhism was reinstated as the main religion until the end of the Khmer Empire (Richter, 2009). 

          Instead of building an entirely new temple with each change in religion, people of the Khmer Empire reused the existing temples by repurposing them as the religious focus changed.  In those times, building any type of structure was a tremendous feat; therefore, the people practiced the concept of reuse.  This day in age, building a new structure is not such an ordeal.  With this reduced effort, many do not consider the option of reuse, or the consequences of building a new structure entirely.  It appears that we could all learn a lesson from the past, to protect our environment for the future.

           I believe that it is essential to practice reuse within the tourism industry.  It includes simple actions that can have a tremendous, positive impact on the environment that we can all benefit from.  We can each contribute to achieve these benefits, whether we are tourist providers implementing reuse policies, or tourists who select environmentally friendly options.  Personally, I am passionate about traveling and therefore support and encourage the travel industry to implement such sustainable measures to protect our world for future generations to come.             



Works Cited

Ashley M. Richter. (2009, September 8).  Recycling Monuments: The Hinduism/Buddhism Switch at Angkor.       Retrieved from http://archive.cyark.org/recycling-monuments-the-hinduismbuddhism-switch-at-angkor-blog

Middleton, V., & Hawkins, R. (n.d.). The ‘R Word’ guide to corporate action on sustainability. In Sustainable Tourism: A Marketing Perspective (chapter 11).  Retrieved from https://learn-uu.uen.org/courses/103289/files/8249307

Reuse. 2012. The Free Dictionary online. Retrieved from http://www.thefreedictionary.com/reuse



References

Ashley M. Richter. (2009, September 8).  Recycling Monuments: The Hinduism/Buddhism Switch at Angkor. Retrieved from http://archive.cyark.org/recycling-monuments-the-hinduismbuddhism-switch-at-angkor-blog

(2009). Environment – waste. Retrieved from
http://www.britishairways.com/travel/csr-waste/public/en_gb

(2012). Making Every Drop Count. Retrieved from http://cdmsmith.com/en-US/Solutions/Water/Making-Every-Drop-Count.aspx

(2011, September 25). London 2012 Olympics: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle.  Retrieved from http://hospitalityandtravelnews.blogspot.com/2011/09/london-2012-olympics-reduce-reuse.html

(2012). Sustainable Solutions for Green Hotels.  Retrieved from http://globalstewards.org/hotel.htm