Make a difference on your holiday

Tourism is the biggest industry in the world, with massive impacts on people and nature. WWF is striving for responsible tourism – tourism that is beneficial to tourists and local people without harming the environment. You can help.

Plan your holiday carefully

• Go on holiday during the off-peak period to prevent over straining resources – you’ll also avoid the crowds
• Find out about your destination before you go on holiday – it may be an environmentally sensitive area. Doing this will also ensure you are informed of what to see and any local customs
• Don’t travel by air if you can avoid it – air travel uses up large amounts of fossil fuels and creates greenhouse gases
• Avoid taking things on holiday that you will throw away
• Dispose of any rubbish responsibly – it can be hazardous to wildlife
• Ask your travel agent or tour operator what they are doing to be environmentally responsible

Be responsible in your accommodation…

• Turn off all lights, taps and air conditioning when you leave hotel rooms
• Re-use towels and participate in any green schemes run by hotels
• Dispose of sanitary waste properly. Don’t flush cotton buds, condoms, tampons and plastics down the toilet – or you might just find them on the beach next time you visit

…and when you are out and about

• Use public transport, cycle or walk instead of using a car
• Use facilities and trips run by local people whenever possible
• Don’t participate in hunting or fishing unless it can be shown to be part of an effective management plan
• Don’t be tempted to touch wildlife and disturb habitats whether on land, at the coast or under water
• Let the local people know that you appreciate pristine nature being there, so that they see its economic value
• Don’t eat shark’s fin soup or any dishes you suspect of containing endangered species
• Be careful what you choose to bring home as a holiday souvenir. Many species from coral and conch shells to sea turtles and crocodiles are endangered because they are killed for curios or souvenirs.
• Take all rubbish home from the beach – turtles are often killed by plastic bags they’ve mistaken for jellyfish and many items take years to degrade as well as being dangerous
• Boats and jet-skis create noise and chemical pollution which is disturbing to wildlife – don’t keep the engine running unnecessarily
• If you are sailing, surfing or windsurfing keep a distance of at least 100m from marine mammal and bird nesting sites to avoid disturbing them

When you get home

• If you are concerned about anywhere you have been to on holiday, contact WWF-Philippines.