Making tourism sustainable is a challenge both for local communities and the world as a whole. Promoters aim to market certain destinations and adventures as eco-friendly tourism, touting housing built from recycled goods, and the low carbon footprint of the destination; however, many of the environmental benefits of these types of destinations are easily outweighed by the mammoth amounts of energy spent flying tourists hallway around the world to visit!
For those of us who are truly interested in sustainable tourism, it pays to think of thinks on a larger scale. Rather than flying thousands of miles back and forth to spend a week in a rainforest lodge, we should explore vacation opportunities closer to home.
RV travel is one type of touring that truly is sustainable. Living in a RV is a lot more environmental friendly than living in a traditional brick house. Recreational vehicles are small, and do not require a lot of resources when used for day to day living. Getting away in an RV for a week – provided you only drive a couple of hundred miles – can be very eco-friendly. One tank of gas for driving, maybe a little propane for the refrigerator and heat, and that is about the extent of your carbon footprint.
The great thing about RV living is that not only is it a great vacation alternative, but it is also a viable full time lifestyle. Full time RV living allows you to periodically move your home – once a week, perhaps once a month – from one scenic location to another whenever the urge strikes you.
Not only are you living a sustainable lifestyle, but you are also living a life of unparalleled freedom. Tired of the rat race? Find an RV park in the country for a few weeks. Miss the hustle and bustle of city life? Stop at an RV campground close to a big city and enjoy all it has to offer.
Also, by RV living fulltime, you can do away with the requirement of keeping a stick house full time. Imagine the reduction in your environmental footprint if you did not have to keep house. No furnace, no central air, vastly reduced water and electricity usage, the savings are endless.
It is very clear to me that if you are seriously interested in sustainable travel, and are willing to take bold steps and change your life to accommodate that type of lifestyle, that fulltime living in an RV is one of the best things you can do to fully embrace your beliefs!
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