Normal Green: A New Take on Earth-Friendly Travel

The word "eco-travel" conjures up images of tourists (carefully) tromping through the jungles of Belize in order to set up camp on the edge of a wildlife preserve, or biking across France from one working farm to the next, paying your way by picking vegetables or shearing sheep.

But now, according to a recent article in Newsweek, ("Beyond Backpacking",  July 21, 2008), eco-travel is about to take on a whole new — and very specific — meaning. With motels, hotels and hostels across the world racing to label themselves "green" to attract a trendy crop of eco-tourists, environmental organizations worry that its meaning "is being watered down." Hotels may contribute pre-tax earnings to environmental organizations or donate linens and food to homeless shelters or even breed bees on their rooftops, but what does being green really mean?

According to the article, in October "20 groups including the UN Foundation and the Rainforest Alliance, will release a new standard for the terms 'sustainable tourism.'" (See draft here .) Spokespeople for the organizations putting together the criteria want to expand the definition of sustainable tourism beyond the "environmental aspects of travel." A tourist traveling to San Francisco, for example, would have to take active steps to remain carbon-neutral. This includes staying in an LEED-certified or energy efficient hotel , only patronizing establishments that serve locally-sourced sustainable ingredients , patronizing local artisans, or shopping at one of the city's many farmer's markets .

To get around San Francisco, the tourist would walk or take public transportation, which, in San Francisco, includes our famously cheery cable cars. Also included in the visit would be time to enjoy the outdoors, perhaps by strolling through Golden Gate Park or biking across the Golden Gate Bridge to Sausalito. A specific idea about what "sustainable tourism" means can only be a good thing. It will ensure that businesses and services claiming to be green really are. In the meantime, be a vigilant travel researcher and don't be afraid to ask your hotel about ways they offset their carbon footprint. Resuse your towels, bring your own toiletries and tea bags, and if you're staying for more than one night, let housekeeping know that they don't need to change your sheets. But always, always remove the bedspread from bed, those things are nasty.