It's no wonder that responsible tourism is gaining popularity as we become more aware of our influence on the environment and want to reduce it. More visitors than ever before are seeking methods to travel ethically, focusing on places that are environmentally friendly and kind to the people they visit.

Many amazing places across the world use eco-friendly measures to lessen tourism's environmental effect. Continue reading to learn about the most environmentally friendly destinations to visit on the planet and to choose your next responsible trip.

Five Eco-Friendly Destinations to Travel

SLOVENIA

In 2017, Slovenia was appointed the most sustainable country on earth by National Geographic. From eco-friendly zones, recycling programs and restricted swimming areas Slovenia has a lot to offer.

Slovenia tells the story of green.

Nearly 60% of this Eastern European country is covered in forest, and 53.6 per cent of its land is protected, making it the European country with the largest percentage of the protected area. Slovenia's 40 parks and reserves feature a plethora of hiking routes from which to observe around 20,000 different flora and animals. Its capital city, Ljubljana, has also received recognition for its numerous sustainability and eco-tourism projects, being appointed Europe’s Greenest Captial By the European Union.

Sustainable cuisine

Sustainability is on the menu.

Slovenian cuisine is based on ingredients found in Slovenia’s most immediate areas. This modern approach has combined elements of culinary traditions. From iconic plates of Carniolan sausage, strukelj dumplings, and potica cake, travellers will expect a strong farm-to-table traditional meals that are simply incredible.

From dining to fine wine, Slovenia has roughly 28,000 wineries and have winemaking tradition that dates back to Roman times. Just by the Italian border, Primorska wine region is home to the Goriska Brda subregion, perhaps Slovenia’s best-known wine area.

ARUBA - Eco-friendly Caribbean Getaway

Aruba’s pristine beaches and clear turquoise waters attract more than one million visitors each year.

This little-known destination is a world leader in promoting eco-tourism, with the eco-tourism industry accounting for approximately 70% of the country's income. This money is spent by the nation to run wind farms, which provide almost 20% of Aruba's electricity.

The government has also devised plans to build additional sidewalks in areas to encourage people to walk instead of taking taxis or other means of transportation that may cause traffic congestion and pollution. Aruba is also noted for its environmentally friendly transportation choices, such as the Aruba solar-powered tram that brings visitors to the capital, Oranjestad. The Aruba Care Reef Project also invites people to participate in regular beach and scuba diving site cleanups.

AZORES

The bulk of the Azores, an independent island chain in Portugal, is off-limits to commercial or industrial development.

Three of its islands are UNESCO biosphere reserves, and the local government prioritises renewable energy. Graciosa, the third-smallest island, generated the bulk of its electricity in 2017 with a combination of solar, wind, and battery grid storage, with other islands following suit. As a result, it stands to reason that sustainable tourism is a major draw for each of the nine volcanic islands, with visitors enjoying unpolluted lakes, unspoilt landscapes, and an abundance of animals. 

REYKJAVIK, ICELAND

The city of Reykjavik has won the Nordic Nature and Environment Prive in 2014 and now is placed the sixth on the Global Destination Sustainability Index.

Reykjavik is entirely powered by renewable energy. The country uses geothermal activity to provide renewable energy to power the grid. Reykjavik is a living example of sustainability in the modern world, deriving most of its heat and power from geothermal and hydro resources. Iceland has also said that it intends to transition to a hydrogen economy by 2050, eliminating its need for fossil fuels.

Icelandic Cuisine.

When it comes to cuisine, renewable energy is used in Icelandic high-end fine dining. Using factors of land and sea to prepare the food and even cook it. In Iceland, Icelanders rely solely on what they have sourced on their land. Using creative methods to produce and store food.

From Plokkfiskur fish stew to cinnamon buns, Reykjavik provides luxury food that will satisfy your taste bud, due to its creative flair, natural ingredients and sophistication.

CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA

Cape Town is continually striving for new and inventive technology to make the city more sustainable — so much so that wind farms were first used for energy in 2008. The city is attempting to promote an idealised outdoor lifestyle. To promote this, the city has invested in secure bike paths, and its My CiTi fast service enables bikes aboard buses for free, allowing people to travel around without a car. In addition, many individuals have begun to produce their own veggies and utilise solar panels.

Astute Aviation & Sustainability: Flying the Right Way

Astute Aviation is devoted to a long-term sustainability programme that goes well beyond carbon offsets and industry norms. Our primary goal is to reduce the overall climate effect of our private jet flights.

Our corporation recognises that flying is important for global tourism, but also has an impact on the carbon footprint. Because it may be several decades before the industry has a commercially viable replacement to fossil jet fuel (such as hydrogen-powered or electronic aircraft), we have investigated the idea of creating a fuel source utilising the sustainable resource. The most typically utilised materials are waste and feedstocks, and Astute Aviation takes care to ensure that any feedstocks used are sustainable within the local community and do not deplete additional resources such as extra land or water in their production. Maintenance is also made to ensure that the cultivation of feedstock for biofuels does not trump or replace food production or living space for residents.

What You Can Do as a Consumer

There are several potential changes that might alter the landscape of private aviation travel in the next years. There are still things you can do as an aircraft consumer to help alleviate environmental damage and promote the future of sustainable aviation.

When flying privately, ask your provider how you may offset your carbon footprint. Inquire about the programmes they have in place, and if they don't, push them to consider implementing one. Travel to eco-friendly and sustainable countries for your holiday trip.

And finally, we may well have hydrogen-powered aircraft in a few decades or so. Keep reading our blog on changes in private aviation and what they might mean for the way you travel.