USTOA has a vision of travel that saves the world

International tourist arrivals surged from 25 million in 1950 to 1.4 billion in 2019, and experts expect the number to reach 1.9 billion by 2030.fun travel options When responsible person. To help build a sustainable future for tourism, the U.S. Tour Operators Association (USTOA), a national non-profit organization, wants travelers to be more informed wherever, how and with whom they travel. Empowering travelers to act responsibly.

At the center of this collaboration is Susan Greenfield, also known as Sustainable Suzie. She is one of USTOA’s tour operator members her guides and believes that through sustainable practices, travel can be a force for good. As the protagonist of USTOA’s new comic, Sustainable Suzie, in her first issue, travels the globe battling pollution, ignorance and greed with a view to saving the world. Following her Susie lead, from more sustainable destinations like South Korea, Tenerife and Norway, to airlines like United in action, looking for options that are perfect for intrepid travelers and better for the planet. You can search all over the world.

Looking back on Korea’s past

Photo courtesy of Daehan Buddhist Culture Group

Sustainable Susie first visited South Korea, where sustainability has been a fundamental part of Buddhist life for over 1,600 years. Focused on a plant-based, zero-waste diet, devoted monks live with a minimal footprint within the temple grounds. This proves that food doesn’t have to be complex, exotic, or harmful to the environment.

Those interested in immersing themselves in the Buddhist lifestyle are in luck. Templestay offers travelers a great opportunity to choose from several Buddhist temples across Korea. There, you can learn from the monks while participating in their daily rituals and enjoying meals in harmony with nature. .

Those looking for a more comprehensive view of the country past and present may choose Alexander + Roberts’ 8-day ‘Korea Discovery’ tour instead. This trip starts in Seoul. Guests can watch the Changing of the Guard ceremony at his 500-year-old Gyeongbokgung Palace in Seoul, or watch a kaleidoscope from nearly 5,000 odd-numbered vendors at Gwangjang Market, one of the first and largest markets in South Korea. You can enjoy dishes like nation.

Moving on to the coastal city of Gyeongju in the southeast, visitors climb Tohamsan Mountain to Seokguram Grotto, a UNESCO World Heritage Site that features a monumental 8th-century Buddha statue overlooking the sea. Afterwards, you can practice Buddhist martial arts at Kolgurtha Temple. Shudodoattend a monk’s tea ceremony and enjoy a healthy and traditional lunch on site.

Let nature shine in Tenerife

Photo credit: Tenerife Tourism

Following the sustainable Suzie to Europe, our next destination is off the Spanish coast of Tenerife, the largest of the Canary Islands. Those in awe of its wild beauty should remember that it takes a lot of effort to keep things so pristine.

Tenerife’s Island Council works to balance tourism and nature, fights to reverse the effects of climate change, and uses travel funds to help fight poverty and inequality in the region. . The Council has done this through public projects involved in everything from gastronomic preservation to waste management, and in 2021 has designated Tenerife as a Biosphere Tourism Destination by the Responsible Tourism Association.

Almost half of the land is under strict environmental protection due to the island’s ‘zero footprint’ policy, making it a very attractive destination. The western waters of Tenerife, recognized by the European Union as the Tenolasca Marine Strip Special Reserve, are home to 21 species of whales and dolphins, as well as an abundance of turtles and seabirds.

Spain’s highest peak lies in the Teide National Park, and beneath it lie caves, including Europe’s largest lava tube, waiting to be explored. If that wasn’t enough, visitors can enjoy 185 miles of biking trails throughout the island’s forests. Finally, visit one of his many historic towns, such as San Cristobal de la Laguna, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Individual travelers to Tenerife can rely on Trip Advisor’s expertise to work with USTOA tour operators such as GOGO Vacations to design an itinerary that fits their needs. Spend some time in the capital city of Santa Cruz de Tenerife visiting Calatrava’s pioneering oceanfront Auditorium of the Seas and the spectacular Museum of Nature and Humanity, perhaps Biosphere Conservation. Looking to enjoy a mountain hike or a refreshing dip in the ocean at Ward Anaga Country Park? You can do all these things to protect

Norway’s future remains prehistoric

Photo credit: Hans Petter Sørensen and FarOutFocus/Visit Norway

In the final article of this issue, Sustainable Suzie heads to Norway to spend the night watching the Northern Lights. But travelers should not overlook the land beneath its cosmic colors. The heart of every trip is visiting her one of some 1,200 fjords that make up Norway’s 18,000 miles of coastline. Each fjord is a narrow inlet carved into the Mammoth Mountains by the gradual melting of prehistoric glaciers.

Derived from the Old Norse word for “passageway,” these waters have long been well-traversed, but recently Norwegian tour companies have turned their attention to electric and hybrid-electric ferries with underwater drones. and allows passengers to view wildlife in low-lying areas. -No emissions, less noise pollution and minimal environmental impact. We believe that supporting innovation and sustainability benefits everyone in the long run, not only environmentally and economically, but also educationally.

Goway Travel’s Highlights of Norway Tour explores Norway’s cultural and natural sides, fjords and more over 5 days. Soak up Norway’s historical hotspots, including a visit to Bryggen Harbor, a 12th-century trading center and one of his few examples of Hanseatic wooden architecture, beginning in the western city of Bergen and ending in Oslo provide enough time to

Of course, travelers will also see the steep fjords of the country, namely the Aurlandsfjord and the Nærøyfjord. Its narrow cliff faces reach nearly 5,000 feet high and are surrounded by native flora and fauna, dramatic waterfalls and underwater moraine (mass of rock and sediment deposited by glaciers). It helps define Norway’s legendary landscape.

go there and stay there

Photo credit: United Airlines

Reducing the impact of long-haul travel puts special pressure on the aviation industry. Named Air Transport World’s 2021 Eco-Airline of the Year, United Airlines has made an ambitious pledge to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by 100% by 2050, making a commitment to future generations. We are committed to protecting our destination.

Since 1990, United Airlines has improved fuel efficiency by 45% through initiatives ranging from vehicle weight rationalization to single-engine taxiing. This equates to fuel savings of over 5 million gallons per year. By forming the Eco Skies Alliance, airlines set the tone for their corporate partners to take a step towards sustainability through carbon reduction policies and technology.

On the airline side, this includes developing zero-emission hydrogen-electric aircraft and carbon capture to continue expanding the use of sustainable aviation fuels. on a lifecycle basis. ” Flight efficiency also helps reduce carbon footprint. United offers multiple non-stop flights to South Korea, Tenerife and Norway, so we can ensure routes to these more sustainable destinations are also as sustainable as possible.

For Seoul, United Airlines offers daily non-stop flights from San Francisco to Seoul. It also offers direct flights from Los Angeles, Honolulu, New York and Toronto via Asiana Airlines, part of the Star Alliance. There are also direct flights from Newark to Tenerife three times a week. Also departing from Newark and available three times a week, United operates flights to Bergen and frequent direct flights from Newark to Oslo with Star Alliance member Scandinavian Airlines. is sailing to

Choosing better airlines, USTOA tour operators, and more ethical ways to verify destinations also play a role in helping us travel more responsibly, so the World Meteorological Organization It’s one of the key steps in bucking the 5x increase trend that Climate and weather-related crises of the last 50 years. Travel is a force for good, both for the planet and for the traveler, if we can learn from the responsible practices of our neighbors, who move forward in the spirit of a great superhero named Susie Susie, Sustainably, for a better world. It may become.

Visit the USTOA website Follow Susie’s sustainable journeyFind a Tour Operator and Inspire Your Own Responsible Epic Adventure!