How To Avoid 'Localwashing' While On Vacation

This guest blog is by Irene Lane, founder & president of Greenloons.com.

Have you noticed how companies of all sizes are touting their local credentials these days? Whether you are shopping at your local supermarket or deciding on your next vacation destination, advertisements are replete with images of locally sourced fresh food or locally guided unique vacation services. 

And why not? “Buy local” and “local first” campaigns are speaking to our fundamental values to help our local communities before purchasing goods and services provided by large conglomerates.  However, in an effort to align with our ideals, some corporate localwashing has also surfaced within the ecotourism industry since the eco-traveler is one that seeks an authentic connection with people and nature.  Examples of localwashing by ecotourism businesses include ones that:

• emphasize local guides and services only to be foreign owned and managed
• do not purchase any local items such as produce, raw building materials, crafts or furniture but advertise as authentically local cultural experiences

Rather than agonizing over online reviews, guide books and definitions of local-sourced and sustainable tourism; instead use these five planning tips that will help quickly evaluate the local merits of your vacation:

1. Look for legitimate eco-certification labels
2. Choose travel suppliers that support local communities in multiple ways
3. Support tourism providers that specifically offer locally produced items:
4. Choose activities that emphasize environmental awareness
5. Search for opportunities to immerse yourself in local cultural traditions

About the Author: Irene Lane

Irene Lane is the founder & president of Greenloons, a company dedicated to providing nature enthusiasts and wildlife conservationists worldwide with trusted information about responsible, sustainable, and third-party certified family ecotourism travel vacations.

Comments

[Susan Kelly]

Thank you, Irene, for giving travelers some guidelines to look at in supporting local businesses when they travel. I've printed out your planning tips and will use them when I'm looking at tour operators for my clients.
Susan Kelly, Travel Advisor

[Ethan Gelber]

Hi Irene,

Thank you for this fine post about Local Travel and some of the sly efforts being made to sidestep the truth.

Your five pointers are very much in line with values underlying the nearly two-year-old effort I'm part of called the Local Travel Movement at http://www.localtravelmovement.com .

The Local Travel Movement is not-for-profit platform started by people from companies founded on a passion for Local Travel and commitment to Local Travel values (at http://www.localtravelmovement.com/local-travel-values/ ). It is there primarily to champion Local Travel, but also to regroup Local Travel operators who support Local Travel values and would no doubt support the planning tips you have shared.

In keeping with our mission, would you and Ellen consent to us republishing this post there, pointing back to the original here?

Best,
Ethan Gelber

[Ellen Barone]

Hi Ethan,

Many thanks for your interest in sharing Irene's tips with your audience.

We're happy to allow you to republish the information on your site pointing back to the original article and Greenloons.com.

Thanks again for helping to get the word out.

Kindest regards,

Ellen Barone

[Ethan Gelber]

Hi Ellen,

Thanks for the green light. This article is now live on the Local Travel Movement at http://www.localtravelmovement.com/1978/how-to-avoid-localwashing-while-on-vacation/ .