Travel differently, what is it?

Travel differently, travel green, travel respectfully: discover a new way to explore the world!

A few years ago, traveling differently, adopting a green mode of tourism, concerned only a handful of passengers. Companies promoting low-impact activities on the environment and fingering mass tourism were still rare.

Today, eco-friendly tourism and local communities are winding up. It even became a niche in its own right and a goal for many travellers. And so much better! Because being aware of the fragility of the natural and social ecosystems of the destinations we visit is no longer an option but a priority.

At Wanderlix, we decided to help you travel differently and help green tourism develop. We are pleased to support solidarity and the widespread awareness of environmental problems. Let's go back together. Sustainable tourism, community, participatory, solidarity, ethical, humanitarian, ecotourism, slow travel , woofing or agro-tourism: explanations.

Sustainable tourism: at the top of the pyramid

In reality, sustainable tourism brings together all the terms we will develop below. It brings together all modes of travel that differ from mass tourism, preserve life and work for a desirable future.

Sustainable tourism is therefore defined and ensured by a set of processes planned over the long term, improved by remedial actions over time and events. This practice involves both tourism professionals and travellers themselves.

Much more than respecting fauna, flora and local communities, sustainable tourism has the interests of boosting the economy and ensuring equitable distribution of income. Thus, three components take into account: a social aspect (in terms of respect for local culture), environmental (increasing the preservation of nature and its resources), economic (placing the equitable sharing of economic benefits among tourism providers).

In the end, sustainable travel is focused on activities and a way of life based on the preservation of living, natural spaces, traditions and local lifestyles. Then, sustainable tourism is divided into several "travel typologies", more or less engaged on one or more themes.

Did you know? Sustainable tourism is also called responsible tourism. These two terms bring together similar issues. Under this term, you will find the same opposition to mass tourism and the same priorities: participation in local economic development, reduction of the impacts of tourism on ecosystems, preservation of natural resources and meetings with local communities.

Ecotourism: nature and resources

Ecotourism is a sub-category of sustainable tourism, especially focusing on awareness of nature and its resources, their discovery and protection. Thus, housing, activities and places are selected for their eco-responsible character and their particular attention to biodiversity.

Ecotourism is quite compatible with natural tourist areas, which will then be visited quite differently. However, urban destinations remain low. Indeed, they are not conducive to observation and awareness of fauna and flora, both terrestrial and marine.

Finally, preserving and opening up to the equilibrium of ecosystems cannot be without concern for the well-being of local populations. In this sense, ecotourism that focuses on biodiversity also encompasses a whole social spectrum. However, fair economic distribution is not at the centre of concern. For this, other forms of tourism exist.

Slow tourism: the art of moving smoothly

As its name suggests, slow tourism – or slow travel – embodies the notion of slowness. One of the fundamental aspects of slow travel by means of transport. Exit private planes or taxis (more polluting and borrowed by tourists): place to local trains, bicycles and buses.

In addition to soft mobility, there is a scrupulous choice in accommodations: human-sized hotels, rentals similar to traditional habitats or housing in the heart of nature, with green materials. Traveling slowly is also spending time with the natives, searching for authentic encounters, exploring in depth a place rather than linking visits. Slow tourism is therefore to immerse yourself among the premises, interact and immerse yourself in the deep culture of a destination.

Community tourism: premises in the centre of the trip

Community tourism is a strong driver of growth, a means for many developing countries to achieve resilience. Its main objective is to connect travellers with local communities, usually economically underwent.

The idea is therefore to highlight these peoples and their traditions in order to make them benefit from saving economic revenues and create jobs. However, there is no question of travestiring or playing on the sensitive rope. True community tourism must take place in authentic places, where ancestral lifestyles are sincerely perpetrated and where the premises bear witness to a real sense of belonging.

Important: tourism projects are implemented and developed by local populations. They have the reins on the organization and reception of the traveller. A traveler must, for his part, be in search of relationships, experiences, sharing and discoveries far beyond his beliefs and comfort zone. The connection between the premises and the visitors? A deep respect and a great openness of mind.

Solidarity tourism: economic justice

Just like community tourism, solidarity tourism aims to (re)make the human at the heart of the journey. But much more than focusing on interactions with locals, enhancing their culture and aligning themselves with their way of life, solidarity tourism sets an economic objective.

The monetary benefits of travel must be equitably distributed among local providers and benefit all stakeholders, regardless of the number of individuals involved. Thus, solidarity tourism favours indigenous cooperatives, local associations or indigenous groups as providers. A portion of the travel income must also be devoted to the financing of social actions or sustainable projects in the area visited.

Solidarity tourism rebalances relations. On-site contacts are healthier, each being on the same level. On a journey of solidarity, you must therefore expect to travel in a small group, to feed you in family restaurants and to buy your souvenirs from local artisans. Nice, right?

Are there other words to describe solidarity tourism? Yes: You will sometimes hear the terms of ethical tourism or fair tourism. Here too, the main goal is development assistance and a transparent investment in local projects. At all, by providing evidence of good intentions and positive impacts on local populations.

Participatory tourism: enter the dance and live as a local

Participatory tourism is, in line with solidarity tourism, a travel model that emphasizes just and useful economic benefits. Unlike the tourist here physically participates in projects for sustainable development and improvement of the living conditions of local populations.

Concretely, this results in participation in infrastructure construction, in the development of ways to access health, food, electricity and education. It may also involve taking part in daily tasks in a village or occasionally helping a resident.

If you want to get into this type of trip, then you'll have to put your hand on the mat. However, the idea is more to take part in everyday life than to build a full humanitarian project.

Humanitarian tourism: a specific mission like leitmotiv

Participatory tourism and solidarity tourism could suggest humanitarian tourism. Indeed, the latter also aims to improve the living conditions of local communities and designates a journey on the basis of intense human encounters.

However, a few differences persist between participatory, solidarity and humanitarian travel. They are usually much more prepared and only around the mission to be accomplished on site. The project is well defined and the work is often large.

Before beginning his stay, the traveler already knows the tasks he will have to perform. Humanitarian tourism is therefore centred on human and financial assistance for sustainable change and a win-win relationship between tourists and locals.

Farmhouse: lost in the countryside

Agritourism, also called agro-tourism, can take many forms. It goes from the tasting of farm products in a farm to immersion h24 in a rural farm, to a pedagogical activity in the countryside. Only one prerogative? A certain appeal for the rural environment and a desire for green exodus for its holidays.

Throughout, travellers discover and share the know-how of local artisans and farmers. This type of tourism is a promise of authenticity, of human encounters but also of sensory experiences close to local products.

Tourists sleep in the place of agricultural exploitation, savor products made on site and provide a financial resource to the producers or farmers involved.

Woofing: lodged, fed, bleached for small work

Cousin de l’agritourisme, le woofing demands real physical involvement on the part of the traveller, over several days to several months. The latter participates in the activities and work of farmers and pastoralists, generally organic.

It is usually considered woofing as a way to travel abroad, at a very small price. Indeed, travellers finance part of their getaway by being housed and fed free of charge by a local, in exchange for their work within the operation. This tourism usually seduces young people, people who have time to explore a country or region and a sufficient condition to carry out sometimes a bit of arousing tasks.

The woofing , finally based on the troc, approaching couchsurfing . It also adheres to the vision and values of sustainable tourism as it guarantees total immersion, in an authentic way of life, with the aim of preserving the environment and local know-how.