25 Places Plotting a Greener Future, Wanderlust

While travel’s on hold, enlightened destinations are looking towards more responsible forms of tourism. We look at those vowing to build back better…

1. Arizona adventure hub puts residents first, USA

The small city of Sedona, which sits amid Arizona’s spectacular buttes, canyons and pine forests, had the classic problem of many similar tourism gateways: horrendous over-crowding during peak season. But since 2019, it has worked with the Global Sustainable Tourism Council to establish how residents and visitors can co-exist. The plan includes no-fly zones over residential areas for helicopter tours, improving walking-and-cycling routes and traffic flow, and better public transport. It also features the Sedona Cares Pledge, which asks tourists to be mindful of their noise, leave no trace, minimise water use and be caring and considerate at all times. visitsedona.com/sustainable-tourism-plan

2. Okanagan goes organic, Canada

The laidback Okanagan Valley is often overlooked in favour of British Columbia’s showier headline acts like the Rockies and Vancouver Island. But that’s missing a trick. This landscape of furrowed canyons, dense forest and semi-desert grasslands protects some of Canada’s most fragile biodiversity. Also, the region has long championed responsible tourism that works alongside communities, supporting local makers and producers along the way. The Okanagan is Canada’s primary wine-producing region and, in 2021, will be home to the largest percentage of organic wines in the world. At wineries such as Cedar Creek, which makes 27 organic wines, foraging and tasting experiences help visitors understand the organic transition. cedarcreek.bc.ca; hellobc.com

3. Tourist dollars stay local, Colombia

The devastating effects of 2020’s travel pause have sparked a renewed drive to ensure that tourism revenue goes to locals rather than international companies. Two projects underway in Colombia are doing just that. Portia Hart, the owner of Blue Apple Beach Club, has launched an Insider’s Guide to Cartagena’s best locally owned restaurants, bars and shops across the city’s colourful streets. Meanwhile, Much Better Adventures has been busy plotting off-the-beaten-track trips with Expedition Colombia, which helped save the Semana River from damming and has trained former FARC (Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia) members in guiding. blueapplebeach.com; muchbetteradventures.com

4. Guernsey boosts on-foot adventures, Channel Islands

Meandering around the edges of five islands, the new Islands of Guernsey Way will help visitors appreciate the diversity of landscapes and wildlife across the bailiwick on foot. The 80km-ish path ranges around Guernsey, Herm, Sark, Alderney and little Lihou, taking in everything from quaint Portelet Harbour, where wild waves blow in across thousands of miles of uninterrupted Atlantic, and the L’Eree Aerodrome – Guernsey’s first airfield, which is now the Colin Best Nature Reserve. A free app provides all the information needed to piece together an adventure, including commentary on history, culture and folklore, circular routes and buses. Visit Guernsey lists places to stay along the way. visitguernsey.com

First available in print; also available online here.