Tourism is the biggest industry in the world with massive impacts on people and nature. WWF is striving for responsible tourism - tourism that is beneficial to tourists and local people without harming the environment. You can help by:

✔️ Planning Your Holiday Carefully

• Go on holiday during the off-peak period to prevent over straining resources – you'll also avoid the crowds.
• Find out about your destination before you go on holiday – it may be an environmentally sensitive area. Doing this will also ensure you are informed of what to see and do in accordance with the local customs.
• Don't travel by air if you can avoid it – air travels uses up large amounts of fossil fuels and creates greenhouse gases.
• Avoid taking things on holiday that you will throw away.
• Ask your travel agent or tour operator what they are doing to be environmentally responsible.

✔️ Be Responsible In Your Accommodation

• Turn off all lights, taps and air conditioning when you leave the hotel.
• Re–use towels and participate in green schemes run by hotels.
• Dispose of sanitary waste properly. Don't flush cotton buds, condoms, tampons and plastics down the toilet – or you might just find them on the beach next time you visit.

✔️ When You are Out and About

• Use public transport, cycle or walk instead of using a car.
• Use facilities and trips run by locals whenever possible.
• Don't participate in hunting or fishing unless it can be shown to be part of an effective management plan.
• Don't be tempted to touch wildlife and disturb habitats whether on land, at the coast or under water.
• Let the local people know that you appreciate pristine nature being there, so that they see its economic value.
• Don't eat shark's fin soup or any dishes you suspect of containing endangered species.
• Be careful what you choose to bring home as a holiday souvenir. Many species from coral and conch shells to sea turtles and crocodiles are endangered because they are killed for curios or souvenirs.
• Take all rubbish home from the beach – turtles are often killed by plastic bags they've mistaken for jellyfish and many items take years to degrade as well as being dangerous.
• Boats and jet-skis create noise and chemical pollution which is disturbing to wildlife – don't keep the engine running unnecessarily.
• If you are sailing, surfing or windsurfing keep a distance of at least 100m from marine mammal and bird nesting sites to avoid disturbing them.

✔️ When You Get Home

• If you are concerned about anywhere you have been on a holiday, contact WWF-Philippines.