10 Ways to Be a Responsible Tourist

BE A ROLE MODEL: set a good example in your own interactions with the environment and other people will follow suit.

DO NOT THROW ANYTHING IN TO THE TOILET: Due to the septic system, non-organic waste will fill the septic tanks causing grey water to flow into the land and sea. This will increase pollution and kill our fragile underwater eco-system.

REFILL YOUR WATER BOTTLE: contribute to the waste management and help us recycle plastic by re-using your water bottle with a refill. It will also save you money and is an easy way to be green !

SAVE WATER: turn the water off when you are not using it, we live on a small island with very limited fresh water, so please be conservative.

SWITCH OFF AC, FAN, LIGHTS WHEN YOU LEAVE YOUR ROOM: the electricity comes from petrol generators on the Gili islands. Do not waste the energy as the island can barely cope already.

THROW RUBBISH IN THE BINS PROVIDED: encourage responsible behavior by walking a few extra steps to collect rubbish and throw it in a bin.

DO NOT COLLECT SEA SHELLS FROM THE OCEAN OR THE BEACH: they are live animals and taking them out of their environment will kill them. Hermit crabs will look for new and bigger sea shells from the beach as they grow up, collecting sea shell will leave the hermit crab homeless.

DO NOT TOUCH OR WALK ON THE REEF: coral and other animals are very fragile organisms and grow very slowly. Interacting with the ocean ecosystem will damage it. Please respect their space and only watch from a distance.

REPORT ENVIRONMENTAL DISTURBANCE OR DESTRUCTION: touching aquatic life, walking on reefs, anchoring, and throwing plastic are usually done in ignorance. Help these people to understand that their behaviour is not eco-appropriate by explaining how we can respect and look after our environment.

GET INVOLVED IN LOCAL ENVIRONMENTAL ACTIVITIES AND ISSUES: You may feel you can’t save the world, but you can have a great impact on the corner of the planet in which you live or spend your holidays. There are plenty of opportunities to show your support for a clean environment, including local beach cleanups, good eco role model behavior, education of local people about rubbish and plastic, and supporting ecological activities with your energy or money……