Responsible & Sustainable Travellers Shall Now Adopt Nanotourism Techniques

Issues like mass tourism and over tourism have always sparked the interests of not just global tourism authorities but also sustainable and responsible travellers. Several famous cities, like Amsterdam, Barcelona, Maldives who have been struggling with such issues have now started encouraging ‘nanotourism’ amongst visitors.

As a counter term to mass tourism, nano tourism focuses on the protection and enhancement of the local heritage along with propagating a sense of social inclusion amongst the sustainable travellers. Rather than visiting a destination for a weekend of drinking and partying, nanotourism encourages travellers to become an active part of the local community.

Coined in 2014 by Aljoša Dekleva and Tina Gregorič, the term nanotourism promotes a mutual exchange between the visitors and destination by focusing on fulfilment for both. As an increasing number of tourists are now aiming to become sustainable travellers, conscious efforts to work towards nanotourism can help them to achieve their goals faster.

By contributing in the development of responsible economies via participation in small-scale activities, travellers can reshape the relationship between holiday and travel. Explaining the definition of a nanotourist, nanotourism.org states, “Instead of superficial one-way observation, one participates, exchanges or co-creates in a two-way relationship and evolves to nanotourist”.

Since the pandemic has stalled most travel escapades, nanotourists can look for ways to become responsible travellers sitting at home. Several countries across the globe are running projects to boost the spirit of nanotourism amongst visitors. For instance, a non-profit organisation in London — Open City is hosting panels, events and special biking tours to spread awareness about urban planning and design.

For the travellers who have unique thinking patterns, a social enterprise in London — Street Wisdom offers mind refreshing walkshops on streets all over the world. Local volunteer guides by this firm engage with participants, encouraging them to align their thoughts with the surroundings and later share their analysis with a group of people. As stated by the firm’s founder — David Pearl, this form of travelling can be termed as ‘enlightenment urban tourism’.

By planning their travel escapades with firms like these, sustainable travellers can change their perspective about responsible travelling and create meaningful experiences to be remembered for life. While international travellers might not be able to explore UK’s nanotourism projects at the moment, the local travellers can learn responsible travelling via these and use the techniques while travelling later.