Celine Cousteau has some serious environmental credentials. So when she told me I was doing my travelling wrong, I listened.
After all, she's the granddaughter of famed environmentalist and oceanographer Jacques Cousteau.
Yes, that man who mesmerised us from the 1950s to the 1990s as he brought the underwater world into our lounge rooms.
As I've ventured around Australia and across the world, I've tried to be mindful of the impact my travel has on the environment and on the places I've visited.
Offsetting carbon emissions from flights, using public transport, taking out anything I take in. They've all been part of the process of trying to "tread light".
But Celine Cousteau says in an era of climate change, increasing environmental pressures and the decline of indigenous communities, it's not good enough to just tread light, we should all be striving to "tread right".
"Tread right is about protecting the vitality of the places and people that travellers visit," she said.
"It's about understanding that in order for tourism to thrive, local destinations need to thrive.
"Travel and tourism is a massive industry that has huge potential for creating real change.
"But the positive impact that tourism can have is about doing the right thing. That's means, don't stop travelling, but do it more thoughtfully, give back to the places you visit."
Cousteau has recently come on board as the TreadRight Foundation's ambassador to help draw attention to its global efforts to support humanitarian community and environmental projects around the globe.
The Foundation was formed by The Travel Corporation and is supported by the organisation's group of travel companies, including Trafalgar.
We have a conversation about TreadRight's mission over dinner in Perugia, Italy, after just visiting one of the local artisans that TreadRight and travel company Trafalgar supports in the region.
Marta Brozzetti produces textiles using traditional Umbrian designs, some dating back to medieval times, and is one of the last to hand-weave using antique wooden looms, maintaining a workshop first established by her great grandmother in the early 20th century.
The patterns her and her workers create are reminiscent of great medieval and renaissance textiles produced in Italy, and particularly in the Umbria region, for centuries.
But her tiny operation took a beating during the economic downturn across Europe about a decade ago.
The Italian government has not helped, taxing her products at 68 per cent.
If her fabrics were considered art, and it would be easy to see them as such, then she would only pay 10 per cent.
Nevertheless, Marta remains optimistic thanks to the support of TreadRight and Trafalgar, which has included her workshop as a stop-off on some of its tours.
Using funds provided by the TreadRight grants program, Marta is able to teach others the tradition of weaving, and also increase online sales, which aims to provide a stable source of income for her community-based co-operative.
"TreadRight has saved my business," she says.
It has also helped save a craft that was in danger of disappearing.
But Cousteau says there's also little, less dramatic, things every traveller can do, no matter how and where they go.
To make her point she pulls from her bag a set of bamboo cutlery that she takes everywhere and uses instead of plastic knives and forks.
She also packs her own shampoo, conditioner and soap, instead of using those supplied by a hotel.
And when she buys souvenirs, she ensures she's buying local, seeking out artisans and community markets and producers.
Cousteau also makes it her policy not to haggle.
"Don't haggle for a dollar on that five dollar item at the market. Just give them the five dollars," she says.
"That one dollar is not making much difference to you but it could make a huge difference to them."
She also urges travellers to think more carefully about the time they spend in local communities, to think about giving back.
"Maybe tack two or three extra days on at the end to go see a non-profit organisation. See if you can visit a local school," she says.
"Volunteer your time to read a book to kids, or bring pencils and paper to a school.
"That is something we can all easily do, and it needs to happen more often.
"That's the power that we, as travellers, have. And it's simple."
HOW TO TREAD RIGHT WHEN YOU TRAVEL:
* Seek our local artisans and community groups who produce souvenirs and other items to benefit themselves and their local communities. Don't buy from the hotel gift shop or major retailers.
* Look at what you take with you. Pack your own reusable cutlery, water bottles and also a metal straw. Help communities cut down on single-use plastics.
* Consider how you can give back. Add a day or two to your travels to volunteer with a local, non-profit organisation or to visit a school.
* Don't use hotel shampoos and conditioners and soap. Don't accept single-use plastic bags in shops and from traders. Bring your own.
* Lighten your load. Consider donating some of your used clothes (that you've replaced with holiday purchases anyway) before you head home and leave behind your spare change for those who clean your rooms.
* The writer travelled as a guest of Trafalgar.
After all, she's the granddaughter of famed environmentalist and oceanographer Jacques Cousteau.
Yes, that man who mesmerised us from the 1950s to the 1990s as he brought the underwater world into our lounge rooms.
As I've ventured around Australia and across the world, I've tried to be mindful of the impact my travel has on the environment and on the places I've visited.
Offsetting carbon emissions from flights, using public transport, taking out anything I take in. They've all been part of the process of trying to "tread light".
But Celine Cousteau says in an era of climate change, increasing environmental pressures and the decline of indigenous communities, it's not good enough to just tread light, we should all be striving to "tread right".
"Tread right is about protecting the vitality of the places and people that travellers visit," she said.
"It's about understanding that in order for tourism to thrive, local destinations need to thrive.
"Travel and tourism is a massive industry that has huge potential for creating real change.
"But the positive impact that tourism can have is about doing the right thing. That's means, don't stop travelling, but do it more thoughtfully, give back to the places you visit."
Cousteau has recently come on board as the TreadRight Foundation's ambassador to help draw attention to its global efforts to support humanitarian community and environmental projects around the globe.
The Foundation was formed by The Travel Corporation and is supported by the organisation's group of travel companies, including Trafalgar.
We have a conversation about TreadRight's mission over dinner in Perugia, Italy, after just visiting one of the local artisans that TreadRight and travel company Trafalgar supports in the region.
Marta Brozzetti produces textiles using traditional Umbrian designs, some dating back to medieval times, and is one of the last to hand-weave using antique wooden looms, maintaining a workshop first established by her great grandmother in the early 20th century.
The patterns her and her workers create are reminiscent of great medieval and renaissance textiles produced in Italy, and particularly in the Umbria region, for centuries.
But her tiny operation took a beating during the economic downturn across Europe about a decade ago.
The Italian government has not helped, taxing her products at 68 per cent.
If her fabrics were considered art, and it would be easy to see them as such, then she would only pay 10 per cent.
Nevertheless, Marta remains optimistic thanks to the support of TreadRight and Trafalgar, which has included her workshop as a stop-off on some of its tours.
Using funds provided by the TreadRight grants program, Marta is able to teach others the tradition of weaving, and also increase online sales, which aims to provide a stable source of income for her community-based co-operative.
"TreadRight has saved my business," she says.
It has also helped save a craft that was in danger of disappearing.
But Cousteau says there's also little, less dramatic, things every traveller can do, no matter how and where they go.
To make her point she pulls from her bag a set of bamboo cutlery that she takes everywhere and uses instead of plastic knives and forks.
She also packs her own shampoo, conditioner and soap, instead of using those supplied by a hotel.
And when she buys souvenirs, she ensures she's buying local, seeking out artisans and community markets and producers.
Cousteau also makes it her policy not to haggle.
"Don't haggle for a dollar on that five dollar item at the market. Just give them the five dollars," she says.
"That one dollar is not making much difference to you but it could make a huge difference to them."
She also urges travellers to think more carefully about the time they spend in local communities, to think about giving back.
"Maybe tack two or three extra days on at the end to go see a non-profit organisation. See if you can visit a local school," she says.
"Volunteer your time to read a book to kids, or bring pencils and paper to a school.
"That is something we can all easily do, and it needs to happen more often.
"That's the power that we, as travellers, have. And it's simple."
HOW TO TREAD RIGHT WHEN YOU TRAVEL:
* Make an informed decision on who you're travelling with. Consider the environmental footprint and attitudes of airlines, travel companies, hotel chains etc.
* Seek our local artisans and community groups who produce souvenirs and other items to benefit themselves and their local communities. Don't buy from the hotel gift shop or major retailers.
* Look at what you take with you. Pack your own reusable cutlery, water bottles and also a metal straw. Help communities cut down on single-use plastics.
* Consider how you can give back. Add a day or two to your travels to volunteer with a local, non-profit organisation or to visit a school.
* Don't use hotel shampoos and conditioners and soap. Don't accept single-use plastic bags in shops and from traders. Bring your own.
* Lighten your load. Consider donating some of your used clothes (that you've replaced with holiday purchases anyway) before you head home and leave behind your spare change for those who clean your rooms.
* The writer travelled as a guest of Trafalgar.
Source: AAP
