Eco-friendly tourism is the latest travel trend, and Norfolk Island is jumping on board. Like many Pacific islands, tourism is the primary industry for this 5 x 8 km destination with a population of around 1800. With pristine white sandy beaches, World Heritage listed convict buildings, and untouched natural beauty, this little island paradise is fast becoming a popular holiday destination, and particularly for eco-minded travellers.
Eco-friendly tourism is ecologically sustainable tourism with a primary focus on experiencing natural areas that foster environmental and cultural understanding, appreciation and conservation.
Tourism produces at least 5% of the World’s carbon emissions.
During peak seasons, the number of weekly visitors to Norfolk Island can result in a 50% increase to the local population which can potentially cause extra waste for the island to deal with.
Norfolk Island was gearing up for one of its busiest years in 2020. With a busy cruise ship schedule and an increased flight schedule, record visitor numbers were predicted. In March 2020, the Covid-19 pandemic forced border restrictions and suspended travel to the island for five months. The impact to the island’s economy without visitors was harsh, but the impact to the natural environment without visitors was remarkable. Waste volumes were reduced, water supplies recovered, food sources were replenished, and the natural environment flourished as Mother Nature breathed a sigh of relief… and rested!
This rest period provided an opportunity for the island to ponder some very important questions. When travel resumes, how can we improve so that the island is more sustainable? How do we reduce the impact that visitors make to our tiny island? What steps do we take to apply responsible tourism?
In 2015, Boomerang Bags was established on Norfolk Island. A dedicated group of volunteers gather every week to create reusable shopping bags from recycled and repurposed fabric donated by the community. The bags are to provide an alternative to plastic bags and are available at many shops. When you have finished using the bag, simply return it to one of the collection stations where volunteers gather them, wash them, and re stock the supplies.
Annually, approximately 500 billion plastic bags are used worldwide.
A plastic bag has a working life of only 15 minutes but can sit in landfill for 1,000 years.
Prinke Eco-store sells amazing coffee served in ceramic coffee mugs and if you ask for a takeaway you will still get a mug (absolutely no disposable cups at this place). The staff just ask that you return the mug when you next pass by.
The Olive Café offers a discount off your coffee if you provide your own takeaway cup. Local artisans at Cottage Pottery create unique pottery travel cups which are a beautiful souvenir keepsake.
14% of all litter comes from beverage containers. When caps and labels are included, the percentage increases.
Local tourist accommodations are actively involved in reducing and recycling visitor waste. Most accommodations have systems in place where visitors can easily sort and dispose of their waste. Below are just a couple of examples of ways accommodations are making positive changes. Norfolk Island Holiday Homes have set aside a section in each of their homes, providing sorting bins for general waste, recyclable waste and compostable waste. Guests staying at Hibiscus Regal will have their food scraps disposed of in the property’s compost system. The compost is then used on the garden – from which guests can help themselves to fresh herbs.
Norfolk Island Central School (NICS) has developed a sustainability group called Enviro-NICS. Their goal is to meet regularly to encourage a more sustainable way of life on Norfolk Island by using less plastic, being aware of recycling options, considering the island’s waste situation, and endeavouring to encourage all school students to think more about looking after their island home.
You want to be a more eco-friendly traveller – so we have put together some practical and easy to achieve tips for environmentally friendly travel when visiting Norfolk Island.
