Travel writer and author Nina Karnikowski is putting a new lens on the way we view travel. In her recent sustainable travel handbook, Go Lightly- How to travel without hurting the planet, Karnikowski urges the reader to forget the bucket list and replace it with an itinerary that's more about connection. Connection to the lands we visit and the cultures native to them. Connection to the impact that our travel is having on local economies; 95% of travel dollars get funneled out of the destinations we visit (a term called 'leakage' in the travel industry). Connection to the languages spoken by the artisans that whittle and weave crafts to feed their families. And more connection to the idea of sustainable travel, which means doing a lot less and making our actions count in every possible.

 

For many of us, venturing overseas to explore far-off corners of the globe is something of a right of passage into early adulthood, and for some, a way of life. But as Karnikowski states, 'the staggering reality is, that only 6% of the world's population have ever even set foot on a plane'. This statistic really puts the idea of privilege into perspective, and as the adage goes, 'with great privilege comes great responsibility. Working as a travel writer for over a decade, traveling to some of the world's most remote destinations, Karnikowski has seen firsthand the destructive side of global travel. In this chat with Tahnee, Nina offers soulful insights and practical notions of how we can not only leave a lighter footprint but maybe even leave a place better than we found it through regeneration and mindful reciprocity. This conversation will have you yearning for connection, inspire you to do better, and make you incredibly nostalgic for travel. Mostly, it will open your eyes to the many little things we can be doing to make a positive impact on the places we choose to travel and the type of memories we create.

 

Tahnee and Nina discuss:

-The power of conversations.

-How to travel more sustainably.  

-Leakage in the travel industry. 

-How to support local artisans.

-The art to a good travel wardrobe.

-The potency of a daily writing practise.

-Over tourism; Thinking twice about geo-tagging. 

-Being more mindful of how we spend our travel dollars.

-The negative impacts of tourism on local accommodation.

-Slowing down and spending more time connecting to people and nature.

 

Resources:

Nina's website Nina's Instagram Go Lightly Make A Living Living, Be Successful Doing What You Love  

Check Out The Transcript Here:

https://www.superfeast.com.au/blogs/articles/mindful-travel-with-nina-karnikowski-ep-132