Traveling to collect garbage. On the face of it, this might be a tough sell for your average holiday maker…
But for environmentally conscious globetrotters looking to make a positive impact wherever they visit, choosing to participate in a beach cleanup during their trip can provide a rewarding experience. A volunteer project that avoids the pitfalls of ‘voluntourism’ schemes and also provides an opportunity to meet like-minded locals. Maybe not such a useless idea?
Here are six stunning tourist destinations around the world – from Bali to Barcelona – where you’ll find beach clean-up schemes that welcome tourists, plus some tips on how to treat yourself to a little R&R. How to Celebrate – After all, you’re on holiday
Mumbai, India
Stretching out from the Indian subcontinent into the Arabian Sea, Mumbai is a wonderful place to spend some time with its magnificent, skyscrapers. Scented by one of the best food scenes in the world, a huge consortium of temples, trains and movie theaters.
But Mumbai, like the rest of India, has a problem with waste management, and the problem becomes apparent every July, when monsoon waves dump kilos of garbage on the city’s beaches. Thankfully, both government agencies and community-led task forces have been set up to tackle the problem in recent years, and cities can do their part by joining one. Regular cleaning of Versova Beachor be complimentary. Beach Warrior by participating in one of their weekend letter picks at various beaches in the city; Both groups work throughout the year.
pick me up: As the home of Bollywood, Mumbai has over 120 movie theaters. Sit back in a comfortable chair and treat yourself to a few hours of blissful escapism courtesy of a modern blockbuster or a classic Hindi flick. The Art Deco Regal Cinema and the ornate Edwardian Theater are two very atmospheric options.
Koh Phi Phi, Thailand
With its dreamy palm-backed beaches, spectacular full moon parties and the legendary Khao San Road, Thailand has been a stalwart of backpacking itineraries for a generation. But Southeast Asia’s crown jewel needs a good polish. The waste caused by mass tourism (and the infrastructure often built to support it) has engulfed much of Thailand’s coastline and glittering islands, including postcard-pretty Phi- of Phi Island. The waste problem here became more complicated in 2018 when the famous Maya Bay (Star of the Beach) was closed to visitors due to pollution problems.
But a new wave of travelers – more interested in improving than wasting – is helping to curb the problem. organization Trash hero Popular, friendly walks Weekly beach cleaning on Phi-Phi Don, as well as numerous locations in Thailand and beyond. Check the website for details.
pick me up: A traditional Thai massage is the antidote to any pain or stress by reaching down to lift these plastic bottles, involving clients in a series of healing poses, which are said to relax the muscles. Helps to relax. Phi Phi Don is home to a handful of parlors, offering 30- or 60-minute options of Baan Sabai Thai massages, as well as other relaxing treatments.
Cornwall, England
England’s biggest coastal destination, Cornwall, with its fishing boat-lined coves, art galleries and a giant greenhouse, is also struggling with the scourge of litter along its pleasant coastline – which Much to the chagrin of the area’s large surfer population.
From the secluded coves of Polpero to the long stretches of sand around Penzance, Clear Cornwall. English organizes regular, small-scale clean-ups across the county that anyone can join.
pick me up: Celebrate a job well done with a Cornish cream tea. Served in any half-decent cafe in the county, the hearty dish revolves around a scone (a small baked good made from wheat or oatmeal), topped with a pot of English tea with strawberry jam and clotted cream. Served with Don’t forget: spread the jam first, then add the cream; or the danger of drawing from the natives.
Barcelona, Spain
It’s fair to say that tourism has become a problem in Barcelona, and while there are many ways you can help reduce the problem of overtourism when visiting the city (from staying in lesser-known barrios to to choosing friendly accommodation), one way to help change the perception of visitors – and to easily interact with locals – is to volunteer to help clean up one of the city’s favorite beaches.
Cleanup operations are conducted by Clean Beach Initiativeis held every Saturday on the long sweeping sands of Platja de la Barceloneta, where volunteers (sometimes of the four-legged kind) gather for the cause.
pick me up: Barcelona is famous for its food scene, and after a morning spent picking up trash, consider refueling at one of the city’s most prestigious restaurants. For a real treat, the avant-garde Disfrutar has a Michelin star, while the bare-brick Bormuth offers traditional tapas at more wallet-friendly prices.
Hong Kong
The archetypal ‘East meets West’ destination, Hong Kong’s soaring skyline towers over nose-searing food markets, glittering shopping malls, bamboo opera theaters and horse-racing tracks in the heart of the city, home to the region’s 7.4 million residents. There is plenty of room left for the population. People Indeed, Hong Kong is one of the most densely populated places in the world, and as a result, the city produces a lot of waste – much of which ends up on the city’s beaches.
While HK is known for its urban charms, over 70% of the area is made up of mountains and sprawling country parks. Dedicated volunteer groups work to protect the region’s fragile ecosystems, and welcome tourists into their ranks. If you want to help, A plastic-free ocean Cleans regularly at Discovery Bay on Lantau Island. The first penguinFounded in 2016, it adds some fun with monthly costume scavengers on different beaches, with previous themes ranging from princes and princesses. Star Wars.
pick me up: Enjoy the oceans you help protect by taking water. Hong Kong is home to a number of surf schools, e.g HK Watermanwhich also offers stand-up paddleboarding lessons.
Bali, Indonesia
As a destination synonymous with spirituality – radiating from its beautiful waters. pure (temples) and street religious processions – and world-renowned for its wellness industry, you might not be surprised to hear that Bali is working to keep the Indonesian island’s iconic coastline clean. Wally is home to a whole host of environmentally conscious companies. However, you may be surprised by the scale of the plastic problem on some parts of the island, with popular beaches such as Kuta often containing large amounts of litter, posing a serious threat to local marine life.
So after wandering the temples, shopping the market and sampling the island’s tempting cuisine, consider raising a hand for those fighting to keep beaches plastic-free. Trash hero Projects are underway across the island, while beachfront bar Old Man’s in Congo offers free beer to anyone who helps out as part of them. Popular litter selection Saturday afternoon.
pick me up: Bali is one of the world’s premier yoga destinations, and a few sun salutations make the perfect way to restore zen after a morning of beach trash. Almost every hotel, restaurant or bar seems to run classes, but two well-known establishments are Intuitive Flow, set amidst rice fields, and Taksu Spa, nestled in the heart of Ubud’s forested hills.
Other ways to help
Can’t see your next vacation destination here? It is worth noting that more than 180 locations around the world participate in global litter picking. World Cleanliness Day Every September. If you’re really keen to help clean up the beach while you’re on the road, you can always talk to local tourism organizations about getting involved in the destination you’re visiting, or, if you want to go the extra mile. If you want to decide, start your own.
While only global changes in industry and human consumption will end the problem of marine litter, spending a morning volunteering to pick up trash is certainly better than doing nothing. The psychological aspect of engaging in litter picking also forces us to shape our future behavior and think more about our consumption habits. To that end, it’s worth remembering that you can also benefit the destinations you’re visiting by being a responsible traveller, and by minimizing the use of plastic on the road.