The rise of the sustainable tourism

After the covid -19 pandemic all of us are trying to get back to the normal way

of life that we had before it.

One of the most “hurt” industries in the world by the pandemic is the tourism

industry.

But as travel restrictions have lifted, holiday bookings have returned, with

some numbers surpassing 2019 levels.  

This post-pandemic holidaying boom is welcome. Tourism is one of the

world’s largest industries, employing around one in 10 people globally, with

some countries’ GDP—notably island nations such as the Maldives, the

Bahamas and Aruba—almost entirely dependent on tourism. But in the

context of the climate emergency whose impacts are being felt across the

world, many are trying to travel in ways that are not just enjoyable but also

environmentally and socially ethical.

Seeking sun, sand and sustainability

According to a recent report from Booking.com, 61% of survey respondents

say the pandemic has made them want to travel more sustainably in the

future, based on a desire to make positive changes in their lives more

generally, such as reducing food waste and single-use plastics. There have

been significant changes in people’s views on how they want to travel now,

with 79% wanting to move around in a more environmentally friendly way

while they’re on holiday, such as walking and cycling more, or using public

transport rather than taxis and rental cars.

In recent years we’ve seen a shift in what tourism companies are offering in

terms of their climate commitments, from holidays prioritizing conservation

and investing in local communities, to plastic waste reduction initiatives. But

the push is also coming from travelers themselves; 76% want to reduce their

personal water usage when they are on holiday and staying in hotels or B&Bs,

for instance by reusing towels or opting out of daily room cleaning. As many

as 84% wish to reduce general waste, with 46% feeling most concerned about

the excess waste they are creating, such as plastics, while they travel. 

The biggest elephant in the room when it comes to sustainable travel is

flying, as around 2% of global carbon emissions come from the aviation

industry.

To fly or not to fly?

The biggest elephant in the room when it comes to sustainable travel is flying,

as around 2% of global carbon emissions come from the aviation industry.

This is a growing concern for holidaymakers, as 69% say they are committed

to reducing the carbon footprint of their trip or paying to offset their travel

whenever possible. Offsetting can only ever be part of the solution, however.

Many believe the onus of sustainability should be on the producer, not the

consumer—such as implementing greater fuel taxes, investing in greener

fuels, and supporting the development of energy-efficient aviation technology. 

Holiday travel should also be considered in the context of the bigger picture of

airplane travel in general. The carbon footprint of a person on a packed

commercial airline who takes one round-trip holiday flight a year is

significantly less than those who use private jets like a regular car service. As

with almost everything to do with the climate crisis, it’s a tiny minority that is

causing challenges for the majority: just 1% of flyers are responsible for more

than 50% of global aviation emissions.