Travel allows people to broaden their horizons and create wonderful experiences and memories. However, seeing the world can create unfortunate consequences for the communities visited by tourists. More travel marketing firms are grappling with that reality and taking steps to make it less impactful on the planet.
Sustainable tourism is possible, and more guides are explaining the emissions a person raises when traveling. Sustainable Travel International says that 49% of tourism emissions come from transportation, especially air travel.
Another 10% comes from food and beverage, 12% from purchased goods, 8% from services, and 6% from lodging. Tourism accounts for nearly 8% of the world’s carbon emissions.
Marketing agencies are using sustainability to attract tourists and also have them consider the long-term well-being of the countries they visit. This effort means being transparent about how travelers affect the local economy, global emissions, wildlife, and the broader communities. Economic benefits for marginalized groups are becoming a talking point among travel agents and clients.
Photo Courtesy Ross Sneddon
The Road Less Traveled
Tourists should consider traveling to destinations off the beaten path. Rather than go to Mykonos, Greece, visit Kynthos or Amorgos, where fewer tourists flock. Instead of Barcelona, Spain, check out Girona.
Find experiences that other travelers wouldn’t, which can keep overcrowding down and not overburden a single area.
Also, skip the luxury hotels and stay in local accommodations, like an Airbnb or VRBO. Buy groceries and cook some of your meals, saving time and money on restaurants.
How You Get There Counts
Transportation is a bit trickier, but there are ways to be less impactful. Try to find destinations with the fewest flights possible. Utilize trains and buses to minimize the amount of car use.
Some destinations may not have train access, but doing what you can does make a difference. Even with the breakthroughs in sustainable aviation, not every airline has decarbonized yet, but more transparency about emission savings is becoming available.
Giving Back To Communities
Some travel marketers suggest that tourists give charitable donations back to the communities they visit. 4VI, the Vancouver Island tourism nonprofit, has found ways to market travel to the British Columbia island while making a positive impact.
The company introduced a four-pillar sustainable tourism model involving supporting local businesses and protecting the environment.
The firm changed from being a destination marketing organization to a social enterprise after the COVID-19 pandemic exposed the dark side of domestic tourism. The Vancouver Island community became overwhelmed with Canadian residents unable to travel outside the country during lockdowns. Since then, 4VI has worked with sustainable travel outlets and became a signatory of the Glasgow Declaration on Climate Action in Tourism.
Photo Courtesy Shlomo Shalev
Eco-Friendly Travel Habits
Travelers can contribute to areas they visit by participating in beach clean-ups, eating at local restaurants, helping out in a citizen scientist project, and doing nature-based activities. Use less hot water, take shorter showers, and run the A/C for less time. Shut off the lights when leaving for the day.
Try to eat local delicacies rather than imported food, which causes emissions from shipping and landfill waste. According to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, for example, around 80% of tourist-eaten food in South Pacific islands is imported. Instead, travelers can eat local foods such as fish and rice from the community.
Sustainable tourism is possible, and there are plenty of ways to make a trip more eco-friendly and socially responsible. Doing so can improve climate change and its impact on tourist destinations.
