Maybe you’re a traveler and you’ve been noticing new environmentally friendly practices when you stay in hotels or dine out, or maybe you offer accommodations or services and are wondering if getting on the green business bandwagon is the thing for you. Either way I’m here to tell you sustainability is here to stay so it’s to your benefit to get on board now. In case you’re new to the concept completely, sustainable tourism is the concept of visiting a place, and trying to have a positive impact on the environment, society and economy. For a business this is known as the triple bottom line. This definition is a little bit misleading, because in reality tourism generally has a negative environmental impact, so the purpose of sustainable tourism is more about reducing the environmental footprint, and achieving a healthy balance between the three factors.
Tourism is one of the fastest growing industries. According to the United Nations World Tourism Organization there were 1.3 billion international tourist trips in 2018, and another 5-6 billion domestic trips. Tourism also accounts for some 5% of global CO2 emissions posing a very real environmental issue as travel continues to grow. Thus, the need for sustainable tourism is very real, and not only that consumers are more ready than ever to embrace sustainable businesses. According to a study by Booking.com 87% of global travelers are eager for sustainable travel, and trends indicate that increasing numbers of travelers are looking to book eco-friendly accommodations. So what are you waiting for?
Sabrina Siino's Sustainable Travel Blog 