Travelling is one of the most enriching experiences we can have in life, but also one of the most impactful on the environment and local communities. How can we reconcile a passion for travel with a responsibility towards the planet and people? The answer is sustainable tourism or ecotourism, a way of travelling that seeks to minimise the negative impact and maximise the positive benefits of travel.
- What is the impact of tourism?
- Sustainable travel, a new paradigm: ecotourism
- Sustainable destinations and travellersPolylang
What is the impact of tourism?
According to theWorld Tourism Organisation (UNWTO), in 2019 tourism represented the third largest export industry in the world, with around 1,450 million international tourist arrivals, almost half of which were to Europe.
It is estimated that tourism in all its aspects produces around8% of global CO2 emissions, and that these are set to increase by 4% each year.
The most emissive element is transport, which produces about 49% of total CO2 emissions.
The vehicles that pollute the most are aircraft followed by cars and motorbikes; the least impactful are tourist buses, trains and ferries.
Then there are the construction processes and impacts of accommodation facilities for which the most significant consumption comes from the use of non-renewable energy sources.
The service that consumes the most energy is definitely the air conditioning followed by general electricity consumption, kitchen services and lighting.
One solution could be renewable sources which allow greater self-sufficiency and efficiency of the building, as well as greatly limiting CO2 emissions.
Indirect consumption, such as the construction of new structures, car parks and roads, should not be underestimated, as this removes the possibility of the occupied land area being covered by trees and plants, thus preventing it from absorbing CO2 and water.
The excessive anthropisation of the territory, with new accommodation infrastructures, alters the ecological balance, reducing natural spaces and compromising the historical and artistic heritage.
And then there is the problem of food waste, often encouraged by all you can eat formulas, which leaves little room for responsible and conscious consumption.
All these effects can gradually destroy the environmental resources on which tourism itself depends, thus creating a vicious circle.
Sustainable travel, a new paradigm: ecotourism
Sustainable travel’, or ecotourism is a form of tourism based on respect for and appreciation of nature and local cultures; it aims to minimise environmental and social impact, promote the conservation of natural areas and the wellbeing of local communities, and offer educational and rewarding experiences to visitors.
Travelling sustainably means informing yourself about the characteristics and problems of the destination you want to visit, respecting local culture and traditions, protecting biodiversity and natural resources, reducing energy and water consumption, and avoiding waste.
This type of stay favours the conservation and recovery of natural and cultural heritage, the valorisation of identities and diversity, and the creation of job and income opportunities.
On the other hand, the challenges of ecotourism are related to the cost and availability of sustainable options, which are often more expensive or less accessible than traditional ones. Furthermore, sustainable tourism requires more planning and preparation of the trip, as well as more flexibility and adaptability during the trip.
Trends in sustainable travel are on the rise, thanks to traveller awareness and the increasing offer of sustainable operators and destinations.
Other trends are solidarity tourism, which is based on exchange and cooperation between travellers and host communities, slow tourism, which emphasises quality over quantity of travel, and experiential tourism, which involves travellers in immersive and exciting activities.
There are also websites, blogs and travel guides that offer information, tips and advice on sustainable travel, the philosophy of ecotourism, destinations and operators destinations and the most virtuous operators.
Sustainable destinations and travellers
Who is the typical sustainable traveller? They are people who seek to minimise the environmental and social impact of their travels by choosing destinations, means of transport, accommodation and activities that respect the principles of sustainability.
He is not just a tourist, but a citizen of the world who wants to leave a positive mark on the planet, is aware of the consequences of his choices and seeks to contribute to the well-being of local communities and the conservation of nature.
Ecotourism for people
But how to organise sustainable travel? By taking into account some important aspects, such as:
- The choice of means of transport: if possible, we avoid the plane and the car, but prefer the train, bus or bicycle, which have a lower lower environmental impact; if we have to use aeroplanes, we can compensate CO2 emissions with reforestation or renewable energy projects.
- The choice of accommodation: we try to stay in facilities that are environmentally sustainable that use renewable energy sources, save water and electricity, manage waste properly and respect workers’ rights.
- Respect for local culture and traditions: let us inform ourselves before we leave about the norms of behaviour, religious customs, food habits of the place we are visiting, let us not increase the market related to the exploitation of wild animals of the place, we do not buy souvenirs that may damage the cultural or natural heritage.
- Supporting the local economy: we buy local and artisanal products, and avoid international chains.
- Reducing waste: we carry a reusable water bottle, a cloth bag, a travel kit with environmentally friendly products; we do not use disposable products, and we properly separate waste as required by the municipality.
Ecotourism for institutions
Authorities and territories can also do a lot to reduce the impact of tourism, both environmentally and socially, through:
- The creation and promotion of tourist itineraries that enhance the natural and cultural beauty of the area, without altering its balance and biodiversity.
- The adoption of sustainability criteria in the management of accommodation facilities and tourism activities, such as energy saving, waste recycling, the use of eco-friendly products, respect for workers’ rights and participation in the social life of the host community.
- Awareness-raising and involvement of tourists in respecting the environment and local culture, providing them with information, advice and good practices. Workshops, guided tours and meetings with local people can be organised.
- Obtaining sustainability certifications that attest to the quality and responsibility of accommodation facilities and tourism activities. This can foster competitiveness and reputation of entities and territories.
The proximity tourism offers several advantages, both for travellers and for local businesses. For travellers, it means reducing transport costs and times, avoiding queues and crowds, discovering the hidden beauties of their area, perhaps with the help of an expert guide. For local businesses, it means having a more loyal clientele, more sensitive to the values of sustainability and quality.
Travelling sustainably means not only reducing the negative impact, but also increasing the positive benefit of our travel, and living a richer, more authentic and more meaningful experience, while preserving the environment.
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