New survey examines sustainable travel and ecotourism
New survey examines sustainable travel and ecotourism
Sustainability is a growing concern and many people will put in a little more work and pay a few dollars more to support greener businesses when they travel. This is what the travel reservation giant Booking.com says after speaking results from a large international survey.
The survey analyzed responses from more than 30,000 travelers from 32 countries and territories. Climate problems are causing travelers to embrace sustainable travel, or at least the thought of it. 73 percent of travelers said sustainable travel is important to them, and 44% cite the latest news on climate change as an impact.
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Booking.com commissioned the survey, which included about a thousand people. Some included countries were USA, Brazil, Thailand, South Africa and more. Participants were at least 18 years old, traveled at least once in the past year, and planned to travel in 2022. The online survey took place in February 2022, a few months after Booking.com introduced its sustainable travel badge program for properties that meet its requirements. green criteria.
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The survey showed that 39% of American travelers actively seek information about the sustainability efforts of accommodation. Of those who do not, 48% said that if the information is readily available, they will review it. Of those who had chosen sustainable properties, 30% said they made the decision out of a desire to reduce their impact on the environment. A quarter said they believed sustainable properties treat society better, and 27% wanted to have a more locally relevant experience.
Thanks in part to COVID, travelers also try to spread out their tours throughout the year, looking for less busy seasons and less crowded places. 64 percent said they would avoid the most touristy destinations and attractions to help reduce or spread the effects of their visits.
Around the world, travelers said they would be encouraged to make more sustainable travel choices if it were easier. Just over a third of respondents said they want online booking sites to offer a sustainable filtering option, and 36% wanted travel platforms to clearly identify sustainable options.
Transport
Transportation is one of the major hubs for travelers. Especially for American travelers, though the thought of a train journey may seem romantic, it takes forever, is prone to delays, and often costs more than a plane ticket. Meanwhile, the less environmentally friendly plane brings you there in hours instead of days. Yet 51% of travelers globally said they believe lower to no CO2 emissions through their choice of transportation are important for sustainable travel.
One of the easiest ways to reduce the impact is to get closer to home. Twenty-three percent of respondents said they had already chosen a closer destination to reduce their CO2 footprint, and 57% said they would consider this strategy.
Other hopes included 75% of respondents who said they would like to walk, cycle and use public transport to their destinations more in the future. Twenty-eight percent said they would be willing to reduce emissions by using slower modes of transportation, such as trains, while 18 percent said they would pay extra for an electric rental car.
Get closer to local cultures
Travelers also expressed a desire to connect with local communities, with 45% saying they believe that protecting and learning about a culture is part of sustainable travel. But travelers do not always know how to do this. 32 percent of travelers surveyed said they would like travel companies to suggest holiday activities that ensure they give back to the community they visit. This opens doors for people who want to create their own unique small tourism businesses that showcase the taste of the community. It will also keep tourist dollars local instead of feeding a large corporate chain.
Disadvantages of sustainability
Of course, all good things have a backlash. Not everyone wants to consider sustainability while on vacation. Of the respondents, 32% found that sustainable travel options were less appealing than other holiday ideas, and 27% found that sustainable travel lacks luxury and comfort.
Travel Sustainable badge
To highlight more eco-friendly options, travelers can look for Booking.com’s Travel Sustainable badge. More than 95,000 properties around the world have so far met the criteria. The online travel company worked with industry experts to look at how properties handled five key areas: waste, nature protection, support for communities, water and energy, and greenhouse gases. They then further divided things into 32 sustainability practices, from removing disposable plastic toiletries to investing a percentage of the profits in conservation projects. Other third-party certifications may also qualify for accommodation for the Travel Sustainable brand, including those issued by the Nordic Ecolabel Swan, Green Hospitality Ecolabel, Green Seal and Ibex Fairstay.
“Showing the practice they have in place makes it easier for everyone to make a more informed and hopefully more sustainable choice for their next trip, wherever they want to go,” said Marianne Gybels, Director of Sustainability at Booking.com. as reported by Global News. “It also inspires even more of our partners to take the next step to operate more sustainably. ”
And if there’s one thing the study makes clear, it’s is that travelers support sustainability. If it is convenient.