Latest news with #SustainableTravel2024
USA Today
24-03-2025
- USA Today
Why reusing your towel won't save the planet — and what actually might
Why reusing your towel won't save the planet — and what actually might Show Caption Hide Caption Rome considers tourist limits at Trevi Fountain to thwart overtourism Roman officials are looking at a proposal to tackle overtourism by limiting the amount of visitors at the Trevi Fountain in Italy. The tourism industry is making efforts to become more eco-friendly, but some companies engage in "greenwashing" by making misleading claims about their environmental practices. True sustainability in travel involves minimizing environmental impact, supporting local communities, and educating travelers. Travelers can identify greenwashing by looking for concrete evidence of a company's environmental efforts, such as third-party certifications and detailed impact reports. No single-use plastics. Don't wash your linens. Drink from a reusable water bottle. Turn off the lights when you're not in the room. The air conditioning stops if the sliding doors are open. These are just some common eco-friendly claims that hotels and other travel companies inundate travelers with. These actions seem valuable at first glance, given that the tourism industry accounts for approximately 8% of the world's carbon emissions, from transportation to food and energy consumption at hotels and on cruise ships, according to a 2018 study published in the Nature Climate Change journal. That number is only expected to grow. So, why wouldn't the travel industry jump on the green bandwagon? According to Sustainable Travel 2024 report, green practices are appealing to 83% of the more than 31,000 survey respondents who said sustainable travel is important to them. However, not all efforts are equal – or as meaningful. "It can be confusing because there are a lot of entities trying to tap into the popularity of those buzzwords, and in academia, sustainable development is a broad and vague term that means a lot of different things to different people, so it's very easy to exploit that," said Dr. Mike Gunter, a professor of political science department chair at Rollins College who specializes in eco-tourism. "In that case, it's kind of like a marketing ploy, you could say." I saw Fiji's magic myself. Here's how travelers can preserve the splendor for everyone. In these ploys, companies deceptively claim to be environmentally friendly without actually making a significant impact. The practice is known as greenwashing. For many travelers, it can be overwhelming to navigate messaging and determine who's truly following through on their promises. Here's how to figure out if a travel company is greenwashing or truly sustainable. Greenwashing vs sustainability While hanging up your towel so housekeeping doesn't toss it in the wash is "better than nothing," according to Gunter, it's also "not a deep or meaningful in ways true sustainable development would be." This is more of a PR move or a way to reduce a corporation's bottom line. This is the very scenario that prompted environmentalist Jay Westerveld to first coin the term greenwashing in a 1986 essay following an experience at a hotel in Fiji, according to the National Resources Defense Council. The hotel asked guests to reuse towels to protect the planet, but at the same time, it was clearing out island ecosystems for expansion. Gunter broke it down into three main concepts that if a company is doing this, it's on the right (and sustainable) path: A light footprint . This begins with how sustainable the hotel operates, such as using renewable energy, conserving water and sourcing food from local farmers and fishermen. It can also expand into a company's role in overtourism, like big cruise ships that can overwhelm port cities and how it supports and interacts with the local community. . This begins with how sustainable the hotel operates, such as using renewable energy, conserving water and sourcing food from local farmers and fishermen. It can also expand into a company's role in overtourism, like big cruise ships that can overwhelm port cities and how it supports and interacts with the local community. The money stays locally. On that note, travelers should think about where their money ultimately ends up, like it only the corporation benefits or profits trickle down throughout the community, such as to a local surf guide or ghost tour operator. On that note, travelers should think about where their money ultimately ends up, like it only the corporation benefits or profits trickle down throughout the community, such as to a local surf guide or ghost tour operator. An educational component. This is about what travelers learn on their trips – wildlife, ocean conservation or indigenous communities – and how they can bring that new awareness and knowledge when they return home. "We can take these lessons from our travels and apply them back to our homes and communities and, in some cases, lobby for those kinds of changes," Gunter said. A pioneer in the ecotourism industry who was named as a 2023 Meaningful Business Leader for her work aligning with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, Sarah Dusek thinks about sustainability this way: "How does this business become regenerative? How do we put back things that have been lost – not just how do we not take – but how could we use ecotourism to be a regenerative force in the world?" When Dusek started conceptualizing her newest company Few & Far, which takes guests on carbon-neutral safaris with local conservation nonprofits, she considered the least impactful ways to not only build her lodge but how it runs. Instead of importing wood, she's using invasive albizia trees for hardwood, which also removes it from harming the ecosystem while also regenerating the land by regrowing native grasses. The lodge will run on 100% solar energy and food for her trips is sourced within a 50-mile radius from local purveyors. For every traveler, Dusek tracks the carbon emissions of her trips – covered with a carbon offset fee. How to spot greenwashing Unfortunately, the travel industry doesn't always make it easy to decipher between greenwashing and a substantial impact. Websites and marketing campaigns like to throw out words like "green" and "eco-friendly," but it's tough to know what's truly being done. "It's hard to spot, to be able to differentiate greenwashing from really good practices," said Dusek. "I think one of the things for me is looking at how deep the initiatives are." Here are a few things travelers can look for to determine greenwashing: Find the evidence. There are several third-party accreditations that travelers can rely on, like Fair Life Tourism or B Corporation Certification, that vet and measure a company's impact on the culture, community and environment. There are several third-party accreditations that travelers can rely on, like Fair Life Tourism or B Corporation Certification, that vet and measure a company's impact on the culture, community and environment. Transparency goes a long way. If a travel company is truly making a difference, it will want to make its mission statement, impact numbers and reports easily accessible rather than only vague claims. "The biggest red flag for me is either no communication about any of these things or very surface-level communication," said Dusek. If a travel company is truly making a difference, it will want to make its mission statement, impact numbers and reports easily accessible rather than only vague claims. "The biggest red flag for me is either no communication about any of these things or very surface-level communication," said Dusek. Check the community partners. One way to see if a company is invested in the community is to check if it partners with local nonprofits, like the Malama Hawaii Program, in which hotels encourage visitors to pay it forward by teaming up with an organization for volunteer work in exchange for a free night or other perk. One way to see if a company is invested in the community is to check if it partners with local nonprofits, like the Malama Hawaii Program, in which hotels encourage visitors to pay it forward by teaming up with an organization for volunteer work in exchange for a free night or other perk. Ask an employee. If you call up the hotel or ask the front desk about its eco-initiatives, pay attention to how detailed their response is. "If it really is an embedded philosophy in the company, everybody will know what they do," Dusek said. While there is an onus on the travel industry to shrink its footprint, tackling a crisis as vast as climate change demands collective action from all industries. "Ecotourism is not a silver bullet to address sustainable development, climate change, or any of our overarching societal problems," Gunter said. "But it has remarkable potential to expand consciousness on the problem and tap into some of the ideological divides that we have in the U.S."
Yahoo
26-01-2025
- Yahoo
Not all tourists are created equal: How you can be one of the good ones
Tourists have always gotten a bad rap, but their impact has grown unsustainable in some destinations. It's past due to try a new the Canary Islands to Hawaii, destinations worldwide are grappling with the challenges of over tourism and climate change. Just over the past year, residents across Spain and Greece have been protesting against the high influx of tourists. Last spring, 67% of Hawaii residents said they feel the islands are "run for tourists at the expense of local people," citing the rising cost of living, damage to the environment and a lack of respect for culture. When left unchecked, mass tourism can cause environmental and cultural degradation, displace locals, and strain infrastructure and resources. "These consequences not only harm the destinations but also diminish the quality of the travel experience itself and can ultimately lead to its decline and disappearance," said Paula Vlamings, chief impact officer at Tourism Cares, a nonprofit focused on positive change in the travel industry. Would you pay a tourist tax? Many destinations are raising tourist taxes. Here's why. By now, most of us have heard of responsible tourism, or the notion of making "choices that take into account the well-being of the destinations" and align with values of sustainability and equity, as Vlamings put it. In Sustainable Travel 2024 report, 71% of the 31,000 survey respondents said they wanted to leave a place better than when they arrived – up from 66% in 2023. Still, putting it into practice has been a challenge, with 45% saying sustainability isn't a primary consideration when planning their trips and 34% feeling powerless in making a meaningful impact, according to the an effort to seek out community-based experiences while traveling not only supports the destination but also allows the traveler to have a deeper and more authentic connection on their trip, not just something overly commercialized. Sounds like a win-win, right? Here are some practical ways you can become a more sustainable traveler. If you don't know where to begin your research, Tourism Cares' Meaningful Travel Map is a good starting place. This recently launched interactive map highlights 30 member destinations and over 400 vetted local impact organizations," from diverse and inclusive businesses to organizations focusing on environmental or cultural preservation. Just scroll over your destination of choice to see the suggested activities. The idea for the map can be traced back to 2018, when the nonprofit partnered with Visit Jordan, the country's tourism bureau, to identify underrepresented communities, nonprofits and social enterprises that could benefit from tourism and introduced them to advisors and tour operators. "We wanted to guide travelers beyond popular sites like Petra and into local communities, where tourism could transform the lives of people, especially women and families," Vlamings said. The nonprofit expanded on that successful program to other places like Colombia, Puerto Rico, and Lake Tahoe before creating the worldwide map. Travelers constantly hear that they should support local, but what exactly does that mean? "To seek community while traveling, you should prioritize experiences that encourage meaningful interaction with locals in their authentic environments," Vlamings said. Think activities led by the people from the place, such as a volunteer opportunity with a nonprofit, historical walking tour, cooking class on local cuisine or visit to a cultural center or Indigenous community. You could also plan your trip to coincide with a cultural event or festival significant to the locals, such as Lei Day in Hawaii. To get to know the destination, don't be afraid to take public transportation or strike up conversations with locals to learn more about their way of life or favorite restaurants and shops. It can be overwhelming for travelers to determine if a tour operator or hotel is truly sustainable or greenwashing. "The challenge today is that there isn't a unified global standard for sustainable tourism businesses, so travelers will have to do a little bit of 'homework,'" said Vlamings. Some reputable third-party accreditations focus on positive social and environmental impact you can look for when researching: B Corporation Certification Travelife Good Travel Seal from Green Destinations Fair Life Tourism Rainforest Alliance Certified For many of us, completely removing timeless destinations like Venice and Amsterdam from our travel bucket list just isn't going to happen. If that's the case, Vlamings recommends people visit during the off-season to reduce overcrowding and respect guest limits at popular attractions and local laws. Seek out experiences other than the must-dos and give your money to small businesses rather than big corporations. At the end of the day, remember you're not just in an exciting destination but someone's real home. "It is important to treat these communities with the same respect as you would like to have your home treated," Vlamings said. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 4 easy ways to be a more responsible traveler in 2025
USA Today
26-01-2025
- USA Today
Not all tourists are created equal: How you can be one of the good ones
Not all tourists are created equal: How you can be one of the good ones Show Caption Hide Caption These pristine Caribbean islands should be your next destination Many travelers aren't familiar with these Caribbean islands, though you may recognize them if you've seen the first "Pirates of the Caribbean" film. Overtourism is causing environmental and cultural damage in popular destinations worldwide. Travelers are increasingly interested in sustainable tourism but often struggle to put it into practice. Tourists can make a positive impact by engaging in community-based experiences and supporting local businesses. Tourists have always gotten a bad rap, but their impact has grown unsustainable in some destinations. It's past due to try a new the Canary Islands to Hawaii, destinations worldwide are grappling with the challenges of over tourism and climate change. Just over the past year, residents across Spain and Greece have been protesting against the high influx of tourists. Last spring, 67% of Hawaii residents said they feel the islands are "run for tourists at the expense of local people," citing the rising cost of living, damage to the environment and a lack of respect for culture. When left unchecked, mass tourism can cause environmental and cultural degradation, displace locals, and strain infrastructure and resources. "These consequences not only harm the destinations but also diminish the quality of the travel experience itself and can ultimately lead to its decline and disappearance," said Paula Vlamings, chief impact officer at Tourism Cares, a nonprofit focused on positive change in the travel industry. Would you pay a tourist tax? Many destinations are raising tourist taxes. Here's why. By now, most of us have heard of responsible tourism, or the notion of making "choices that take into account the well-being of the destinations" and align with values of sustainability and equity, as Vlamings put it. In Sustainable Travel 2024 report, 71% of the 31,000 survey respondents said they wanted to leave a place better than when they arrived – up from 66% in 2023. Still, putting it into practice has been a challenge, with 45% saying sustainability isn't a primary consideration when planning their trips and 34% feeling powerless in making a meaningful impact, according to the an effort to seek out community-based experiences while traveling not only supports the destination but also allows the traveler to have a deeper and more authentic connection on their trip, not just something overly commercialized. Sounds like a win-win, right? Here are some practical ways you can become a more sustainable traveler. Map it out: You can use this tool If you don't know where to begin your research, Tourism Cares' Meaningful Travel Map is a good starting place. This recently launched interactive map highlights 30 member destinations and over 400 vetted local impact organizations," from diverse and inclusive businesses to organizations focusing on environmental or cultural preservation. Just scroll over your destination of choice to see the suggested activities. The idea for the map can be traced back to 2018, when the nonprofit partnered with Visit Jordan, the country's tourism bureau, to identify underrepresented communities, nonprofits and social enterprises that could benefit from tourism and introduced them to advisors and tour operators. "We wanted to guide travelers beyond popular sites like Petra and into local communities, where tourism could transform the lives of people, especially women and families," Vlamings said. The nonprofit expanded on that successful program to other places like Colombia, Puerto Rico, and Lake Tahoe before creating the worldwide map. This is what it means to 'go local' Travelers constantly hear that they should support local, but what exactly does that mean? "To seek community while traveling, you should prioritize experiences that encourage meaningful interaction with locals in their authentic environments," Vlamings said. Think activities led by the people from the place, such as a volunteer opportunity with a nonprofit, historical walking tour, cooking class on local cuisine or visit to a cultural center or Indigenous community. You could also plan your trip to coincide with a cultural event or festival significant to the locals, such as Lei Day in Hawaii. To get to know the destination, don't be afraid to take public transportation or strike up conversations with locals to learn more about their way of life or favorite restaurants and shops. When in doubt, check for accreditation It can be overwhelming for travelers to determine if a tour operator or hotel is truly sustainable or greenwashing. "The challenge today is that there isn't a unified global standard for sustainable tourism businesses, so travelers will have to do a little bit of 'homework,'" said Vlamings. Some reputable third-party accreditations focus on positive social and environmental impact you can look for when researching: Everyone hates crowds For many of us, completely removing timeless destinations like Venice and Amsterdam from our travel bucket list just isn't going to happen. If that's the case, Vlamings recommends people visit during the off-season to reduce overcrowding and respect guest limits at popular attractions and local laws. Seek out experiences other than the must-dos and give your money to small businesses rather than big corporations. At the end of the day, remember you're not just in an exciting destination but someone's real home. "It is important to treat these communities with the same respect as you would like to have your home treated," Vlamings said.
