Our Ticket to Adventure without Sacrificing the Planet
Sherif Tawfik
Chief Partnership Officer - AI & Cloud for Sovereignty - Middle East, Africa, Central Eastern Europe, and Central Asia
As the final sunsets of the northern hemisphere's summer vacation season dip below the horizon, we find our minds still wandering through the maze of memories – sunrises painting the sky, chance encounters with diverse cultures, and tantalizing tastes that lingered. But even as these moments engrave themselves in our minds, it's time to reflect on the deeper footprint of our journeys.??
Let's pivot our conversation to sustainable travel – ensuring that our globe-trotting legacies remain positive for generations to come.?
Sustainable travel is not just about recycling waste and turning off hotel room lights, but involves the smaller aspects that minimize the impact of our travel on the environment.?
But,?why is sustainable travel so important???
The travel and tourism industry are responsible for roughly 8% of global greenhouse gas emissions. These figures are only expected to rise with predictions that 40% of the world's carbon emissions might be down to tourism by 2050!
With 1.8 billion of us predicted to be joining the global tourist club by 2030, it's clear: greener travel isn't just a nice-to-have.?
As consumers and travelers, we are the most responsible in the travel value chain for ensuring that we keep the environment in mind when we travel.?
Latest Trends in Sustainable Tourism?
There are several indicators that travelling may become more sustainable in the future. Here is a look at some major trends:?
Sustainable Travel is Becoming Increasingly Popular?
People are increasingly shifting to being climate and environment-conscious.?As many as 74% of respondents to a survey ?said that they want to spend sustainably when travelling.?70% of the people ?added that traveling sustainably provides a better experience.??
If these statistics are anything to go by, we can expect tourism spots to start taking steps to become more eco-friendly to attract more tourists as well.??
Image Source:?Booking.com?
Resorts are Working Towards Bettering Fragile Ocean Ecosystems?
Environmentalists know how important ocean ecosystems are for Planet Earth, and they have been consistently advocating for travel resorts to take heed.??
Luxury travel resorts around the globe have now started to pay attention to their local ocean ecosystems and are taking steps to ensure their longevity. For example, tourists are usually forbidden from doing anything which may harm this fragile life as well. Further,?The Brando, a luxury resort in French Polynesia ?built and gifted an eco-station to the?Tetiatoa?Society which focuses on conservation of the environment.??
This trend comes at the most opportune time.?Oceans across the world have already been harmed due to tourism , but we still have time to make a change. This is even more important as the tourism industry is only expected to grow in the future (supporting up to 400 million people ), having a greater possible impact.??
Aviation Fuels are becoming Carbon Negative?
Airlines have been a major contributor to greenhouse gas emissions, adding up to climate change.??
In this context, Turkish Airlines has become the first airline in the world to debut sustainable aviation fuel which emits up to?87% less carbon in the atmosphere . Other international airlines are following suit and taking steps to reduce their carbon footprint as well.??
Image Source:?Visual.ly ?
How You Can Do Your Part??
There?are several ways in which every tourist ?can ensure that the way they travel is good for the planet.??
Travel Green??
The most primary one is to make “green decisions” when traveling.?Trains, buses, and boats often have less of a carbon footprint vs. flying. If you have to fly, choose direct routes - less up and down means less fuel burnt. Once you're there, embrace the local vibe on foot, by bike, or on public transportation, or if you rent a car, look for EVs or hybrids.?Also be mindful of how you dispose of your waste, staying in eco-friendly accommodations, and supporting communities.?
Stay Sustainably??
Remember that where you stay matters a lot. Try and pick hotels that do their bit for the environment. This means hotels that have energy-efficient operations and waste reduction plans. You can check out resources such as Green Key Global or Global Sustainable Tourism Council to see which hotels suit your needs.??
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Be a Respectful Visitor?
Try to not “leave any trace” of your travelling wherever you go. For example, if you visit the beach, make sure that you don’t litter. If you go to a zoo, never feed the wildlife. Always respect any guidelines which local guides and experts provide. Do not be a part of any tour which exploits wildlife.??
Image Source:?Weforum?
Support Local Businesses?
Travel and tourism can be a big business, which is why many international chains target tourists. You will find multi-national chains anywhere you go. But, it may be important and perhaps more enjoyable to shop from local businesses when travelling. This includes eating out, getting yourself a souvenir, or shopping.??
Image Source:?Nonissue ?
Consume Consciously??
Consuming consciously means deliberately making shopping decisions which benefit the environment. This means carrying shopping bags and a water bottle with you so that you don’t need to use any single-use plastics. This also means eating food that has been sustainably sourced.??
Awareness is Key?
It’s good to do your research before traveling. This will help you plan a more sustainable way to travel which you couldn’t have done otherwise. Remember to get familiar with the local culture and environment and respect both.??
Wrapping up, our duty to the environment simply does not end when our vacation ends. It is a constant endeavor to make every little choice consciously. It is the little things that can make a huge impact eventually. It’s now time to embark on this sustainable journey together, not just as travelers, but as guardians of our incredible planet!??
Resources:??
https://www.greenqueen.com.hk/2022-sustainable-travel-trends/
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Sustainability Transformation Leader
1 年But I wanted to come and visit you in UAE :(
Digital Account Executive @ Microsoft | Driving Customer Success with Digital Transformation | Compliance Champ | Wellbeing Champ | 100% Human, passionate about AI
1 年Great article, Sherif! It encourages to practice mindful consumption, which involves intentionally making shopping choices that have a positive impact on the environment. This also applies to travelling decisions like use of green means of transportation, eating in local restaurants, and always being a respectful visitor.