Responsible Consumption and Tourism with Ten Million Hands

In anticipation of the upcoming Easter holidays, we are excited to share an insightful article written by Ten Million Hands and feature their perspective on conscious travel and tourism. This article - written in collaboration with αθηΝΕΑ - explores the essence of being 'conscious travelers and tourists,' emphasizing the importance of mindful choices, supporting local communities, and exploring alternative forms of tourism.

At Impact Hub Athens, we believe in fostering sustainable travel practices and promoting cultural exchange that benefits both travelers and local communities. We hope you find this article thought-provoking and inspiring as we navigate the world of travel with awareness and responsibility.

Without further ado, let's delve into it…

Can we, as travelers and tourists, reduce our carbon footprint??

Striving for a sustainable approach to tourism, we can discover paths that respect the environment and empower local communities. Sustainable tourism calls us to explore the world in a way that reduces our environmental impact and promotes social and economic well-being, incorporating the philosophy of harmony with nature and the pursuit of deeper, more meaningful experiences in our travels.

Is the only solution to start exploring the unique experiences hidden just a few kilometers away or even within our own city? Especially knowing that the tourism industry has a serious environmental footprint, which will only increase as the number of travelers and tourism infrastructures expands in the coming years, the idea doesn't sound bad.

However, who can ignore the ancient need for "journeys," the desire for adventure, knowledge, interaction? If not, then as travelers and tourists, along with whatever else we choose to "include" in our luggage, we need to add something else: the "choice" that guarantees the healthy coexistence of all creatures on the planet in a sustainable and enduring environment. This "choice" does not exclude, deny, or cancel out the journey.

But how do the concepts of sustainability and tourism coexist? How do "conscious choices" relate to our travels and vacations?

Designing a "Responsible Journey"

According to the study "Sustainability in the Greek Tourism Market – Paving the Way for Sustainable Tourism Growth ," recently conducted by Deloitte Greece in collaboration with the Institute of the Association of Greek Tourism Enterprises (INSETE), global CO2 emissions related to transportation due to tourism are expected to increase by 25% by 2030 compared to 2016 levels, representing 5.3% of global anthropogenic emissions by 2030.

Based on a "business-as-usual" scenario developed by a UN study , global tourism is expected to cause by 2050 a 154% increase in energy consumption, 131% increase in greenhouse gas emissions, 152% increase in water consumption, and 251% increase in solid waste.

Responsible tourism and sustainability are interconnected concepts whose common ground is the preservation and protection of the environment, culture, and local communities.

However, considering that tourism is the third-largest category of global trade exports, representing up to 20% of GDP in some countries and providing livelihoods for millions of people, both in developing and developed economies, what would be a solution is not for "the Earth to stop spinning" but adopting a new tourism management model.

Responsible tourism aims to minimize negative impacts on the environment and local communities and ensures that its practices do not jeopardize the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.

As "conscious travelers and tourists"...

...we share responsibility by choosing services with the smallest possible environmental footprint.

However, it's important to note that designing a "responsible journey" is not easy. According to Martha Honey, Executive Director of the Centre for Responsible Travel (CREST) , a non-profit organization in Washington, D.C., there is no "reliable website that can judge a journey holistically in terms of sustainability." It requires research, which, by studying our destination thoroughly, can help us enrich our journey with alternative routes and actions that will give us valuable experiences.

How much does our way of traveling affect the environment? Which hotels in our destination use renewable energy sources? Do they implement water conservation programs? Are they built in harmony with the environment? Do they serve fresh organic or local products? Do they employ local workers with legal employment contracts?

Attention is needed, as many businesses offer 'sustainability' without real implementation, which means we are not talking about sustainable management but rather greenwashing. However, sustainability certifications are a practice that is becoming more widespread. Approved certification programs can be found at the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) , an independent non-profit organization that has established standards for sustainability in travel.

Additionally, we take into account which mode of transportation is less harmful to the environment. The Transport and Environment Report 2020 (TERM) , which examines the impacts of railway and air travel, a significant part of passenger transportation in Europe, concludes that rail travel is the best and most sensible way, aside from walking or cycling. The emissions impact of air travel is much higher per passenger kilometer; however, the report notes that the plane is not necessarily the most harmful choice. Traveling by gasoline or diesel car, especially if traveling alone, can be more damaging.

Carriers like United Airlines and tourism companies like AdventureSmith Explorations offer carbon emission calculators on their websites, allowing travelers to determine the impact of their journey and make corresponding donations to carbon reduction projects, such as wind energy and reforestation.

...we Visit Popular Tourist Destinations During Less Popular Times

Overtourism is not a recent observation. However, the discussion literally heated up when in historic cities like Barcelona and Venice, residents took to the streets literally, reacting to the invasion of their cities by tourist crowds.

In some destinations, indeed, the impacts of tourism exceed their carrying capacity's natural, ecological, social, economic, psychological, and bottom-line limits. These include environmental degradation and pollution, resource depletion, rare species extinction, displacement of locals, cultural leveling - all of which ultimately destroy the destination itself.

Could the tourism expansion model be "decoupled" from development models that are incompatible with sustainability terms?

Indeed, Tuscany is beautiful in spring, but at another time, we will enjoy better services and see rare sights, outside the tourist frame.

The answer is yes. Practices such as reuse - for example, regarding accommodation, there are many old buildings that can be utilized, limiting new construction - extending the tourist season, developing special forms of tourism, and promoting destinations with special interests (historical, gastronomic, social) that result in tourist dispersion, compliance with environmental protection laws and regulations, a specific framework for cultural units operation, etc.

...we Support Local Communities

Often, we talk about the "heavy industry" of tourism in our country. However, is there a monoculture behind this view that ultimately reduces the economic resilience and long-term sustainability of either our country or any other country on our planet?

On the one hand, we relatively recently saw, during the pandemic period, how easily what we believe is the sole economic stimulant can collapse. On the other hand, no official data is needed to argue that tourism is a volatile variable that does not always meet needs and expectations.

As a counterbalance, concerning the tourism product, it is essential to enrich it with infrastructure, products, and services related to alternative forms of tourism, which would presuppose the connection with local productive forces. The reorganization of mass tourism based on the needs and priorities of local communities, within an institutional framework of consistency and continuity, contributes to the overall development of the economy, the extension of the tourist season, but also to the geographic dispersion of tourist flow.

According to data presented in the athensNOW Research report titled "Ecofriendly Greece: Best Practices of Sustainable Tourism from 21 Resorts Worldwide," conducted with the support of the Sani/Ikos hotel group, 83% of travelers worldwide believe that sustainable travel is crucial, while 81% say they would like to stay in a sustainable accommodation next year - a significantly higher percentage than the 62% recorded by the same survey in 2016, but also higher than the 74% in 2020, before the pandemic outbreak.

Additionally, 53% admit they are bothered when the accommodation they stay in prevents them from maintaining their sustainable habits, such as recycling, while many say they would pay more for environmentally friendly products and are interested in making trips with a purpose, where they gain deeper and more authentic experiences.

Those showing greater interest in eco-friendly travel are from the younger generation, the one that will shoulder the "transition" to a more sustainable planet.

...we respect the culture and traditions of our destination,

we inform ourselves about the range of offerings according to our interests, about the specific problems it might face, and the sensitive ecosystems we should be mindful of.

We also support sustainable food choices, minimize our waste, and try to keep our environmental footprint as small as possible.

We break the cycle of monoculture, seeking local experiences in every destination. It is essential to ensure that our money goes to the local community that "hosts" us, that it contributes to fair wages, supports local employment and businesses, enhancing the overall well-being of residents.

However, how much have we realized as travelers and tourists that conscious consumption is what will secure our right, desire, and need to travel?