According to data, tourist trips have increased from 524 million in 1995 to 1.3 billion in 2017, and we are expecting this number to continue growing. The tourism industry represents 10% of GDP and provides 11% of all job positions. It’s safe to say that tourism isn’t going anywhere, but it might be in danger if we don’t engage in sustainable tourism. What is it and how can it help the world?
What is sustainable travel?
In the past, tourism focused mostly on the traveler and their experience, but today, as sustainable tourism rises, the destination is becoming the focus. Sustainable tourism has three main dimensions. It needs to:
- Make optimal use of resources, maintain essential ecological processes and help conserve natural heritage and biodiversity
- Respect the socio-cultural authenticity of host communities
- Ensure viable, long-term economic operations and provide benefits to all stakeholders (stable employment, income-earning opportunities and social services contributing to poverty alleviation).
Millennials started it all
In many ways, Millennials drew the short stick when it comes to the environment. While generations before them polluted, Millennials need to live in this mess and try their best to fix it. So, it’s not a surprise that this generation championed the sustainable travel movement. Millennials have everything necessary for spreading the word about responsible tourism: passion for sharing on social media, digital knowledge and love for travel.
Social media and sustainable tourism
Today, it’s not enough to just snap a selfie while sitting in a Jeep on safari—there are millions of such photos on Instagram. If you want likes (and we all do) you need to show a more authentic experience like visiting Maasai people. This practice actually benefits the environment and local people. Stepping away from the crowds and investing in local experiences draws attention to struggling communities and organizations that usually support sustainability in their daily lives.
Travel gear improvements
Yes, transportation is the worst enemy of the environment, but travelers all over the world spend a lot of money and resources on travel gear. Luckily, conscious travelers know the importance of quality over quantity, so they are increasingly investing in durable and reliable gear that can serve them for years and years. Many essential travel items like durable automatic knives are easy to carry, have a belt clip and come with a glass breaker. Plus, thanks to their build, they can last for generations! All these benefits of durable travel and survival gear equal less wasted resources!
Sustainable travel is more than what meets the eye
Sure, sustainable tourism in based on ecology and community conservation, but that’s not all. As companies realize that the key for the survival of tourism is sustainability, there are other emerging trends like accessibility for tourists AND employees, initiatives to engage tourists, use of smart tech, etc.
Why should I care?
There are 1.2 billion travelers today, so what can little old you do to improve sustainability of the entire industry? You can do a lot! Sustainable travel is reserved for all, not just hippies, science buffs and ultra-rich who can afford organic food and eco-lux resorts. If we all don’t adopt responsible travel habits, there will be no travel for us and especially for future generations. Even today, spots like the Great Barrier Reef are suffering irreversible damage. In the future, similar other fragile destinations might not be accessible anymore, so we need to take action today!
What can I do to help?
For many people, fighting against global warming and depletion of resources seems futile. However, we are not powerless in this fight. In reality, tourists have great power and influence on tourism and places they visit. According to some estimates, the number of travelers will rise to 2 billion by 2030, with a collective spending of $2 trillion on the tourism industry. So you have a chance to vote with your dollar and spend your money on the right things. The best thing you can do to help is aim your money towards places and attractions that support sustainable travel. Another thing every traveler can do is consider more sustainable modes of transportation, pick the right tour companies and respect the local population. Opting for travel and tour companies that help the locals instead of exploiting them can do a lot of good for the community.
Today, sustainable travel looks better than ever—it simply has to work like that. Sustainable tourism is one of the last things we can do to provide the future generations with a life full of adventure, unique experiences, beautiful nature and lovely and diverse people. You probably know that old travel quote that goes “Leave only footprints, take only memories”. Well, it might be a cliché but at this time of climate change, pollution, animal extinction and disappearance of entire cultures, the idea behind that quote has never been more important to keep in mind.
