Sustainable tourism: Understand a little more about this trend
Tourism is one of the sectors that most significantly affects a country's economy, as it is the sector that stands out globally. Over the years, the population has been exploring travel possibilities, which has contributed to the change in the behavior of travelers, who have become aware of and adept at sustainable tourism.
The tourism sector has seen considerable growth in recent times, according to an analysis by Statista, spending on leisure trips and with business trips they have been growing in the last five years.
The increase in the number of trips raises the need for preservation and awareness in order to contain the impacts, through active and palliative measures. According to the Booking, around 53% of global travelers want to travel more sustainably in the future to reduce the negative impact on local cultures and the environment.
In this article you will understand what sustainable tourism is, its importance, advantages and different types.
Sustainability: A game-changer for the tourism sector:
Sustainable tourism is formally defined by the United Nations Environment Program and the UN World Tourism Organization as” tourism that fully takes into account its current and future economic, social, and environmental impacts, meeting the needs of visitors, the industry, the environment, and host communities ”.
In other words, it is the category of tourism whose characteristic is to make the best use of natural resources, having a positive impact on the conservation of natural heritage and biodiversity, on the economy and on rural communities through a mutual relationship between the local population and travelers.
“Every economic activity can be sustainable. But tourism needs sustainability because it is often what encourages an environment [visited by tourists] to be attractive. If someone has an inn in a natural area, and that area begins to be degraded, the potential of the place to attract tourists decreases” - Diego Orsini, tourismologist and specialist in tourism planning in natural areas.
Before Covid 19, this trend was already seen in the sector, but was further encouraged by expansion in tourism as a result of the adaptations that needed to be made during this period. Through a behavioral analysis of travelers, carried out by Statista, it has been proven that, in 2022, around 72% of travelers around the world believe that sustainable travel is important.
This search for sustainability is linked to two factors, to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), developed by the UN, as this sector is recognized as a key point in the challenge of complying with the 17 SDGs. And because of the need to remodel the sector to cover the loss of recent years.
In 2020, The global travel and tourism market lost about 62 million jobs. In 2021, even with the improvement in the scenario, the sector still registered around 44 million fewer jobs worldwide compared to 2019.
To achieve a recovery in the sector, there was a technological implementation, the adaptation of sustainable tourism to various types of situations - to cover several layers - and the dismemberment of sustainable tourism into 3 categories: Responsible Tourism, Solidarity Tourism and Fair Tourism.
In fact, there are several opportunities for implementing this trend for companies and travelers, but it is necessary to understand what category your business falls into.
What are the advantages of sustainable tourism?
The main factor for the strong adherence to sustainable tourism are its benefits. Although there is often some disagreement between communities and tourism agencies, the implementation of this model creates a dialogue between both parties and provides a balance relationship through the act of “giving and receiving”.
“Governments, companies, and consumers must align their tourism practices with Sustainable Development Goals and a future of 1.5 degrees,” said António Guterres, UN Secretary General, referring to international agreements aimed at keeping global warming under control. “The very survival of this industry and of many tourist destinations, such as Small Island Developing States, depends on it.”
To better understand the benefits, here are three benefits for implementing sustainable tourism in your business:
- Benefits for local communities:
One of the main economic aspects of implementing sustainable tourism is the creation of fair working conditions for local employees, since with the high demand, salaries rise and are able to guarantee an adequate standard of living for the local population.
In addition, it generates the movement of local income and makes it possible to improve the infrastructure and standard of living of the local population. An example of this is the partnership that tourism companies make with rural projects, where the population cedes the space and the agencies guarantee the income.
Aimed at protecting the ecosystem, preventing deforestation and helping to conserve energy and water, the tours increase the traveler's knowledge about the region and encourage them to advertise the place.
Benefits for tourism companies:
Because they are a trend, sustainable destinations attract all types of travelers, from those who are aware of the benefits of this tourism and even those who are curious. In this way, making companies also profit due to high demand.
Although tourism companies invest in this trend in different ways, they are also able to profit in a variety of ways. That's because conscious travelers tend to be less price sensitive and They spend more money during their stay than standard visitors.
In short, with the sustainable development of tourism, companies in this sector can establish mutually beneficial relationships with host communities, because the better the customer experience, the better the financial return that this relationship will bring.
Benefits for the individual traveler:
Active travelers in this tourism category don't just treat sustainability as a trend, they treat it as a lifestyle. And therefore, they tend to learn more about how to travel and are likely to have a more immersive experience.
This more immersive experience can be seen in reservations made through travel apps, where travelers can more easily book through process automation that travel agencies provide.
Instead of just exploring the tourist highlights, these travelers become more aware of their actions, avoid mass tourism, and value the time they have to the maximum. Globally, this change in travel style has an enormous positive impact on sustainable tourism.
Different types of sustainable tourism that you need to know:
When we talk about tourism, we are referring to the way in which the traveler interacts with the places where they visit. And since tourism can encompass several layers, the subcategories of sustainability are characterized in this way:
Responsible tourism minimizes environmental damage, and solidarity tourism aims to develop and help local communities. Fair tourism, on the other hand, is based on the principle of fair trade.
As you can see, there are several characteristics for a single sector, but it doesn't stop there. Here are some types of sustainable tourism that you will love to learn about:
Ecotourism:
Ecotourism is characterized by responsible or green tourism to areas of natural beauty, with a particular focus on ecological conservation. This type of tourism is quite immersive and aims to protect the natural environment and educate travelers about the importance of responsible travel.
According to data from Statista, the worldwide ecotourism industry was estimated at 181.1 billion dollars in 2019. The sector was forecast to reach 333.8 billion dollars in 2027, registering a CAGR of 14.3%.
Community tourism:
In this type of tourism, one of the characteristics is the fact that it only happens if the local community invites tourists to visit. In this way, allowing the local community to make the main decisions, establish their own restrictions and have full control of their tourism industry.
In many cases, community tourism is based on creating realistic experiences of what life is like in developing areas, and unique or unusual accommodations are a regular feature.
Rural Tourism:
Rural tourism, as the name implies, refers to trips that focus on rural areas. This type of tourism ranges from hiking and camping to agritourism, where tourists can participate in agricultural activities and experience agricultural lifestyles.
In short, this type of tourism basically focuses on natural resources, such as forests, hills, mountains, fields, and waterfalls, rather than large centers.
Among the efforts to optimize the sector in recent years, we have sustainable tourism, which has become a form of containment and preservation, through the creation of travel opportunities with minimal impact and positive benefits for destinations and their communities.
One of the main objectives linked to this type of tourism is to make the long-term future of travel more feasible, through awareness and behavioral changes among both travelers and local residents.
As you have seen, this trend brings many benefits, from economic to social. Therefore, implementing this type of tourism in your company will allow you to have a competitive advantage and a range of possibilities.
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