Sustainable Travel THE FUTURE OF sustainability
As travelers become more eco- conscious, the role of travel agents remains vital. By Kieran Meeke
Te U.N. declared 2017 the International
Year of Sustainable Tourism, a concept covering everything from carbon offset and eco-tours to washing towels and how staff are treated. Travel agents can bring real value to consumers navigating this maze of choices. “Clients are better informed now but we
can provide them with insider information, so they don’t have to read 100 reviews,” says Lauren Hoffman of Global Basecamps, which customizes experiences for travelers. Almost two-thirds of U.S. travelers claim to
have taken a ‘sustainable’ trip in the past three years. Tese travelers spend more (an average of $600) and stay longer (up to three days). For both millennial and older travelers, a clear focus is on collecting experiences instead of material wealth. Tat sits well with sustainable tourism’s emphasis on exploring local culture and giving back to the community. Another green trend is to travel less and stay
longer, as seen in the boom in ‘bleisure’ travel; combining a business trip with pleasure. Te growth in flexible working times has aided this, as have employers looking for unusual incentives. Exploring nearer home is a definite trend and taking the car on a road trip is a more eco-friendly option than flying. Denver, Colorado, and Vancouver, Canada,
are two destinations proving popular for those wanting to get close to nature. Both combine outdoor activities with a vibrant city center. Overseas destinations highlighted for 2017
include Mérida and San Miguel de Allende in Mexico, which both appeal to those wishing to explore the country’s music and art. While a large majority of U.S. travelers
wish to practice sustainable travel, there’s still confusion over what that means. Agents have a vital role in helping visitors understand the wider aspect of reducing the impact of tourism, something that brings strong benefits to visitors as the examples below show.
86 |
asta.org
Worker in vineyard. Right: Castellammare del Golfo, Sicily
EUROPE
Keeping young people in the villages of Sicily
42% 68%
Sustainable Travel Report 2016
Te historic poverty and conservatism of
Nearly half of American consumers consider themselves to be sustainable travelers
Sicily has delivered a unique character, as visitors embrace the charms of its ancient way of life. Farming methods that remain almost completely unchanged for centuries are now seen as ecologically rich, and indeed as a tourist attraction. Visitors have been welcomed into hill
more than two-thirds would be more likely to choose accommodations if they knew they were eco-friendly.
villages that were previously at risk of being emptied as young people left for the big towns. Sharing traditional methods is a way to create employment, as well as pass on skills to this new generation that once saw no value in them. Te transport links put into place, both
by land and sea, to help tourists reach their hotels and guesthouses, are also a real benefit in stabilizing local communities. ▶
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85 |
Page 86 |
Page 87 |
Page 88 |
Page 89 |
Page 90 |
Page 91 |
Page 92 |
Page 93 |
Page 94 |
Page 95 |
Page 96 |
Page 97 |
Page 98 |
Page 99 |
Page 100 |
Page 101 |
Page 102 |
Page 103 |
Page 104 |
Page 105 |
Page 106 |
Page 107 |
Page 108 |
Page 109 |
Page 110 |
Page 111 |
Page 112 |
Page 113 |
Page 114 |
Page 115 |
Page 116 |
Page 117 |
Page 118 |
Page 119 |
Page 120 |
Page 121 |
Page 122 |
Page 123 |
Page 124 |
Page 125 |
Page 126 |
Page 127 |
Page 128 |
Page 129 |
Page 130 |
Page 131 |
Page 132 |
Page 133 |
Page 134 |
Page 135 |
Page 136 |
Page 137 |
Page 138 |
Page 139 |
Page 140
