Sustainable tourism: A matter of conscience or another trend?
Sustainable travel packages are increasingly popular, either because travellers are environmentally conscious or because they are a trend. Sustainable tourism: A matter of conscience or another trend?
Tourism has undergone significant changes as a result of the Covid 19 pandemic. The pandemic crisis has focused on health, safety and sustainability issues. Furthermore, it contributed to restructuring the tourism economy by creating new challenges and opportunities.
There have been changes in travellers’ preferences and criteria for choosing destinations, accommodations, and means of transportation, which influence their travel behaviour.
Sustainable travel packages are becoming increasingly popular among travellers, either out of concern for the environment or as a trend. There is a growing trend towards alternative forms of tourism with a reduced environmental impact, authentic experiential experiences, and emerging destinations that still need to be overrun by mass tourism. Their activities bring them closer to native communities, nature, tradition, gastronomy, and exploration. Tourists prefer tourism operators and companies that prioritize sustainable development and demonstrate environmental responsibility.
Moreover, the pandemic has accelerated the shift to digital upgrading, which is also sustainable. On the one hand, the digital upgrade is attracting a growing travel audience because it facilitates service delivery through automated processes that are not harmful to the environment. But, on the other hand, it greatly aids in understanding traveller purchasing habits.
Despite this, international political-economic developments and climate change made it evident that a shift to sustainability and developing a sustainable tourism model was needed long before the pandemic. In response to these issues, the World Tourism Organization set the basic principles for sustainable tourism in previous years.
However, let’s clarify what we mean by sustainable tourism
. The World Tourism Organization defines sustainable tourism as tourism that considers current and future economic, social and environmental impacts and the needs of tourists, the tourism industry, the environment, and indigenous communities. The principles of sustainable tourism can be applied to all types of tourism and refer to the environmental, economic and socio-cultural aspects of tourism development. Sustainable tourism should, however, strike a balance between three parameters to ensure long-term sustainability:
- Maintaining and strengthening indigenous communities’ cohesion and cultural heritage while respecting, strengthening, and harmonizing with them.
- It is essential to offer reasonable terms and conditions of work to indigenous communities to ensure sustainable long-term economic conditions for them.
- Using ecological means and practices that respect biodiversity and the environment to promote their use and application.
Due to the above, the tourism industry is evolving and changing. Tourism professionals have had to adapt to new data to meet travel expectations and cope with challenges. They, therefore, invest in actions and practices that prioritize sustainable development, which they use for marketing and customer attraction, such as Green Development or Social Corporate Responsibility Awards.
We must focus on sustainable travel models in light of global economic, political, and social developments. Every stakeholder in the tourism industry must be aware of and participate in the story of sustainable tourism. Sustainable tourism requires continuous effort and monitoring of international and local development on local and international levels. The achievement of sustainable tourism will leave a legacy for future generations.
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Photo by Jonatan Pie on Unsplash
