Traveling Responsibly
RESOURCES FOR A global sustainable future
Tourism will never be completely sustainable because every industry has impacts, but it can work towards becoming more sustainable and resilient to ensure communities and the environment thrive. A regenerative approach means ensure balance between nature, our community and our economy.
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• Sustainability audits of your company
• Strategies and stakeholder engagement
• Workshops, facilitation or training
• Development of a responsible/sustainable/regenerative tourism policy …and much more
VISION
The world is not such a lonely planet anymore but the very resources we promote through tourism are in danger of degradation… but you can ensure it is preserved and protected for future generations.
Case studies
View a growing list of case studies from around the world and in a variety of sectors.
Sustainable Tourism Resources
Resources, ecotourism, certificates and accreditations, travel tips, questions to ask your business and more
The Issue
TOURISM IMPACTS
- International tourist arrivals have increased from 25 million globally in 1950, to 527 million in 1995, and 1.4 billion by 2019. Even though tourism has been devastated by the Covid-19 pandemic, it is still expected to bounce back and reach almost 1.8 billion by 2030.
- The average international tourist receipt is over US$700 per person.
- Travel and tourism represents approximately 10% of total global Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in 2019 (if it includes tourism related business e.g. catering, cleaning) (US $8.9 trillion).
- The global travel and tourism industry created approximately 10.4% of the world’s employment (direct and indirect) in 2019
- At least 25 million people spread over 52 countries are displaced by violence, persecution and/or disasters – tourism receipts in every country are affected by this.
- Leakage in tourism is as high as 80% in the Caribbean (of every dollar earned in tourism – 80 cents leaves the country)
- Over 83 million global were displaces by violence, persecution and/or disasters in 2020 – tourism is affected by this
HUMAN IMPACTS
- 10,000 people arrive in the Mayan Riviera every day – a destination where there is still no proper recycling
- The Western world (with 17% of the worlds’ population) currently consumes 52% of total global energy.
- Half the world’s population lives in urban areas and this figure is expected to increase. In Latin America and the Caribbean, 76% of the population live in urban areas.
- The number of cars on the road surpassed 1 billion in 2010. Today it is 1.4 billion and will be 2 billion by 2035
- A European uses 14x more energy than someone living in India.
HUMAN IMPACTS
- 10,000 people arrive in the Mayan Riviera every day – a destination where there is still no proper recycling
- The Western world (with 17% of the worlds’ population) currently consumes 52% of total global energy.
- Half the world’s population lives in urban areas and this figure is expected to increase. In Latin America and the Caribbean, 76% of the population live in urban areas.
- The number of cars on the road surpassed 1 billion in 2010. Today it is 1.2 billion and will be 2 billion by 2035
- A European uses 14x more energy than someone living in India.
WILDLIFE & HABITAT IMPACTS
- A species of animal or plant life disappears at a rate of three per hour or about 150 per day.
- 25% of marine mammals are threatened to extinction
- More than 75% of coral reefs are at risk and more than 90% of coral reefs are expected to die by 2050. Nearly 2/3 of Caribbean reefs are in jeopardy
- By 2050 climate change could have directly led to the extinction of 30% of species, the death of 90% of coral reefs and the loss of half the Amazon rainforest.
- Almost 70% of the natural world has been destroyed by human activity.
- Over 20% of mangrove forests globally have been destroyed.
WATER IMPACTS
- Although the Bellagio hotel in Las Vegas recycles its water – it still uses 12 million litres of water per year in a water scarce region
- The average Canadian household used 326 litres of water per day….a village of 700 in a developing country uses an average of 500 litres of water per month AND a luxury hotel room guest uses 1800 litres of water per person per night…
- The average person in the UK uses approximately 150 litres of water per day – 3 times that of a local village in Asia
- Eating beef is the most water consumptive practice by travelers
- Seawater is expected to rise 70 cm in the next 10 years
- Although 70% of the earth’s surface is water, only 3% is potable.
CLIMATE & ATMOSPHERE IMPACTS
- Buying local could achieve a 4-5% reduction in GHG emissions due to large sources of C02 and non C02 emissions during the production of food.
- Food waste is the third highest emitter of greenhouse gases. If we stopped wasting food, it could reduce emissions by up to 8%
- 1 acre of trees absorbs 2. 6tonnes of CO2 per year
- 2021 was the warmest year by margin on record
- Seawater is expected to rise 30 cm in the next 30 years
- For every 1 degree rise in temperature above 34 degrees Celsius, yields of rice, maize and wheat in tropical areas could drop by 10%
- Every year we dump approximately 43 million tons of carbon pollution into our atmosphere.
The Solution
A balance must be found between limits and usage so that continuous changing, monitoring and planning ensure that tourism can be managed in a more sustainable and regenerative way. This requires thinking long-term (10, 20+ years) and realizing that change is often cumulative, gradual and irreversible.
Economic, social and environmental aspects of sustainable development must include the interests of all stakeholders including indigenous people, local communities, visitors, industry and government. This means focusing not only on the impacts but considering development rather than growth and ensuring we leave a place better than we found it.
What Can You Do?
Address environmental and social concerns through policies, practices and initiatives with others.
Resources to Get Started:
ARE YOU Traveling?
Use these guidelines for being a responsible or more sustainable traveler
ARE YOU Traveling?
Use these guidelines for being a carbon / climate conscious traveler
ARE YOU A BUSINESS or Organisation?
Use these questions to to guide you
HAVE US help you
with facilitation and/or training, policy development, sustainability/ERG management, business planning & marketing.
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