Imagine, if the entire population of India were to go on a holiday. Now,
double that figure.
In just over ten years from now, the United Nations estimates that nearly 2
billion people will be on the
move, traveling to destinations all over the world.
Indeed, the decrease in travel-related costs and barriers has put travel within
the reach of millions. Coupled with changing attitudes, the rise of the middle
class
and the growth of disposable income, the 21st century has seen a boom in the
travel
industry.
This unprecedented growth has led us to a crossroads: Travel and tourism can
bring us a billion opportunities to make the world a better and more sustainable
place — or a billion disasters, if we do not manage it properly.
OK, Now What?: Navigating Corporate Sustainability After the US Presidential Election
Join us for a free webinar on Monday, December 9, at 1pm ET as Andrew Winston and leaders from the American Sustainable Business Council, Democracy Forward, ECOS and Guardian US share insights into how the shifting political and cultural environment may redefine the responsibilities and opportunities for companies committed to sustainability.
Companies across different sectors are beginning to understand the profound ways
in which their success is inherently linked to the health of global
ecosystems.
Nowhere is this as obvious as in travel and tourism, where many services are
directly dependent on nature: sea-level rise and more acidic oceans are already
threatening coastal
tourism
infrastructure, and climate change is leading to significant changes in
biodiversity, altering the very
nature
of many World Heritage sites.
While the economic
benefits
of a vibrant tourism sector are clear, it is important to understand the impacts
it has on local
destinations,
their communities and environment. One challenge has to do with ensuring the
benefits of tourism are redirected back to the
destinations
that we visit. Other adverse effects that are inherent to the travel industry,
mainly in relation to the environment, include waste generation and the
emission of greenhouse gases, which are very difficult to avoid completely.
To put those impacts into perspective: 1 ton of CO₂ is roughly equal to a
one-way flight from London to New York — or the average annual emissions
of one Indian citizen.
The carbon emissions from that single flight from London to New York could be
compensated with the emission reductions delivered by approximately four
improved
cookstoves
in the span of one year, or by CO₂ captured by roughly 150 pine trees in one
year through carbon offsets.
Wadi Rum, Jordan is another UN World Heritage site at risk from climate change and overtourism | Image credit: kimkim
For travel companies, sustainability must be embedded into organization-wide
commitments, strategies, and actions — ones that also inspire travelers to join
the
movement.
And many are ready to come on board: more sustainable travel, the protection of
natural and cultural heritage, and the generation of social and economic
benefits for local communities are proving particularly popular among
millennials,
who are set to be three times more mobile than the previous generation.
Travel companies are in a unique position to empower travelers of every
generation and turn them into climate stewards, to ensure that travel proceeds
go towards safeguarding the wellbeing of the environment and the communities
that can contribute to awe-inspiring experiences well into the future.
Encouraging responsible travel can come in many forms — from promoting the hire
of local guides and the purchase of local
products,
to addressing environmental impacts from the get-go. One way to do that is to
ensure that contributions to compensating the CO₂ emissions of international
travel are automatically added to the
trip.
Each journey changes us and the world around us, a world for which we are all
responsible.
When properly planned and managed, sustainable tourism can promote
cross-cultural understanding, and contribute to improved livelihoods, cultural
heritage and natural resource
protection.
And with handprints across the globe, travel companies can be at the forefront
of ensuring lasting, positive impacts on the destinations within which they
operate.
The next big question is: Will we use this power to create a billion new
opportunities to make the world a better, more sustainable place for all?
This piece was co-authored by Eric Chamberlain, Head of Destination Development
at fast-growing travel startup kimkim; and Michael
Malara, Corporate Sustainability & Sustainable Finance Expert at South
Pole, a global sustainability solutions provider.
The two organizations are working together to offset every trip booked through
the kimkim travel platform to make travelers’ trips 100% climate neutral.
Get the latest insights, trends, and innovations to help position yourself at the forefront of sustainable business leadership—delivered straight to your inbox.
Business Development & Account Manager, North America
South Pole
Michael Malara is a Corporate Sustainability & Sustainable Finance Expert at South Pole, based in New York City.
Head of Destination Development
kimkim
Eric Chamberlain is kimkim's Destination Development Manager, focused on helping our travelers have amazing experiences in key destinations.
Published Apr 19, 2019 8am EDT / 5am PDT / 1pm BST / 2pm CEST