CAN TOURISM BE SUSTAINABLE?

Taking care of our environment has become a priority for all of us. It is not only something that companies should worry about, is a problem which must be fixed by the cooperation of people, companies, and governments. There are so many activities that are causing serious impact on our planet, and tourism is not an exception.

In fact, tourism has been one of the most polluting industries in the world. It represents 8% of the global emissions. The 12% of that emission corresponds to airplane trips, but it is expected to grow until 40% in 2025. Also, planes emit 600 tunnels of CO₂ at year, which implies 3% of the emissions around the world and 75% of the tourism transport. Probably, you would think the best option is to avoid as far as possible to remove the plane trips for tourism and let only the planes for the business. But this is not that easy as it seems, because tourism requires airplanes to ensure that customers are going to have the best experience, and travel agencies are not able to stop organising trips without planes. 

It is a fact that by air, it is not as sustainable as we would want. But if we look at the sea, maybe it could be worst. The carbon footprint of a cruise ship is equivalent to that of 12.000 cars. In addition, ships leave behind different types of wastewaters, heavy metals, and fuel waste. Cars are not an exception. Only with producing them require the production of materials such as steel, rubber, glass, plastics, paints and many more. When they stop working, they leave toxic acids from batteries, non-recyclable scrap, plastics… Not to mention that while they are in use, visiting the wonders that world tourism proposes, their environmental impact, between 80% and 90%, is due to fuel consumption and emissions of atmospheric pollution and greenhouse gases. 

On the other hand, it seems that train is the best option. It is the most ecologist tourism transport and is set to play a key role in reducing the carbon footprint. Train is only responsible of 0,7% of the total emission of CO_2. . According to European Environment Agency, “ Road vehicles account for more than 70% of greenhouse gas emission in the EU, compared to almost 1% for rail ”.  European Environment Agency data, obtained from the average numbers, put the amount of emissions per passenger kilometre at 285 grams of CO_2. . But the train itself does not reach all the places the traveller wants to see. 

But is this important for the tourist? Indeed, it is. Statistics indicate that 7 of 10 tourists would be willing to pay a little more for sustainable travel. However, the reality is that a large majority of hotel guests make them wash their towels every day when at home they do it every week, keep the air conditioning running when they are not in the room, waste a lot of food at the buffet and leave thousands of plastic bottles with shampoo or gel residues. It is estimated that a tourist generates twice as much water consumption in a hotel as at home, and the same goes for solid waste. Not everything is their responsibility, hotel establishments also play their part. 

In any case, and in the face of the growing problem, tourism, and hotels concretely, are taking part on reducing the environmental impact. Adjusting water consumption, using green energy, and eliminating plastic packaging are practices that are widespread in hotels. But it is also essential to raise awareness among hotel guests, encouraging them (or incentivising them with a better price) not to force them to wash towels unnecessarily, not to waste water and electricity, to eat only what they want without leaving leftovers on their plates and, in general, to behave in the hotel as they do at home.

France, which is still the world´s leading tourist destination, is a great example of how countries must behave in order to help sustainability. Frances has decided to make sustainability the key to promoting its tourism. There is no shortage of arguments: 116 national, regional and Grand Sites de France parks; 19.000 kilometres of developed cycling routes; 27.000 kilometres of railway network (12.500 high-speed); 8.500 kilometres of waterways (which is the largest of Europe); 1.500 green establishments; 430 remarkable  gardens, and so on. With these elements, and a mentality that is committed to the conservation of nature and slow, non-invasive tourism, numerous alternatives are emerging that allow you to enjoy France without haste and with respect for the environment. 

In a recent presentation, the neighbouring country decided to showcase its commitment to sustainability in an original way, with games, surveys, drawings and even a small snack, all based on the fight against the climate change, the use of resources and the awareness that travellers have a key role to play in all of this. Caroline Leboucher, CEO of Atout France, summarises in the next sentence: “ Reconnect with nature, enjoy the great outdoors, live unforgettable experiences: It´s time to explore France, to share the simple pleasures of life, surrounded by your loved ones”. 

In conclusion, tourism has to be a social commitment on the part of all countries, all hotels, all companies (transport, travel agencies and all the corporations that are involved on the travels of tourist) and all the travellers. If we start now to change the behaviour and the way the people do tourism, we will little by little changing the world.          

 

 

 

Fernández, J. I. P., & Rivero, M. S. (2009). Measuring tourism sustainability: proposal for a composite index. Tourism Economics, 15(2), 277-296.

Casagrandi, R., & Rinaldi, S. (2002). A theoretical approach to tourism sustainability. Conservation ecology, 6(1).

Asmelash, A. G., & Kumar, S. (2019). Assessing progress of tourism sustainability: Developing and validating sustainability indicators. Tourism Management, 71, 67-83.

Ko, J. T. (2001). Assessing progress of tourism sustainability. Annals of Tourism Research, 28(3), 817-820.