83% of travelers believe that sustainable travel is important

The UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) released a special report in 2018 stating that the world has just over a decade to restrict global warming to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels, beyond which the risk of floods, droughts and extreme heat will significantly worsen. With a growing awareness of climate change people are becoming more environmentally conscious. According to Booking.com, as of June 2021, 83 percent of travelers worldwide believe that sustainable travel is important with 61% saying the pandemic has made them want to travel more sustainably in the future.

How travelers are looking for more sustainable and conscious travel options

Let’s ancipate!

Amadeus data indicates that people are researching their trips 27% earlier than before, than they did in the same period in 2019. This shows travelers are putting a lot of thought into planning their next trip – in terms of safety as well as being environmentally and socially conscious about their choices.

When it comes to personal safety, Amadeus data shows a triple digit increase in travel insurance purchases on bookings leading up to summer. This indicates that travelers are more conscious about their safety while traveling. Airlines and airports have responded to this ‘great safety awakening’ with more touchless technology and off-site check-in options.

Check for official certifications

One of the easiest ways to confidently book a more sustainable property is to check and see if it has an established eco-label or third-party sustainability certification.

There are numerous, reputable third-party sustainability certifications that properties can work towards and achieve. Depending on where you plan to travel, you can consider some of these bodies such as:

Create good habits at home and bring it with you

Though we may have a sustainable and environmentally and socially conscious daily life, according to the Booking report, more than half (64%) of global travelers believe it’s harder to make sustainable choices when they travel.

This isn’t unexpected, but it is also important enough for us to not ignore. A sustainable first step could be as simple as remembering to carry those mindful habits from home along when you travel. These include making sure the air conditioning or heating and lights are off when you’re not at the property or reusing towels and bed sheets rather than changing them everyday.

Limit or stop your plastic use

Limiting single-use plastic is arguably one of the greatest environmental challenges we face. With an estimated 91% of plastic not being recycled, most of it ends up either in the ocean or a landfill. Many properties have taken numerous steps to either reduce or eliminate single-use plastics from their operations, but travelers can also take simple steps like purchasing a stainless steel water bottle or packing their own reusable toiletry bottles with all of their favourite products from home.