A new survey from Travalyst shows that the travel and tourism industry has a significant role to play if it is to persuade travellers to make more sustainable decisions.

Travalyst is an independent not-for-profit entity working to change the way the world travels – something which is vital as the industry is responsible for 8.8% of global greenhouse gas emissions.

They note that people want to travel more sustainably, reporting that 83% of travellers say that sustainable travel is important to them. However, there is a ‘say-do’ gap, between people’s intentions and actions.

travalyst-survey

By 2030, Travalyst’s goal is to align the travel industry to collect and distribute sustainability information at scale.

“We urgently need to close the gap between travellers’ desire to be more sustainable and the action they take.”

Key findings from the report include:

  • 30% of UK travellers take into account accommodation providers’ sustainability efforts
  • However, only 13% of UK travellers factored this into the decisions they made on travel
  • 90% of travel companies agree that governments should ensure that travel and tourism companies report on their sustainability and environmental impact
  • 70% of travel companies say that the recent backlash against environmental, social, and governance (ESG) efforts in some countries [we all know who they mean!] has had no impact on their own sustainability efforts
  • 6 in 10 say that their company’s ability to offer a more sustainable product or service depends on the level of demand from consumers

Key Actions Travellers Can Take

  1. When choosing where to travel and taking into account your carbon footprint, consider destinations closer to home when you can.
  2. When considering how to get there, think about low-carbon transport options such as rail. And, if flying is your only option, look for carbon emissions information when booking flights and prioritise those that have lower-than-average emissions.
  3. Seek out accommodation providers that have a sustainability certification.
  4. When you are in a destination, prioritise your spending on local businesses, respect local cultures, and consider staying for longer

 

You can read the full report here.