IT’S TIME TO GET SERIOUS ABOUT SUSTAINABILITY

By the year 2030, the number of global international tourist arrivals will have grown to 1.8 billion. That means sustainability is more important than ever.

By the year 2030, the number of global international tourist arrivals will have grown to 1.8 billion. That means sustainability is more important than ever.

A recent report from UK travel trade association ABTA found that 45% of travellers say that the sustainability credentials of a travel provider are important to them. That number has almost doubled in just four years. More than a third of travellers would choose one business over another if they have a better environmental record.

Understandings of sustainable tourism are also expanding beyond just protecting the environment. It now also takes into consideration tourism’s impact on local cultures and the economy, aiming to ensure that communities genuinely benefit from visitors. This is particularly significant in the face of the current debate around overtourism, which people fear could see visitors swamp local populations. One of the ways tourism providers are tackling this is by diversifying their offerings, introducing new destinations and experiences that spread tourists across different areas.

The world’s first Sustainable Tourism development Zone was established in Mexico in 2018 in an area between Puerto Morelos and Tulum on the Caribbean coast. The designation will ensure that the region’s natural resources will be used in a sustainable manner and protects its unique natural, cultural and traditional elements. It’s yet one more sign that the world is serious about sustainability and governments are willing to legislate towards it.

Diversified Communications is doing its part for a sustainable future as well, purchasing a solar farm in Maine, USA. In 2018, the farm produced enough energy to power 210 homes for a year. That’s the equivalent of offsetting more than half a million kilograms of C02.