A large number of travelers want to support more sustainable tourism, but the concept itself and methods to achieve this are not always clear.
The term « overtourism » is relatively new, but its novelty does not detract from its meaning to say the least: « an excessive number of sightseeing visits to a popular destination or attraction, resulting in damage to the environment and local historical sites, as well as a decrease in the quality of life of residents, » according to the Oxford Dictionary.
As travel slowly recovers from the low due to the pandemic, travelers are starting to suffer the consequences of overtourism in destinations that are certainly attractive, but also crowded. The United Nations World Tourism Organization, in collaboration with partners from the public and private sectors, has made September 27 the World Tourism Day and on this occasion addresses the issues of the social, political, economic and environmental impacts of tourism.
This day highlights the importance of sustainable tourism in order to encourage not only travelers, but also the travel industry as a whole to support objectives such as protecting the environment, combating climate change, reducing plastic consumption and the economic development of communities affected by tourism.
CONSUMERS FOR SUSTAINABLE TOURISM
A National Geographic survey of 3,500 American adults revealed a strong desire to support sustainability. This is good news, but the challenge will be to help travelers take meaningful steps. According to the survey, which was conducted in 2019, while 42% of American travelers would be willing to prioritize sustainable travel in the future, only 15% of them know enough about the meaning and implications of sustainable tourism.
The consumers who best understand the concept of sustainable travel are mainly young, since 50% are between 18 and 34 years old. Among those who understand the concept, 56% recognize that travel has an impact on local communities and that it is important to protect natural sites and cultural places.
This survey informed National Geographic’s experimental companies specializing in travel and media, and opened conversations to create solutions around sustainability.Our travel-related content aims to promote environmentally friendly practices, the protection of cultural and natural heritage, social and economic benefits for local communities, and to encourage travelers to become conservation ambassadors. In short, we consider every traveler to be a curious explorer who seeks to build an ethics of preserving all the elements that make a destination unique.
INNOVATIVE PRACTICES
National Geographic Expeditions organizes hundreds of trips each year, on the seven continents and to more than eighty destinations. Rooted in the heritage of exploration of the National Geographic Society, the company supports the latter’s mission: to encourage people to care about the planet by offering them interesting opportunities to explore it. The recipes of all travel programs support the National Geographic Society’sefforts to improve understanding of the world through exploration, education and scientific research.
National Geographic Expeditions offers a range of group travel experiences, including land expeditions, cruises and active adventures, many of which take place around eco-accommodation whose sustainable practices are rigorously controlled.
These independent accommodations incorporate innovative sustainability practices into their daily activities, including supporting natural and cultural heritage, sourcing local products and supporting local communities.
For example, the Grootbos Lodge in South Africa has created a foundation to support the Masakhane community farm and training center. Through this program, eco-accommodation gave plots of land to people in the region who were trained, thus increasing their income and access to local and healthy food. To date, this program has benefited more than 138 members of the community.
SLIDESHOW
As a media brand, National Geographic encourages travelers to research and support establishments whose mission is to protect people and the environment. These accommodations not only have a direct and significant impact on their own communities, but staying in one of them teaches travelers effective ways to preserve and protect the places they visit.
SUPPORT SUSTAINABILITY
The travel industry is highly dependent on the health of local communities, environments and cultures. As many experts point out, to achieve sustainable tourism, we must invest in places affected by overtourism and climate change in order to promote their resilience.
The National Geographic report highlights the importance of reducing our carbon footprint and encourages travelers to get off the beaten track and take their time, respect cultural differences and invest in communities, reconnect with nature and support organizations that protect the planet.
Storytelling can help by highlighting the problems caused by tourism, and by revealing practices and technologies to mitigate the negative impacts of tourism. One of the main objectives of National Geographic Travel’s mission is to delve deeper into the topic of sustainable tourism and to provide resources, practical tips and destination advice to travelers who want to explore the world in all its beauty, while leaving a smaller footprint.
HOW TO HELP?
When you are on the go, keep in mind our tips for traveling sustainably. When you can, avoid going to over-touristy places. Do not encourage crowds to come to fragile areas when using social networks. To do this, use generic rather than specific geolocation tags to reduce the risk of tourists entering a specific site. If you are traveling to destinations such as Iceland, New Zealand, Haida Gwaii and Hawaii, sign and adhere to the commitments required of visitors to exercise caution, protect nature and respect local culture.
source : national geographic
