Travellers are becoming a lot more eco-friendly and conscious of the impact travel has on the environment.
A study conducted by Booking.com’s global Sustainable Travel Report shows projected trends of eco-consideration by both travellers and accommodations for 2017.
The data was collected across 11 markets, with over 1 000 respondents in each market. Each respondent had to be 18 years old or older, had to have travelled at least once in 2016 and be planning at least one trip for 2017. All respondents had to be at least part of the decision-making process when planning most of their trips.
The data was collected in March by Booking.com with the assistance of an international panel provider.
According to the report, travellers staying in eco-friendly accommodation are estimated to double this year to 65% of global travellers, compared with 34% in 2016 who stayed in one or more.
Even though only 5% of global travellers believe sustainable travel is easy, 46% consider themselves sustainable travellers, with Italy, Germany and China seeing a rise in those who identified themselves as global travellers since last year.
However, in markets such as Australia, Brazil, Japan and the United States there has been a fall, with Australia down by 5%, Brazil down 8% and Japan and the US both down 4%.
The report shows that 68% of global travellers are more likely to choose accommodation knowing it was eco-friendly and most are willing to adjust luxuries, with 38% wanting to conserve water by reusing towels and bed sheets and 35% wanting to conserve the environment by reducing the use of amenity goods such as shampoo, soap, toothbrush and shaving razor.
For some, sustainable travel is experiencing and boosting local markets with 64% of travellers saying they are willing to pay higher rates for food because it is locally produced.
79% of global travellers also say that sustainable consideration also influences their mode of transport when travelling; 43% would take public transport when possible; 42% would walk, bike or hike as much as possible and nearly one-fifth (18%) would flying less to reduce their carbon footprint.
Published 8 May 2017
