AMSTERDAM—More than half (52 percent) of all global travelers report that they are likely to choose a destination based on its social or environmental impact in 2015. Findings from a survey of 32,000 travelers across 16 countries by Booking.com reveal that attitudes towards sustainable travel are evolving.
While only 10 percent of respondents took a traditional sustainable trip in 2014 (defined as an eco-tour, a volunteering trip, a farm stay, a camping trip or a trip to learn about new cultures), this year will see the majority of global travelers being influenced by an intention to reduce their environmental impact, or to ensure that their tourism has a positive impact on the local community, when evaluating vacation destinations. This trend is more marked in some countries than others.
Brazilian respondents were most interested in sustainable travel, with 74 percent reporting that they would be likely to base a decision on these concerns. At the other end of the spectrum, only 36 percent of Danish respondents and 39 percent of Dutch respondents said their plans would be influenced by their potential social or environmental impact. Australians (59 percent) and Americans (53 percent) were also among the world’s top sustainable travel intenders.
While expressing the desire to travel more sustainably, survey respondents were not however prepared to forgo luxury while reducing their carbon footprint. When compared with other respondents, aspiring sustainable travelers were 50 percent more likely to intend to book more luxury accommodations in 2015 than they did in 2014 and three times as likely to plan to stay in more “green” accommodations in 2015 than they did in 2014.
Easier Than Ever to Book a ‘Green’ Vacation
As interest in sustainable travel increases, Booking.com assures travelers worldwide that it is easier than ever before to combine luxury and sustainability through the power of a well-booked accommodation.
“Sustainable travel is more than just ‘going green’—it’s also about helping to support and retain local cultures, economies and environments while traveling,” says Todd Dunlap, Managing Director Americas for Booking.com. “Most people don’t know how easy it is to weave sustainability into the types of trips they already want to take.”
“With our inventory of over 670,000 properties worldwide, there are many ways to be a conscientious traveler in 2015 without having to sacrifice comfort levels or relaxation,” Dunlap adds. “Guests may not realize that as they sleep on organic cotton sheets, washed with water heated by energy generated from the hotel itself, they are staying sustainably. Or that when eating a meal made from ingredients sourced within 20 miles of their accommodation, they are a sustainable traveler supporting local business. Many of the world’s best accommodations already provide these stealthily sustainable amenities to make sure their guests can enjoy all the luxuries of a vacation guilt-free.”
Go to www.booking.com.
