Green tourism is under increasing scrutiny. Is it really any good for the environment?
With rising air miles, doubts over how much money filters through to locals and CO2 costs, Giles Crosse wonders if eco vacations are mere fantasy.
“I don't believe tourism can ever be 100 per cent sustainable, but it can be more sustainable, and there are a number of companies which have done some amazing things to make this shift,” says Rachel Dodds, Director, Sustaining Tourism.
“If used responsibly, tourism can be a force for positive growth and economic success. It has the capacity to create employment and generate opportunities in many areas where other economic activity may not exist.”
The whole issue is vexed by paradox. “It helps preserve the local environment and provide well being to the local community,” she continues. “On the other hand, the travel and tourism industry can also be responsible for leakage, low pay and seasonal employment, instability and low job status, environmental degradation, displacement of local people, inflation, crime and the dilution of culture.”
“But sustainable tourism can be amazing. You are lessening your impact on the planet by choosing responsible tourism, gaining an insight into the local culture, supporting local livelihoods, and bringing back practices which many tourists then incorporate into their own daily lives.”
Greenwash?
It’s a confusing juxtaposition, and one that’s often forced by speed of change and insufficient regulation. “Governments are so keen for development, they do not put in place criteria to ensure that money stays in their destination or country, one can influence developers to put in place things that will benefit the community rather than just the investor.” says Dodds.
And she points to a vast disparity in resource consumption in many cases too. “Hotels use an exorbitant amount of water and energy, an average hotel per room night uses as much as a western household does, about 350 litres per night.” This is equivalent to the amount a village in Thailand would use in a month.
“A luxury hotel can use as much as 1800 litres per room night. Cruise ships are essentially floating hotels and are continuously being fined for dumping their sewage straight into the sea.”
Forcing change
Given tourism can help locals and development, couldn’t more be done to push legislation and regulation in the right direction? Extremists might favour tighter air taxes:
“I don't think that limits on air travel are politically feasible now,” says Dan Ruben, Executive Director, Boston Green Tourism. “But when they are, or when energy prices make air travel prohibitive, then tourism will suffer. Since it’s an enormous industry, it will contribute to unemployment. I'm not concerned about its impact on global community, because television and the internet help bridge that gap.”
Dodds agrees. “This would be dreadful for many tourism economies and I don't think this is the answer. In a country as large as Canada for example, flying is a necessity. Many countries outside Europe do not have high speed rail networks in place, air travel is needed. Airlines are putting a lot of money into R&D to improve fuel consumption and find new ways to lower their impacts.”
“Tourism is going to continue,” reckons Ruben. “We can green the visitor industry by living green while travelling, favouring green merchants and purchasing carbon offsets. I want to emphasise that when people favour green merchants it moves the whole market to become more green.”
Transparent travelling
But without clear guidance, who’s to know which agents to trust? “It depends on what company and where, there are a number of certification schemes in the tourism industry but it is often extremely confusing for the consumer.” admits Dodds.
“There is also a lack of critical mass of those that are 'certified', so it’s even more difficult for the consumer to just find one list. In the UK there is the Green Tourism Business Scheme. Currently tourism is not legislated internationally, but the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) has worked to incorporate all certification programs under one umbrella called the Sustainable Tourism Council.”
“Choose a company that has a responsible tourism policy and ensures fair wages for their employees - you are supporting that company to put pressure on their suppliers - thereby helping to influence a more sustainable supply chain. Once smaller tourist operations can demonstrate their efforts to be sustainable, the larger intermediaries will use them more regularly and therefore you are increasing their access to market.”
Hopeful holidays
Given the vast amounts of money to be made, it’s unreasonable there’s no reliable framework responsible travellers can rely on. But in spite of this, there remains opportunity to transform tourism for the better.
“As the world gets smaller through the use of technology, so does the demand for true authenticity and that is where sustainable tourism adventures really benefit,” says Dodds. “The unique experience that makes us feel transformed is what the traveller of tomorrow will crave.”
By increasing demand for sustainable tourism, especially when travelling to third world economies, people can shift consumption patterns. But perhaps it’s the tourism companies themselves who ought to be driving this change, if only to safeguard their business future.
“Business as usual is no longer an option for long term viability, especially for an industry such as tourism, which depends on the very resources that attract tourists in the first place.” confirms Dodds.
“Tourism harms the environment,” admits Ruben. “However, tourism is going to continue. Green tourism can aid third world economies by creating a market for visitors that spend money to experience nature and natural beauty.”
“If the consumer asks enough, this will influence the industry to change their practices, we have a lot of power to influence change, just ask.” urges Dodds. It’s sad that unsustainable businesses continue to place onus on individuals to do this, when it’s also their future profit aspirational travellers are protecting.
What are your views? Not sure? Read the resources below for more information. Add your comment below. We welcome your thoughts and proposals. Not a Planetary Citizen? Sign up
Resources:
Conservation and Tourism: A value chain approach
Rain Forest Alliance: The Cayou District Protects Belizean Trasures
Rain Forest Alliance: Profiles in Sustainable Tourism
Rain Forest Alliance: Searching for the Traesures of Mindo
Video link:
Will pick one issue out of many.
Canada - flying a necessity? Rubbish, utter, complete. People lived in Canada before the advent of air travel, Yes? No? If the answer is Yes, then the above statement is true. Life without flying will engender a different lifestyle sure, but nowhere near as different from that which will prevail if we don't stop flying.
