GECO - Sustainability virtual italian fair
Sustainable tourism has become an important goal for a growing number of potential travellers. While people still want to visit new places, even in this second year of the pandemic, it is also true that it is no longer possible to ignore climate issues and the impact of human activities on the planet.
For this reason, a growing number of people commit to travel responsibly. Therefore, it is essential for tour operators, hotels, and service providers to be aware of emerging trends and to align their offers to this new challenge. How can they achieve this goal? This is what you need to know about sustainable tourism in 2022.
Sustainability has increasingly become a way of life, rather than a mere trend, and this is also influencing the way people travel. Germans are well aware of this new scenario and have planned and promoted tourism accordingly, granting eco-friendly facilities with a low environmental impact and implementing green and smart mobility.
According to the University of Sydney, global tourism-related emissions are set to increase by 4% every year. The same study also shows that by 2030 there will be 1.8 billion tourists worldwide, every year. Therefore, it is extremely important to meet the needs of a growing number of environmentally conscious travellers
This new business direction is also confirmed, among other things, by the increased investments in electric mobility, just as the sales of electric vehicles continue to rise exponentially. In Norway, for instance, more than 50% of new cars are electric. This is inevitably reflected in tourism because electric cars are also used for travel and tourist facilities that offer charging stations are definitely making the most of this emerging trend. This move will protect the environment, attract more customers, and benefit from specific financing for innovative companies.
The same can be said of e-bikes, which are increasingly being used in holiday resorts and have become a symbol of a new eco-tourism, which is slow-paced and focuses on establishing a deeper connection with nature and the beauty of the landscapes. Long walks, exciting itineraries, and the possibility of visiting selected holiday destinations while reducing environmental impact are also important aspects of sustainable tourism.
Hotels that can offer their guests free bicycles, the possibility of recharging e-bikes, and deals with local tour operators specialising in sustainable travel and green mobility are attracting an increasing number of guests.
Experiential tourism is also becoming increasingly popular and is set to become a major trend of sustainable travel.
Travellers are expecting to be offered more than individual "services": they are after immersive experiences allowing them to focus on the beauty of the Land, and the culture of the local population. In this respect, the innovative concept of “diffuse hotels” is playing a key role. This model involves accommodation that is not contained within a single facility but rather spread over multiple restored buildings within the same town. It is most popular in old European villages. This creative solution offers tourists a chance to enjoy an authentic local experience while relaunching splendid hamlets that have mostly been abandoned until now.
Another important growing tourism trend are "Digital Detox holidays", in which travellers go temporarily off the grid to fight social media and digital device addiction.
Taking a break from the digital frenzy, they focus on activities that involve leaving technology temporarily behind and communing with nature. One such activity is "forest bathing", the Japanese wellness practice of getting entirely immersed in a natural landscape to restore both the mind and the body, reconnecting to one's deepest nature.
This trend, which can definitely be considered in line with sustainable travel, is also growing, because it meets the widespread need to relax, let go of stress, and take a break from our highly technological and fast-paced lifestyle.
Are you interested in sustainable tourism and eco-friendly business travel? Attend GECO Expo!
Published on 23-02-2022
