6 Steps To Practical Sustainability In Tourism (Simple & Affordable)
Using tourism as a means for sustainable development is a great aspiration.
But, in reality, sustainability is usually just an aspirational and abstract concept. It is discussed from a high viewpoint, without concrete ideas for daily implementation.
The core idea of sustainability is simple: meet the needs of current generations without threatening the needs of future ones.
In practice, this means that you, as a tourism practitioner, should balance three key aspects:
Society: the influence of your actions on host communities and visitors;
Environment: the influence of your actions on nature;
Economy: the influence of your actions to generate economic benefits...
...all at the same time!
And suddenly, a simple idea becomes challenging in practice.
The Problem With Usual Approaches To Sustainability
To tackle the challenge posed by sustainability some people dive deep into its concepts. This could help. But it could also distract practitioners from pragmatic ways to implement it.
In other cases, people, mainly organizations, get into sustainable certification processes. This is also positive in principle. But it could also become complex, expensive, lengthy, or all together.
In any case, if your routine lacks practical and easy practices, it is likely that sustainability will remain a nice idea, not a living process.
And what is worse, in such a case, your whole tourism initiative is threatened in the long term.
This is because sustainability is not just about being good with society and the environment. It also has to do with running profitable businesses.
And if one or another of sustainability's pillars (economic, social, and environmental) is too weak, the other pillars suffer as well.
My Approach To Practical Sustainability
Thus, here are 6 simple and affordable steps for tourism practitioners to apply sustainability on a daily basis.
1. Set Basic And Simple Policies
Start with simple tweaks to the way you do things on a daily basis:
Put waste reduction or recycling practices in place in the office.
Embrace bottle refills and ditch single-use water bottles and plastic bags.
Reduce energy consumption by using energy-efficient lighting and appliances.
Implement a "Pack it in, pack it out" policy, where visitors carry out any waste they generate during tours or activities.
Encourage shorter showers at home and in hotels by placing water-saving signs or offering guests the option to reuse towels.
Encourage and prefer eco-friendly transportation options. These include walking, biking, public transit, and hybrid/electric vehicles. Use them for tours and transfers.
2. Partner Locally; Impact Globally
The next step is to think about options and services that you have closer to you:
Highlight local dishes that showcase seasonal and regional ingredients.
Promote local artisans and sell locally-made souvenirs and crafts during tours.
Partner with locally-owned hotels and tour companies that prioritize sustainable practices.
Foster positive relationships with local communities by engaging in community-based tourism initiatives.
Prefer restaurants and cafes that get food locally. This reduces emissions and helps local farmers.
Contribute to community development projects. For example, infrastructure improvements or education initiatives. This enhances the well-being of local residents.
3. Create Offers Based On Your Principles
In this step build or adapt your offer based on your policies:
Design or adapt experiences or tours that prioritize sustainability and eco-friendliness.
Prefer eco-tourism partners and certified sustainable providers to offer comprehensive travel experiences.
Incorporate activities such as nature walks, wildlife conservation projects, or cultural heritage experiences. This highlights the importance of natural and cultural preservation.
4. Think Digital First
Now is the time to let the world know about your offer by leveraging digital tools.
Avoid relying heavily on costly printed materials.
Offer downloadable maps and guides through your website or social platforms.
If printed material is necessary, prefer those that use recycled or recyclable paper.
Use online platforms to communicate your story or to manage bookings and itineraries.
Use online marketing. This offers greater efficiency and trackability than offline methods and generates less waste.
5. Advocate For Responsible Tourism
The next step is to communicate to visitors and partners how they can contribute:
Offer eco-friendly travel tips by communicating your policies.
Provide information about local environmental and cultural conservation efforts.
Educate visitors about respecting natural environments and cultural heritage sites.
Emphasize the significance of respecting local customs, traditions, and natural resources.
Promote sustainability by training staff, encouraging their input, and rewarding their sustainable efforts.
Educate travelers about the importance of responsible tourism. Encourage them to make sustainable choices during their trips.
Provide guidelines on proper waste disposal. For example, staying on marked trails, not removing plants/rocks as souvenirs, or being respectful of host communities.
6. Measure And Communicate.
The final step is to close the loop. Do it by monitoring the impact of your policies and communicating the results in simple ways:
Provide short feedback cards to visitors to rate your sustainability efforts.
Develop DIY formats for you to self-assess and improve your sustainability practices.
Communicate sustainability efforts and seek stakeholder feedback for improvement.
Engage in social media and reward visitors and partners for promoting sustainable tourism.
Create engaging visual displays to showcase sustainability initiatives. This facilitates visitor understanding of your commitment as a tourism practitioner.
In summary, by adding simple sustainable practices, tourism practitioners can contribute to good social and environmental outcomes, while also contributing to the long-term success of their businesses.
Want to Dive Deeper?
If you want to incorporate principles of sustainability in your practices and advance you tourism career, consider checking out the course Attract The Tourism You Want.
This 60-minute course shows you how to understand tourism from a refreshed perspective, providing you with the tools to plan and act in a practical way. And empowers you to develop the most beneficial type of tourism for you and your destination, in a sustainable and profitable way.
Or if you’re not ready to dive in to a course yet, just get started with today’s advice.
Summary:
Set basic policies.
Partner locally; impact globally.
Create offers based on your principles.
Think digital first.
Advocate for responsible tourism.
Measure and communicate.
And remember that sustainability is not a place you get to. It is a path you walk, and the further you go, the further you see where you can get.
It's like a positive utopian aspiration that sets you in motion and helps you keep moving forward.
That is it for today.
I hope you give these ideas a try.
Whenever you're ready, here are more ways I can help you.
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Self-paced, hands-on online course teaching you the process of attracting the tourism you want, providing you the tools to take and track action.
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