I work in the travel and tourism industry . . . and everything about it screams go green!
The #1 reason a person travels is for the destination!
People do travel for other reasons like work or family obligations, but most travel because they have heard about, read about or dreamed about a particular destination.
So, preserving destinations is one of the most important aspects of the travel industry. If destinations disappear so does their economic potential, which hurts every part of the industry. So not only is it good for business to become sustainable, it is a necessity.
Tour operators (suppliers) sell a destination as their product, and many have realized that the upkeep and protection of these places is valuable, not only to their longevity, but to their personal value, since the destinations are often seen as representative of their company. So, it is in their best interest to practice sustainability.
Travel Agents (resellers) must look to these suppliers (tour operators) to lead the way by selling products that are environmentally and socially sustainable.
Of course, there is a lot still to be done.
eco-tourism is one of the hottest areas in sustainable business. Check out the Blue Flag certification program. http://www.blueflag.org/
ReplyDeleteBlue Flag - a well known sight to international beach afficiondos. Unfortunately, none in the U.S.
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