Irresponsible Tourism: Encouraging demand for sustainable travel

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Topic: Encouraging demand for sustainable travel

Author	Message
Rachel Newbie Joined: 08 Jan 2008 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 0	Topic: Encouraging demand for sustainable travel Posted: 08 Jan 2008 at 11:31
	What do people think it will take to encourage mainstream holiday makers to pay the extra for sustainable holidays? So far, the huge growth in demand for organic food, ethical clothing, fair trade produce etc hasn't really penetrated the holiday market. I am interested to get peoples opinions on why this is?
	Rachel
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planeta Groupie Joined: 12 Jul 2007 Location: Mexico Online Status: Offline Posts: 52	Posted: 08 Jan 2008 at 14:53
	I don't agree that holidays need to cost extra. To be truly sustainable, the holidays can be spent nearby at local parks with local services at a cost far less than international jetsetting. That said, I am not a purist. I travel abroad, but I am very skeptical about the high prices that many 'eco' lodges charge. What am I getting for this extra payment? The lack of adequate documentation and the abundance of spin makes many wary. For those interested in ethical living and sustainability, the big question starts with where we get reliable information. We need to turn the spin cycle down and invite locals and travelers alike to a dialogue about the ingredients for holidays that are mutually beneficial.
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Rachel Newbie Joined: 08 Jan 2008 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 0	Posted: 08 Jan 2008 at 15:16
	Yes, people can holiday locally. but the weather in northern europe means that people want to go abroad and relax in a warmer climate. The extortionate cost of hotel rooms in the UK also unfortunately means that holidaying overseas is often cheaper. So, here at least, imagining that people will simply abandon overseas holidays for a more sustainable alternative at home isn't realistic - in the short term anyway. Although there are exceptions, I think its inevitable that sustainable holidays are more expensive, for the same reason that free range chicken is more expensive. Anything mass produced tends to be cheaper (and have a worse environmental impact) than the less intensive alternative. But I don't think its a bad thing if people do pay more for holidays, as the 'real costs' eg the impact of their flights on the atmosphere, or the removal of natural habitat that the construction of their hotel or apartment has created, for example currently come free. If the holiday is to have minimum environmental impact and maximum benefit to local people it has to cost more than it does at present. But how do we pursuade the people that will pay the extra for a free range chicken, that the same principles apply when booking their holiday.
	Rachel
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planeta Groupie Joined: 12 Jul 2007 Location: Mexico Online Status: Offline Posts: 52	Posted: 02 Feb 2008 at 14:43
	Good thoughts, Rachel. My only point is that good ethical travel does not have to cost more or the supposition that high-priced 'eco' travel is better because it costs more. Here's a good example in Belize http://blog.joshuaberman.net/06-12/budget-in-belize-uber-tranquilo-travelers-gather-at-the-trek-stop.html Compare this to the ecoresort featured in New York Times http://travel.nytimes.com/2005/04/03/travel/03coppola.html The bottom line is that the buyer (traveler) needs to be aware and we should be asking a lot more from those developing, selling and promoting ecotourism to show us what we get from both a local and visitor pov. Edited by planeta - 02 Feb 2008 at 15:15
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gerhard Newbie Joined: 05 Sep 2008 Location: Mexico Online Status: Offline Posts: 0	Posted: 23 Sep 2008 at 11:44
	I agree, sustainable tourism need not cost more. While there are surely some reasons why sustainable practises can increase the cost of above all accommodation because they are more complicated to put into practise (eg. alternative energy sources etc.), I think people are paying for exclusivity rather than the sustainability in many luxury "ecolodges" or similar options, and one obviously has to look very carefully how much of the sustainability is real and how much is marketing. Because if we think about a few examples - What costs more?: 1. Air-con OR the more eco "without air-con"? 2. With TV and other luxuries, OR without? 3. Importing a complicated "international menu" OR eating local food? 4. Water-saving practices (with visitor awareness and participation) in water-scarce areas OR complete disregard of the issue? 5. Accommodation built from local materials, OR importing building material? (OK, this one could be tricky if the local material is no longer easy to find, but as a general rule) 6. Local participation and owners OR expensive external managers? Booking directly with the place OR with an agent in your country of origin? This list could grow, but I see a lot of ways that being more sustainable can make the vacation cheaper rather than more expensive. And there are definitely more sustainable options around that are not outrageously priced - we just need to search the web.
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Rosieuk Newbie Joined: 10 Jun 2009 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 0	Posted: 10 Jun 2009 at 10:54
	Gerhard You list some really good examples on here of why eco tourism should not cost any more. What I have come to realise about many of the eco lodges I have stayed in is that they over charge because on top of what you cite: They, the lodges, (on the whole) receive well off people who are seeking cultural capital and the exclusive knowledge that they are staying somewhere 'different'. The guests often believe they are truly doing 'good' for the local community. This is why they may choose to go to an eco site too. Sometimes they are by their spending power alone in the local business, but the sums often do not add up. They are paying for often wonderful views and the peace of the place. They enjoy that feeling of being often quite isolated and will pay extra for that. Visitors normally stay for 1 to 3 nights only as this is part of a longer trip, so they feel they can 'treat' themselves to something a bit different. I have actually seen visitors to eco lodges in tears when paying the final bill, as they had no idea just how expensive all the add ons were going to be!!!! Actually seen 25% service charge at several places. This did not go to the staff, but in the owner’s pocket. I feel very strongly that the exclusivity of eco lodges/hostels/hotels could easily be brought into the mainstream, particularly in Europe with the introduction of an easy to understand system of green accreditation, such as the already star rating system. Some of the stars should be green to indicate to visitors just how green the establishment is. This would be similar to the codes we now have on our food labels, which have brought fat, salt, sugar etc awareness into our kitchens. The already star rating system for hotels is generally an indicator for guests. So, for example, an eco lodge/hostel/hotel may only receive 2 stars in the UK for not having air con, mini bar, power showers and TV (although all possible with alternative green energy sources). But could earn an extra 3 green stars for environmental savings = 5 stars! If anyone knows of such a system please let me know. Just an idea. Rosie
	'Leave nothing but your footprint and good will'
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kurt_a Newbie Joined: 15 May 2009 Location: South Africa Online Status: Offline Posts: 0	Posted: 11 Jun 2009 at 11:24
	Hi Rosie Look at GreenStaySA (www.greenstaysa.org.za) for one example of an assessment and accreditation system that's being rolled out specifically for the accommodation sector. HTH Kurt
	The Afrika T blog Responsible travel in southern Africa http://afrikatourism.blogspot.com
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Rosieuk Newbie Joined: 10 Jun 2009 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 0	Posted: 15 Jun 2009 at 22:07
	Hi Kurt Thanks for this info, very interesting read. Rosie
	'Leave nothing but your footprint and good will'
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deshbhromon Newbie Joined: 24 Sep 2009 Online Status: Offline Posts: 0	Posted: 24 Sep 2009 at 02:53
	Bangladesh Tour & Travel Guide : Visit Bangladesh, Travel to Bangladesh Attractions As an emerging tourism destination Bangladesh offers travelers many interesting diversions including archaeological sites, historic mosques and monuments, white sandy beaches, and lush forest venues filled with wildlife and waterfalls.
	http://www.deshbhromon.com
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sarasmile Newbie Joined: 17 Aug 2009 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 0	Posted: 29 Sep 2009 at 00:58
	You have to be really careful with eco friendly holiday destinations. The intent behind it is but the reality is, it;s probably a gimmick. I worked for a company who did business for an eco resort that had just been built down in Mexico. These people completely restructured the surrounding land to build a golf course. If it's going to be green eco tourism than the whole thing should be green. How it's built and how it's maintained should both be factors. I think eco tourism should cost more if it is legitimate and I'm happy to hear they are developing an accreditation process. Cheers Sara mazatlan all inclusive
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Fairweed Newbie Joined: 28 Oct 2009 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 0	Posted: 28 Oct 2009 at 08:48
	Eco Tourism must not cost more, because it's already hard to make people think ECO!
	Hi, how are you today? Car hire Glasgow
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Vega Newbie Joined: 17 Mar 2010 Online Status: Offline Posts: 0	Posted: 17 Mar 2010 at 14:02
	I think the problem is that most eco-tourism places do not advertise as much compared to their competition. Most non-sustainable resorts are corporate owned and shill millions of dollars into advertising in order to get more guests. The problem with most advertising is that it goes against eco-tourism and sustainability. I think eco-tourism can become popular through grass-roots efforts and word of mouth. I think eventually with all things green is that when they do become the norm and not something different, the price will come down because the demand will increase.
	Vega Sinclair, Atlas Travel Insurance
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beata Newbie Joined: 15 Mar 2010 Location: Romania Online Status: Offline Posts: 0	Posted: 20 Mar 2010 at 13:50
	< ="Content-" content="text/; charset=utf-8">< name="ProgId" content="Word.">< name="Generator" content="Microsoft Word 12">< name="Originator" content="Microsoft Word 12"><> Hi, I’m a student in Romania and this is my webpage: http://ecoturrom.eu/form.html I want to make a survey for my state exam and it is very difficult to find people who fills in the questionnaire.Please help me and fill it in,it takes only a few minute. Browse on the webpage and you can enjoy the ecotourism in Romania if you want it. If you have questions you can write to me. Thank you so much, Beata!
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ncwarfield Newbie Joined: 02 Jul 2010 Location: Italy Online Status: Offline Posts: 0	Posted: 02 Jul 2010 at 15:40
	I believe that once places become popular, chain hotels, restaurants, shops etc. push out the small business owners with promises of elegance and comfort in a beautiful traditional setting. While the elegance and comfort aspect is often there, usually from the toils of exploited workers, the tradition tends to disappear and instead of local values, morals, interactions, customs, etc. there is a false display of culture that serves as an illusion to many travelers, an illusion constructed from the presumed perception of tourists. However, it is not only the mass tourism industry that is at fault, they are simply playing their part in a capitalist global market, but the travelers who are disillusioned by the grandeur and scared of lacking creature comforts. I assure there are more travelers who yearn these things than those who believe that green, eco friendly, culturally engaging travel is important. I would find it less than unreasonable to say that preservation of nature would be aided by an engaging soco-cultural interaction between people. In this way we may have more respect for the people whose lands we are guests on and so more respect for the land itself, whether urban or rural, mountainous or beachy. Would you agree? I would rather give back to the private owned ten bungalow hotel than the three hundred bed room internationally owned gigantic hotel.
	Nick Warfield www.lifebeyondtourism.org
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ncwarfield Newbie Joined: 02 Jul 2010 Location: Italy Online Status: Offline Posts: 0	Posted: 02 Jul 2010 at 15:43
	BTW...check out www.lifebeyondtourism.com I feel like, although I've only started this blog today, from what I have read people may be interested in checking out that website.
	Nick Warfield www.lifebeyondtourism.org
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