9 Reasons To Become A Sustainable Tourism Business
We are constantly being reminded of becoming more sustainable, but what benefit is that to us? Why should our tourism business be a sustainable one? Well, there are actually an abundance of reasons why. The following are only a few.
1. To Gain A Better Reputation
By adopting sustainable practices, you will effectively be saying that you care about our world, our people and our environment. Not only will you be focusing on the present day, but also on the future and the lives of the generations to come.
2. To Give The Consumer What They Want
Today’s tourists are more aware of their actions and the environmental and social impacts they can have. So they want to see more businesses actively doing something to decrease the negative impacts tourism and travel can create. Consumer demand for sustainable tourism products is consistently on the up. In a survey of 13,000 travellers, 87% of all tourists wanted more sustainable travel options. So, give the people what they want!
3. To Attract The Right People
Sustainable tourism has become a priority for an inspiring 72% of global travellers and more and more businesses are taking the sustainable route. So in becoming a sustainable tourism business, you will be put on the radar of these travellers and businesses.
4. To Save Money And Cut Costs
Sustainable practices save you money in the long run. Small changes like changing to LED bulbs will cut your lighting costs by 25%. Our Gold Member, Clifden Eco Beach Camping & Caravanning Park, saved 90% on recycling costs, purely because it banned single-use plastics.
5. To Increase Resource Efficiency
Through sustainable practices, you will be using the resources our generous Earth has gifted us in an efficient way. This means that you won’t be depleting them. Instead, you will be reducing your carbon footprint and the environmental impact of your resource use. Resource efficiency essentially means creating more with less. Sounds like a bargain to us!
6. To Keep Up With Competition
Sustainability has three pillars – people, place and profit. More and more businesses are waking up to the importance of mitigating the social and environmental impacts of tourism and travel. They are beginning to put people and place before profit. So in joining them you will be keeping up with the curve.
7. It Will Be A Requirement Soon
As we draw closer to the deadline of The Paris Agreement in our fight against climate change, businesses will eventually be expected to have a sustainability policy. Ireland’s Waste Action Plan calls for a ban on single-use plastics by 2021 and the halving of food waste by 2030. Decarbonisation pledges are being taken as part of the European Green Deal. It’s time to act!
8. To Make The World A Better Place
The UN came up with 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) to be achieved by 2030. By being a sustainable tourism business, you will effectively be a part of the global process in achieving these goals.
9. It’s The Right Thing To Do
The main motivation for becoming a sustainable tourism business is simple – it’s just the right thing to do. Being a sustainable business has so many positive outcomes for both the environment and society. It improves air and water quality, conserves energy and reduces waste and air pollution. It also improves labour practices, community health, leads to better-educated consumers and promotes social justice and equality. It has an enormous ripple effect. Both staff and customers are educated, so awareness is heightened and is brought back home to their friends and family.
So be part of this positive change! Collectively we are powerful. Join our inspiring community and start your journey to becoming a sustainable tourism business today!
