Ecotourism giving rare iguanas a sweet tooth

 

Ecotourists feeding grapes to rock iguanas on remote islands in the Bahamas have given them a sweet tooth and high blood sugar, researchers said Thursday, warning of unknown effects on the health of the vulnerable reptiles.

Tharu tribe dominated village along the Indo-Nepal border in Bahraich to be developed as a tourist destination

A Tharu tribe-dominated village along the Indo-Nepal border in Bahraich will be developed as a tourist destination under the Uttar Pradesh government’s “One District, One Eco-Tourism Spot” scheme, said a forest official.

Government twists the bid terms for Lakshadweep’s eco-tourism project

 

A private developer has recently been selected through a bidding process that will design, finance and construct 150 keys resort in Lakshadweep.

Eco-tourism experts raise concerns over relaxing of guidelines for projects

 

Last month, the environment ministry’s forest advisory committee relaxed rules for ecotourism projects by allowing them to build “non-permanent” structures in protected areas without consent from the central government. However, experts apprehend that this move could cause developers of such projects to construct a rash of the same in the absence of a definition for “non-permanent”, something the committee is yet to decide on.

Travel options that are both affordable and eco-friendly

 

Are you starting to become more conscious of what your carbon footprint is? Most people do not normally think of the type of impact that their everyday actions have on the environment. Many people do not realize the amount of impact that the way they get around every day can impact the environment, specifically. If you are looking for ways to make your everyday commute a little more environmentally friendly, then fortunately there are many different options available to accomplish this.

What’s New and Upcoming in Sri Lanka Tourism for 2020

Product managers creating holidays in Sri Lanka believe 2020 will be a positive year due to better road infrastructure, the increasing popularity of ecotourism products, new and flexible accommodation offerings and heightened security.

In the last few weeks, customer queries have increased. Optimism in the Sri Lankan travel trade is returning.

Visitors to Sri Lanka in the last three months have praised their experience and told tour operators that they received a very warm welcome and felt safe travelling around the island, including families.

Tour operator Steppes Travel said booking queries are returning to pre-April 2019 levels, but are not quite there yet. Steppes reported limited room availability over Christmas and New Year. “We still have some ground to make up to reach the same passenger numbers travelling pre-April 2019, but we are positive for 2020,” said Clare Burkey, Sri Lanka product consultant at Steppes.

There’s a lot at stake as Sri Lanka tourism seeks to recover from Easter Sunday 2019. Tourism arrivals in 2018 were 2.2 million, earning US$4.4 billion. However, 2019 closed down at 1.9 million, according to LoveSriLanka.org, an influential private sector initiative created to promote the destination after the April 2019 setback.

“The travel trade has been immensely supportive of Sri Lanka since Easter last year,” said Eleanor Milner, Director of The Sri Lanka Collection, which specialises in boutique heritage hotels, a major attraction across the destination. “As soon as the [UK] travel ban was lifted so many tour operators immediately started supporting Sri Lanka again.”

The Sri Lankan government has played its role, but not as proactively as the private sector would have liked. Nevertheless, in the recovery period, tourism safety and security have been prioritized. Visa on arrival has been extended to 45 countries until the end of April 2020. Travel advisories have since been eased or lifted. The government has made a commitment to an open skies policy.

Infrastructure has been improved with the opening of Jaffna airport. Batticaloa and Ratmalana airports have been enhanced. A new road linking Colombo airport highway and the highway to the south has slashed travel time to Galle to just over two hours.

New Tourism Experiences
New tourism products and experiences are underpinning recovery. There have been new hotel openings and major investments at The Viceroy House in Pasyala and Haritha Villa & Spa in Hikkaduwa near Galle. The 26-suite Jetwing Kandy Gallery is due to open early 2020.

KK Beach boutique resort near Galle will welcome families with children from summer 2020. There is now a great choice of tented camp experiences such as Kulu Safaris, Ceylon Wild Safaris, Noel Rodrigo’s Leopard Safaris, and Leopard Trails. Gal Oya Lodge, the only accommodation in lesser-known Gal Oya National Park, is winning accolades for its wildlife spotting trips.

Ecotourism is an increasingly important card in Sri Lanka’s comeback. Sri Lanka is one of only 34 biodiversity hotspots in the world, according to the Convention on Biological Diversity, based in Montreal.

“Forbes has rightly called Sri Lanka the best wildlife safari destination outside of Africa,” said Petra Ismail, General Manager of Khiri Travel Sri Lanka.

It’s a sentiment echoed at Steppes. “What other destination can offer whale watching one day with elephant and leopard sightings, the next?” asked Burkey.

The Khiri GM said the country is now uniquely placed to deliver high-quality experiences due to three types of themed activities: learning from nature (e.g. participating in reforesting, leopard research), the charm of lesser-visited cultural sites (such as Ritigala), and getting close to local people, with personalised experiences across the country.

These themes have been incorporated in Khiri Travel’s updated Sri Lanka signature experiences for 2020: Culinary Ceylon (Gourmet Gluttony); Sustainable Wildlife Experiences - Camp Hopping in Yala National Park; Meander Through Memories - A Tale of Tea; Curries, Claypots & Kandyan Flavours; Musing with a Monk; and Adventures of Arrack.

In each trip, local experts share insights while guests experience first hand the beautiful defining elements of Sri Lanka: archaeology, curry, tea, arrack, leopards, elephants, architecture and more.

However, for the destination, aviation challenges remain. Flight pricing on Sri Lankan Airlines raised eyebrows over Christmas and New Year, at a time when the tourism upturn was still tentative. “We still need more special air fares from Sri Lankan Airlines and indirect carriers such as Emirates,” said Burkey.

Nevertheless, Ismail said the travel trade is now much more optimistic and the country is looking forward to welcoming a surge of visitors in 2020.

“With its immense diversity, stunningly beautiful landscapes, amazing wildlife, colourful and rich culture and ever-smiling people, it is not surprising that Marco Polo once called Sri Lanka the most beautiful island in the world.”

Optimism for Sri Lanka: (l to r): Petra Ismail of Khiri Travel, Eleanor Milner of Sri Lanka Collection and Clare Burkey of Steppes Travel.

Find further Sri Lanka destination information and itinerary ideas for the travel trade on Khiri.com

Wild elephants in Yala National Park, many family friendly choices, train to Kandy through the tea plantations Tags: Sri Lanka, Khiri travel

Wild elephants in Yala National Park, many family friendly choices, train to Kandy through the tea plantations



Tags: Sri Lanka, Khiri travel

OIKOS East Africa Contributes to Tanzania Eco-Tourism

OIKOS East Africa has offered eco-tourism gears worth Sh14 million (US$6,000) to the Tanzania Enduimet Community Wildlife Management Area (WMA) in Longido district, Arusha region, in a bid to improve tourism activities.

Straddling between the world’s most extraordinary wildlife areas of Kilimanjaro National Park and the Amboseli ecosystem, Enduimet, the country’s pioneer wildlife management area, is a dispersal area for tens of thousands of wild herbivores, and its grass supports likewise tens of thousands of heads of cattle.

Camping equipment for 10 campsites, 5 state-of-the-art tents, 10 camping mattresses with canvas covers, 10 chairs, 5 camping tables, and 8 mountain bicycles are among the items that were handed over to the Enduimet WMA this past weekend.

“These gears are part of the 3-year CONNECT (Conserving Neighboring Ecosystems in Kenya and Tanzania) project, funded by the European Union,” said Project Manager Ms. Samantha Button.

It is understood that this project is executed by Oikos East Africa, a Tanzanian NGO based in Arusha and operating since 1999 to promote the protection of biodiversity and the sustainable use of natural resources as tools to fight against poverty and boost socio-economic development.

“The idea is to enhance tourism undertakings within the Enduimet WMA where in turn [it]will improve the lives and livelihoods of the community,” Ms. Button explained during the handing-over ceremony.

In addition, Oikos East Africa also donated equipment for walking guides, a group comprised of former rangers of Enduimet WMA.

The gear includes 3 sets of binoculars; sturdy backpacks for trekking; bird, tree, and wildlife books; and first aid kits.

The Enduimet WMA has committed to ensuring that the rangers will have group management in place and that they will be supported by being given office space at Sinya ranger post for the coordination of their activities.

Additionally, Oikos East Africa has also handed over 2 laptops in a bid to help to build the technical capacity of the Enduimet WMA management to carry out their roles effectively

Oikos East Africa is supporting the development of Enduimet WMA’s ecotourism industry to increase in a tangible way the benefits for communities from living alongside wildlife.

Revenue is earned when guests visit Enduimet WMA, and to increase the portfolio of products, Oikos is supporting the development of bike tourism as experts consider the area as the perfect destination.

“By diversifying the portfolio, we hope people will stay longer in the wildlife management area, increasing the WMA’s income. As we speak, specialized bicycle mechanics have been trained and can offer their services to both community members and tourists,” Ms. Button noted.

During 2018 and 2019, Oikos East Africa has trained more than 40 men, women, and youths in hospitality and guest management through a series of tailor-made training conducted by Jobortunity, a training and professional development institute, and more than 20 beneficiaries as bicycle mechanics, through a series of trainings conducted by the Arusha Bicycle Centre.

As it stands now, the Chairman of Enduimet Authorised Association, Mr. Parsanga Lendapa explained, these community members of the 11 villages that formed the WMA are poised to benefit from employment in the enhanced tourist offerings, which will grow as a result of the newly-acquired tourism equipment.

For his part, Enduimet WMA Manager, Peter Millanga, was so grateful to the ecotourism gears, saying they will boost the tourism growth and enable them to collect sufficient revenue for the community.

Tags: Tanzania, eco-tourism

Sharjah Tourism promotes eco-tourism at Riyadh Travel Fair 2019

The Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority (SCTDA) has confirmed that it will be joining leading participants in the Riyadh Travel Fair, taking place from 28-29 March 2019, to highlight tourism, cultural and leisure attractions in Sharjah and promote the emirate as one of the most significant local and international tourism destinations. Participation in the 11th edition of the event will focus on eco-tourism and outdoor activities, with a strong emphasis on new branded hotel projects, in line with SCTDA’s commitment to promoting Sharjah's tourism market in the Arab markets, especially in Saudi Arabia – one of the largest Gulf markets for tourists to the emirate

Commenting on the participation, H.E. Khalid Jasim Al Midfa, Chairman, SCTDA, said: “Our participation at the Riyadh Travel Fair is in line with our strategic plans to promote the emirate of Sharjah as a leading tourist destination in the world's major tourism markets and to ensure our presence on the global tourism map. This exhibition is of great importance as it is an ideal platform for us to review the competitive advantages and capabilities that make Sharjah a cultural, tourism and leisure center and a symbol of cultural excellence in the region. The Gulf region is a very competitive market because of the similarity of equivalent countries in climate, terrain and geographical location, and this requires us to provide exceptional tourim products for GCC tourists, who accounted for 45 per cent of the total number of Arab tourists to the emirate last year.”

Al Midfa added: “We always seek to promote Sharjah in various Arab and international exhibitions and forums in cooperation with various bodies in the public and private sectors. We take this approach because of the emirate’s unique characteristics and diversity in tourism products that meet the interests of different tourists, which include culture, arts, environment, history, science, entertainment, desert adventures and many more. The emirate of Sharjah is characterized by its position as the third largest emirate of the UAE and is distinguished by its geographical location that overlooks the coasts of the Arabian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman. Furthermore, it boasts dazzling diversity in topography and nature. Enhanced efforts will now be made to support the emirate's agenda for the 2019 World Book Fair, with a series of cultural events held for a year, starting April 23. We are looking forward to opening new horizons for cooperation with a number of stakeholders in the tourism, travel and hospitality sectors in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and to consolidate bridges of exchange of the most successful experiences and best practices in the development of tourism services and products."

The joint delegation from the emirate of Sharjah, headed by SCTDA, includes a prominent group of government and private bodies including Sharjah Airport Travel Agency: SATA; Sharjah Collection; Sheraton Sharjah Beach Resort & Spa ; Tulip Inn Hotel, Coral Beach Resort Sharjah, Cozmo Travel LLC; and TravTalk Magazine.

Within the framework of expanding the presence of the emirate of Sharjah, SCTDA participates continuously in various Arab and international exhibitions and platforms to target promising tourism markets. The Saudi market is currently one of the main active markets in the Gulf and SCTDA is keen to build effective partnerships with leading Saudi travel and tourism companies and understand the interests and requirements of the Saudi tourist to enrich their tourism experience. The Authority is keen to highlight the most important tourism and leisure projects and strategic initiatives aimed at developing tourism products in an innovative way. Doing so will enhance the travel experience of the Arab visitor and raise the proportion of Gulf and Arab tourism in the region, in line with the Sharjah Tourism Vision 2021 which aims to welcome 10 million tourists by 2021.
 
Sharjah is one of the most important tourist destinations attracting Saudi tourists - cited as a unique family and cultural destination that combines cultural heritage, natural wealth, tourism and leisure facilities. The emirate was recently chosen as the "World Book Capital of 2019", in recognition of its pivotal role in promoting the culture of reading and establishing knowledge as an effective tool in enhancing the dialogue of human civilizations. The award ensured Sharjah became the first Gulf city and the third in the Arab world and the Middle East region to be recognized by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)

Tags:Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority  Riyadh Travel Fair

Cardamom Tented Camp in Cambodia Announces Two New Ecotourism Packages

The Cardamom Tented Camp in Cambodia has announced two new conservation tourism initiatives: a wildlife release package linking the camp with the Chiphat community tourism project, and a 3D/2N deep forest experience with an overnight in a tentsile tree tent.

Partnering with the Wildlife Alliance’s wildlife release station in Chiphat, the Cardamom Tented Camp has created an innovative 5D/4N “Adventurer” package for ecotourists seeking a meaningful conservation experience in Southeast Asia.

The highlights include accommodation in the Chiphat wildlife release station, seeing animals being prepared for release, watching pangolins at feeding time, forest hiking, inspecting animal camera traps for sightings, and finding out about the long-running community tourism initiative at Chiphat.

Guests are then picked up by Cardamom Tented Camp guides. The tourists’ luggage goes straight to the camp while they hike to a Wildlife Alliance ranger station for a forest lunch. They then kayak for 90 minutes down river through a serene forest setting to the comfort of the Cardamom Tented Camp. After an introduction to the environmental objectives of the lodge, guests enjoy two more days of hiking, swimming, kayaking, boat rides, learning to cook Khmer food, and relaxing in the camp, which has no road access.

Cardamom Tented Camp has also announced a 3D/2N “Jungle Camp” package using tentsile tree tents.

After one night in the Cardamom Tented Camp, guests trek along abandoned poaching and logging trails to a remote riverside setting. Guests overnight in suspended tentsile tree tents. There are plenty of local hikes, wildlife spotting and swimming options available at the tentsile camp location.

The next morning guests trek to a ranger station for breakfast and enjoy a downstream kayak trip back to the full comfort of the Cardamom Tented Camp.
 
“Our two new conservation packages add variety to the immersive nature experience of Cardamom Tented Camp,” says Allan Michaud, lodge manager of the camp, which is one of three global finalists in the “Changemaker” category of the 2019 Tourism for Tomorrow Awards.

The awards this year recognise leading ecotourism initiatives around the world that are making a stand against illegal wildlife trading and habitat destruction.

To put the Cardamom Tented Camp project in context, the Cambodian government requires that economic activity takes place in the 180km² forest concession of Botum Sakor national park.

“The creation of the Cardamom Tented Camp is therefore the lightest, most viable eco-friendly option to satisfy the concession criteria,” says Michaud, who notes that neighbouring concessions of native forest have been cleared or turned into ecologically sterile palm oil plantations.

It is for this reason that the Cardamom Tented Camp operates under the slogan, “Your Stay Keeps the Forest Standing.”

Full details about the 5D/4N Adventurer package are available here.

Tags:Cardamom Tented Camp in Cambodia ,Ecotourism Packages

Lawmakers in Kentucky pushes $150 million parks plan to boost eco-tourism

The Republican lawmakers in Kentucky want to borrow $150 million to fix up the Kentucky park system, starting with a $20 million infusion on July 1 amid what is expected to be a contentious race for governor. This will boost the eco-tourism of the state.

The House Appropriations and Revenue Committee approved House Bill 268 on Tuesday. It would authorize the Arts, Tourism and Heritage Cabinet to borrow and spend $20 million beginning July 1 to do things like replace roofs and expands campgrounds at state parks.

This plan to fix the park planning would cost taxpayers an extra $2.2 million in the fiscal year that begins July 1. The rest of the money would be paid back over about 20 years, according to committee chairman Steven Rudy. Rudy said the plan is part of a larger proposal to borrow $150 million and spend it over the next three years to repair the state’s park system. He said the request came from the administration of Republican Gov. Matt Bevin, who is one of three governors in the country up for re-election this year.

Representatives from Bevin’s office did not respond to a request for comment. Kentucky has 49 state parks. Some are resorts, with hotels, restaurants and golf courses. The Bevin administration has already spent $18 million in repairs as part of its “Refreshing the Finest” program, which included 133 projects. Bevin announced an additional $20 million investment earlier this month, which had been approved by the state legislature last year.

Kentucky have some hidden gems in the state parks and they have been lagging behind for quite some time,” Rudy said. Hopefully they are going to be able to move into this century with our state parks with this investment. But the increased spending comes as lawmakers want to make changes to the state’s tax code. The committee also approved House Bill 354, which would exempt most nonprofit organizations from collecting sales taxes on admissions. That would include tickets to University of Kentucky and University of Louisville sporting events.

If that bill passes, it would cost taxpayers $7.75 million. Plus, the legislature is debating a school safety bill that would add millions of dollars to state spending in 2020 — money that has yet to be allocated. But Rudy said the state would make money over time, when including other changes that would collect sales taxes on products sold online. He also said the state’s reserves would be enough to cover the losses.

Rudy said the House could pass the bills Thursday. Lawmakers need at least 60 votes to pass them because they are revenue bills in a year when lawmakers don’t normally approve spending.

But Republicans control 61 of 100 seats in the House of Representatives. House Bill 354 seemed to surprise some Democrats on the committee, including Rep. Ruth Ann Palumbo, who noticed other things the bill does like decreasing the property tax rate on some heavy equipment.

Tags: Bevin, eco tourism, Kentucky, tax, University of Kentucky

India’s potentiality on eco-tourism create economic opportunities

Eco tourism  as a concept dates back to 1970’s, Ecotourism did not become prevalent as a travel concept till the 80’s. During the 80’s, there was an increase in environmental awareness and a desire to travel to destinations offering natural locations rather than standard destinations offering built up tourist attractions.

Ecotourism is a completely different approach to tourism. Ecotourism is a persevering travel to natural areas to appreciate the natural and cultural history of the environment and ensure that one does not disturb the integrity of the ecosystem and create economic opportunities that make conservation and protection of natural resources advantageous to the local people.

According to the World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) tourism that involves travelling to relatively undisturbed natural areas with the specified objective of studying, admiring and enjoying the scenery and its wild plants and animals, as well as any existing cultural aspects [both of the past and the present] found in these areas is defined as ecotourism. An optimum number of environment-friendly visitor activities, which do not have any serious impact on the ecosystem and the local community and the positive involvement of the local community in maintaining the ecological balance are some of its key elements

Principles of Ecotourism

Ecotourism is all about conservation of natural resources, using local communities and help in sustainable travel. Following are a few basic principles of Ecotourism that needs to be followed by those who implement/participate and market Ecotourism

–              Build cultural and environmental awareness

–              Minimize social, physical and psychological impacts

–              Provide direct financial benefits for conservation

–              Provide positive experiences for visitors and hosts

–              Deliver memorable experiences to visitors to that help raise sensitivity to host destinations

–              Recognize the rights and spiritual beliefs of the Indigenous people of the local community and work in partnership with them to create empowerment.

Ecotourism in India

The Ministry of tourism in India has also set a specific agenda to promote tourism in our country in a responsible and sustainable manner.

In recent years, it has been assessed that there is a growing trend towards travel to eco-tourism destinations like National Parks and Wildlife sanctuaries.

Considering this trend, the government of India had discussions with stakeholders, state governments and the Ministry of Environment and forests under the initiative ‘Tigers – Our National Beauties’ and the stakeholders had raised concerns about growing dangers to wildlife in our National Parks and wildlife sanctuaries due to unplanned growth of infrastructure in these areas which is also affecting the corridors for movement of animals in the parks.

A detailed survey was carried out in different parks. Based on the report, the government decided to include categories of awards for stakeholders to promote and practice Ecotourism. Awards for ‘Best Eco-Friendly hotel’, ‘Best Responsible Tourism Project’ etc. were added in the National Tourism awards and presented annually to the stakeholders.

Jay Kantawala from WIYO Travel commented that, “India has the potential to become a competitive ecotourism destination as we have abundant natural wealth. This also helps to develop the socio-economic status of local communities whilst also conserving its biodiversity”.

Tags: ecotourism, World Tourism Organisation

Foreign Minister supports eco-tourism effort for Palau

Eight tourists come to visit for every resident of the Pacific archipelago of Palau. The harmful environmental impacts of 160,000 visitors are something the 13th smallest island of the world is trying to emphasize.

Foreign Minister Julie Bishop, International Development Minister Concetta Fierravanti-Wells with Labor’s Penny Wong and Claire Moore are on a tour of Palau, Micronesia and Marshall Islands this week.

On Monday, Ms Bishop declared a $78,700 contribution towards the “Palau pledge” – initiations to support tourists as well as local businesses to be more environmentally conscious and sustainable.

Palau president Tommy Remengesau was quite thankful for the support.

“The Palau pledge has already made an immediate impact on visitors and the citizens of Palau, encouraging greater awareness of the responsibility we have to our children and our children’s children,” he said.

Leonardo DiCaprio, the Oscar-winning actor, billionaire Richard Branson and former US secretary of state John Kerry were among the pledge supporters. Australia’s May budget comprised a record $1.3 billion aid investment for Pacific island nations, which are identified among the world’s most vulnerable in terms of climate change as they struggle with growing sea levels and the increased frequency and intensity of cyclones and storms.

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Tags: Foreign Minister supports

68% of travelers seek eco-friendly hotels

Almost 87% percent of global travelers state that they want to travel sustainably and nearly 4 in 10 (39%) confirming that they often or always manage to do so. These statistics and more below are according to the Sustainable Travel Report* released by Booking.com

Although 39% of travelers confirm that they often or always manage to travel sustainably, 48% indicate they never, rarely or only sometimes manage to travel sustainably, suggesting that while promising strides are being made for a greener future, there is still plenty of room to turn intentions into action.

‘Sustainable travel’ is a subjective term that has different connotations for different people. However, for almost half of travelers (46%), ‘sustainable travel’ means staying in eco-friendly or green accommodations, topping the list of what people think of when hearing the term. The top reasons travelers give for choosing these eco-friendly places to rest their heads are to help reduce environmental impact (40%), to have a locally relevant experience (34%) and wanting to feel good about an accommodation choice (33%).**

Looking ahead, more than two-thirds (68%) of travelers intend to stay in an eco-accommodation in 2018, reassuringly up from 65% in 2017 and 62% in 2016. Additionally, the percentage of travelers who have not considered eco-friendly stays because they were unaware of their existence continues to decline, resting at 31% this year, compared to 39% and 38% in 2017 and 2016 respectively.***

When it comes to what inspires people to travel more sustainably, it seems that travel itself is the biggest motivator. Six in ten (60%) travelers indicated that they found the impressive natural sights visited on past travels as their inspiration to travel more sustainably, while more than half (54%) said seeing the visible impact that tourism can have on destinations serves as their inspiration.

The factors that inspire sustainable travel	% global travelers who found this inspiring
Being impressed by natural sights during their own travels (e.g. coral reefs, rain forest)	60%
Noticing a visible impact of tourism at the destinations they have visited	54%
Seeing the positive effect that sustainable tourism can have on the local people	47%
Seeing the unsustainable effects of tourism in their home country	42%
Feeling guilty about the impact their vacation has had on the environment	32%

Overcoming eco-barriers

While perceived extra cost remains the top barrier for travelers wanting to travel more sustainably, two thirds (67%) of travelers would be willing to spend at least 5% more on their travel to ensure it was as low impact on the environment as possible. Indian travelers claim to be the most willing, with nearly a third (32%) declaring that they would pay 15% or more, followed by Brazilians (21%) and Chinese (18%).

The research also indicates that a lack of information and a lack of credible certification poses a significant obstacle to sustainable travel (32%), particularly in India, China and Japan where travelers cited this as even more of a barrier than extra cost.

Top global obstacles to traveling more sustainably
Costs – not being able to afford the extra expenditure	42%
Information / lack of certification – not knowing how to make my travel more sustainable	32%
Time – traveling sustainably would be too time-consuming	22%
Destination – traveling sustainably would limit travel to less appealing destinations	22%
Luxury / comfort – sustainable travel does not meet the level of luxury / comfort accustomed to	20%

As sustainable travel intentions grow, travelers are still looking for ways to more easily fulfill these ambitions. 40% said that online booking sites offering a sustainable or eco-friendly filter option would help, while 32% continue to call for an international standard for identifying eco-friendly accommodations.

As part of its commitment to improving ways to uncover and share the sustainability efforts of its own accommodation partners, Booking.com is partnering with organizations like Green Key, an internationally recognized eco-label with strict award criteria that honors positive environmental management, to highlight Green Key awarded properties as 'sustainable' on its site.

It’s good to go green

Proving too that sustainability measures don’t need to come at an inconvenience, many global travelers indicated they engage in sustainable travel behavior because the activity itself adds a positive vacation experience to their trip.

Sustainable vacation activities that add to vacation enjoyment	Percentage of global travelers who do this
Buying locally made products instead of mass-produced tourist souvenirs	53%
Being adventurous and using public transport instead of a taxi	52%
Going out of the way to find a local restaurant that only uses local ingredients	41%
Skipping tourist highlights in favor of less busy and often more rewarding sights	40%
Opting for a unique place to stay that also a certified eco-accommodation over a traditional hotel	30%

"As travelers increasingly look to explore and experience the world in a sustainable way, we continue to look at ways that we can help make it even easier for them to do that, whether by highlighting eco-friendly properties or enabling people to filter their search results on Booking.com based on proximity to an electric vehicle charging station," says Pepijn Rijvers, Senior Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer at Booking.com. "Meaningful change can only come about through collaboration on multiple fronts throughout the entire sustainable tourism ecosystem. That’s why we also look to foster innovation in the sustainable tourism space through our Booking Booster initiatives to fund and support remarkable startups and change makers in this area. Today’s research reaffirms that sustainable travel is within reach for all of us, which is encouraging as we together strive to make a positive impact for a more sustainable future."

*Research commissioned by Booking.com and independently conducted among a sample of adults who have taken a trip in the last 12 months/plan to take a trip in the next 12 months. In total 12,134 respondents were surveyed across 12 markets (1000+ from Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, Germany, France, India, Italy, Japan, Spain, the UK and the US). Respondents completed an online survey in February and March 2018.

**These percentages pertain to the 4,768 respondents who actually stayed in eco-friendly accommodation at least once in 2017.

***This is the third year in which the Booking.com Sustainable Travel survey has been held. While the methodology and a set of core questions has remained the same, some additional questions were added and the sample has expanded over the years. For the 2017 edition, 11,069 respondents were surveyed (1000+ from the above countries except for India, which was first added in 2018). For the 2016 edition, a total 10,025 respondents were surveyed (1000+ from the above countries except for Spain, France, and India, but including New Zealand.)

Tags:Sustainable travel

China to adopt electric-vehicles in Hainan to promote green tourism

China’s Hawaii, the resort island of Hainan is getting electric cars for the tourists and daily commuting. This is a great push by China to lead the world in electric-vehicle adoption.

China looks to phase out sales of fossil-fuel vehicles in the province to accelerate the use of alternative energy. The energy-saving cars adoption in Hainan province is also promotion the responsible and sustainable tourism.

It is noted that President Xi Jinping is planning to make Hainan as the alternative paradise in economy. With this, Chinese President announced to build the whole island of Hainan into a pilot free trade zone.

From Hainan, the new economy revenue generation from tourism and trade will be easier. China will control the number of vehicles in Hainan in “a scientific way,” in a bid to make the island a place with a “green lifestyle”.

The administration of President Xi Jinping is implementing the new-energy vehicle production quotas. It is targeting a seven-fold increase in NEV sales and considering a ban on gas guzzlers as China tries to clear the air in polluted cities like Beijing, Macau and Shanghai. The Chinese government also cut its dependence on imported oil.

According to the data, China has surpassed the United States in 2009 as the world’s largest automotive market and in 2015 as the biggest NEV market.

China is already establishing as the biggest electric-car market. China is accounted for more than half of worldwide sales last year.

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Tags: china, green lifestyle, hainan

Northwest Florida looking to build eco tourism for revenue

Northwest Florida is teaming up to maintain ecological balances and with that it Florida is planning to boost the eco tourism for the tourism revenue.

The management of Northwest Florida counties is bordering the Apalachicola and Choctawhatchee Rivers to make a regional tourism destination.

Visit Panama City Beach President Dan Rowe and Destination Panama City President Jennifer Vigil will be representing Bay County on the RiverWay South board.

The mission of the management of Northwest Florida is to encourage the sustainable economic development by promoting the natural, cultural, and recreational resources within nearby river basins.

Officials say working together will help to bring people to parts of the state they’ve never seen before.

Tags: america, Apalachicola, eco tourism, northwest florida, usa, Visit Panama City