9 Examples Of Sustainable Tourism – And Why It’s Good For Business

Travel and tourism are two of the world’s largest economic sectors, accounting for around 10.4% of global GDP and 319 million jobs in 2018 according to the World Travel & Tourism Council. It’s big business, but it’s also one that impacts the environment, as it most frequently involves people covering large distances to get to their destination. As more people are becoming aware of their impact on the climate, a market opens up for sustainable and green tourism.

We’ve collected some of the ways people have made tourist experiences more sustainable around the world. If you know of other great initiatives, please let us know. If you were considering making money within this huge market, the following ideas may even help to inspire you.

Inkaterra Hotels – Peru

Inkaterra Hotels have been at the forefront of ecotourism and sustainable development in Peru since their establishment in 1975. Inkaterra hotels can be found in Cusco, Machu Picchu Pueblo, Sacred Valley and Tambopata where their traditionally built lodges, built from local products and built into the environment without ruining it provide a luxurious home for visitors from across the world. They also support local conservation efforts, scientific research, education and the economic growth of local communities.

Atlantis Submarines – Hawaii

Diving 30 meters underwater in a submarine might sound like an adventure reserved for specialists, but it’s possible to do for the average person in three locations in Hawaii. Atlantis Submarines have since 1988 been exploring under the sea in environmentally safe submarines powered by batteries and emitting no pollutants. They move quietly through the water so the environment isn’t disturbed. They have also installed artificial reefs in two locations, re-establishing habitats for fish and marine life.

Summit Expeditions & Nomadic Experience (SENE) – Tanzania

Offering climbs to the top of Kilimanjaro, wildlife safaris and tours of Zanzibar this touring company has since 1998 provided tourists with sustainable tours and locals with jobs. They are members of Leave No Trace and use portable toilets with biodegradable disposal systems as some of their many efforts to maintain the local environment. They also encourage guests to take alternative routes, so the more busier routes have a chance to recuperate.

Wavelength – Australia

Set up by local marine biologists, Wavelength offers snorkelling tours of the great barrier reef, allowing everyone to find Nemo in a sustainable way. They’ve focused on taking smaller groups out, having a ‘no touch’ policy and using sunscreen that doesn’t impact the corals. This way the great barrier reef isn’t impacted by its visitors or put under intense pressure. The smaller tours have also become very popular and visitors are happy to follow the sustainable solutions.

Trash Hero - Thailand/Global

A global volunteer movement encouraging people to pick up the rubbish in the local environment. Trash Hero was founded in Thailand, where they started to motivate both tourists and locals to clean up rubbish when they saw it. They can currently be found in 12 countries and make the most of combining the local community and tourists to create a trash-free world. They also produce their own sustainable steel bottles, which they sell, as well as working with businesses to make them greener.

Ecobnb - Global

As the name suggests, this website helps you to find environmentally friendly and sustainable places to stay whilst you’re on holiday. They have 10 main sustainability criteria that they rate the accommodation on and when searching, you can see how each accommodation rates out of five on their criteria. It makes it easy and fast to find accommodation abroad, that help you to limit your carbon footprint whilst you’re travelling.

BEES Elephant Sanctuary - Thailand

Animal sanctuaries have often not been deemed sustainable as they continue to exploit the animals that are there, but at BEES they’ve taken a different approach: the humans that visit are there to work FOR the animals. They have a no contact, hands-off policy ensuring that the elephants are never forced into contact. The animals in the sanctuary are either rescued, retired or rented from their owners to give them a holiday from the tough work they’re expected to do. The sanctuary offers various programmes where people can come and work for them and give back to Thailand’s animals and nature.

Wilderness Scotland - Scotland

If exploring the beautiful highlands and lochs in Scotland has always been on your bucket list, then this company is an excellent option for a sustainable holiday in Scotland. They have a wide variety of tours, guides and holidays on offer and focus all their operations on being sustainable and leaving no trace. They also have a partnership with a local trust, which means that part of the profits every year go to helping the trust with some of their local projects as well as also giving money to other projects that promote conservation near and far.

GoBoat - Denmark/Global

Copyright: GoBoat ApS

Set up in 2014 GoBoat is now a global attraction for tourists and locals alike. It’s electric picnic boats that sail around harbours or lakes, allowing people to take a sustainable bout tour with their friends and see their local environment from a different perspective. The electric boats, which are solar-powered, are easy to steer, require no license and make zero noise and pollution for the local environment.

Sustainable tourism is good for business 

Sustainable tourism might seem like just a buzzword, but in its essence, it means travelling and exploring whilst still respecting the local culture, environment and people. The opposite of this kind of tourism is mass tourism, such as cruises or package holidays, which do not interact authentically with the local culture. The latter might seem like a better business option, but people’s minds are changing when it comes to travel, and the authentic experience is becoming more and more popular.  

On Revfine’s list of tourism trends, eco travel and local experience both feature in the top three trends. Tourists want to be engaged with the local experience whilst also ensuring they’re not making as much of a footprint when they do travel. Make a business that supplies that demand, and you’re sure to have a successful future.

If you’re interested in finding out more about starting a business in this industry, then check out our ultimate guide to starting a boat rental business.