Remember a couple of years ago when single use plastic straws were the root of all evil?
To be clear, I think that minimizing the use of anything “single use” (i.e. disposable) is an improvement, but I find the singular focus on that one small part of sustainability to be more than a little self-defeating.
As it relates to the travel trade, we need to view sustainability in the broadest of terms, and we also need to have a long-term view.
Before the pandemic, there was a great deal of legitimate discussion about the perils of over-tourism. The pandemic taught us that under-tourism is equally as large a problem, so simply stopping tourism is not a viable solution.
I would suggest there are three aspects to sustainable tourism, and travel vendors will have to address all three of these things if they want to attract discerning travellers.
Cultural Sustainability – To what degree are local traditions and cultures maintained and enhanced because of tourism? Will local customs be respected and taught to visitors, or will American and Western norms be imposed on the local populations? This is a delicate balancing act.
Economic Sustainability – We learned during the pandemic how powerful a tool tourism is for the redistribution of wealth. There is no doubt many of us struggled through the pandemic, but the economic pain was many times greater in developing economies that are more dependent upon tourism. Approximately one in five jobs globally is dependent on travel and tourism. Sustainability leaders in the travel industry leave a higher percentage of wealth in local communities we visit.
Ecological Sustainability – We absolutely need to be better custodians of the planet if we want to continue to enjoy all that she offers. This is about much more than plastic straws through. One simple, yet meaningful action forward-thinking travel suppliers have taken is to provide guests with refillable water bottles to eliminate the use of single use plastic bottles. It is these types of simple solutions we need to continue to look for in order to travel in a responsible way.
We need to play the long game in all three of these aspects of sustainability. Travel and tourism can be done in a way that strengthens local communities and minimizes ecological impacts.
We just need to think bigger than eliminating plastic straws.
Here’s today’s travel opportunities
Viking Cruises is at it again, throwing in FREE FLIGHTS on some of their cruises. Here are a few examples:
In Search of the Northern Lights (Norwegian Coast)
- 13-days between London and Bergen, Norway
- Visit Stavanger, Bodo, Tromso, Alta, and Narvik. This is a Norwegian Coast cruise, so you stand a good chance of seeing the Northern Lights.
- March 2022 departures at $5299 per person with Free Flights.
Holland and Belgium
- 10-days between Amsterdam and Antwerp. This cruise is perfect for those who’ve already sailed the Rhine and Danube and are looking to explore a different part of Western Europe by river boat.
- Visit Hoorn, Dordrecht & Rotterdam, Kinderdijk, Wesel, Nijmegen, Maastricht.
- June, July, or August 2022 departures at $3599 per person with Free Flights.
Australia & New Zealand.
- OK – this one isn’t free air, but it is reduced. We’ve been forced to miss the past two seasons “Down Under”, so these cruises for next season will sell out very quickly.
- 15-days between Sydney and Auckland.
- Visit Melbourne, Tasmania, Foveaux Strait, Dunedin, Christchurch, Wellington, Napier, Rotorua.
- December 2022 departures at $6999 per person with $999 Flights.
Book your Viking trip through the Pampered Cruiser and receive an additional $100 per person onboard credit.
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If you’re planning a trip, I’d love to help! Click here or call 800-876-0168 to get in touch today.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Sue Bradley
Sue Bradley
