Green Tourism: How Countries are Paving the Way for Sustainable Travel
Sustainable travel represents an opportunity to include travelers themselves in sustainability initiatives. (Pixabay).
Global governments are undertaking new initiatives to redefine tourism in popular destinations to protect local ecosystems. Many world leaders argue that with mounting environmental concerns resulting from overtourism, restrictions on capacity and practices make tourism “greener” and preserve the natural beauty of travel hotspots. Yet, a central tension exists between balancing the desire to attract visitors who generate income for local communities and a need for sustainability and conservation.
Efforts by the tourism industry to attract travelers have damaged local ecosystems. For example, to convert shorelines into more marketable artificial beaches, resort developers in the Maldives eliminate seagrass and mangroves to promote ‘cleaner’ looking landscapes. Ecologists scrutinize this choice, arguing it has damaged plant life key to carbon capture and the local ecosystem.
Critics of current tourism practice also point to the environmental damage the cruise industry imposes, a key component of global tourism. They argue ships release pollutants, such as sulphur oxides, that harm marine life and impact human health. They also produce a considerable amount of waste, and academic research found that while cruise ships represent just 1% of the global merchant fleet, they contribute almost 25% of all ocean waste.
Research has also found that tourists themselves contribute to environmental damage through water use, littering, and carbon emissions related to travel. However, according to a recent study by Brookings, 76% of tourists hope to embrace sustainable tourism, a sentiment which governments believe they can use to promote “greener” tourism.
To curb harmful practices, some localities implement bans, fees, and taxes to regulate tourism. A recent decree signed by Mayor Christian Estrosi banned stopovers by larger cruise ships in the city of Nice in order to lessen pollution. Advocates celebrated this move as "a decisive turning point for the quality of life, public health and the protection of our marine ecosystems.” With similar intent, at Khnong Phsar, a popular hiking spot at the Cardamom Mountain National Park in Cambodia, park officials charge tourists a garbage fee, which employs locals to remove the sizable amounts of trash hikers leave behind. Chea Yuthea, deputy chief of the park, argues that ecological harm poses a significant economic risk for local communities, saying, “If there is a lot of trash at Khnong Phsar, who will visit anymore? It affects their [the community’s] income for supporting their family.”
Other initiatives have focused on promoting greener tourism, rather than restricting harmful trends. In Ireland, old railways have been transformed into greenways—scenic paths intended for cycling and walking that encourage tourists to explore in a much less carbon intensive way. A recent initiative launched in Copenhagen, Denmark, turns tourists into a force for “positive change” by providing them with “free food, cultural experiences and tours” for engaging in sustainable activities such as taking public transport and picking up litter.
Although sustainable tourism seems to be on the rise, critics have concerns over the ethics and potential consequences of such initiatives. One concern is over greenwashing—a practice in which companies capitalize on the trend toward ‘going green’ and misrepresent their environmental impacts. In response to these concerns, countries such as Ireland have developed certification programs that require businesses to follow certain rules to be labeled as sustainable in their tourism practices.
The effects of tourism restrictions on local communities sparks concern as well. In a tweet responding to concerns about the cruise ban in Nice, Mayor Estrosi noted that revenues from a previous tourism tax had multiplied more than twofold between 2019 and 2023, none of which, he argues, can be attributed to contributions from the cruise industry. Some studies support Estrosi’s claim—one study finds that cruise tourists spend significantly less than the average tourist, while another shows that ports contribute to worsening conditions for local communities due to environmental and social harms.
While travel offers tourists the chance to explore cultures and landscapes while supporting local economies, sustainability remains essential to mitigating environmental and economic risks. As peak travel seasons approach, it is likely local governments will continue to seek solutions to manage damage from tourism and promote more sustainable practices.