When it comes to sustainability, travel can seem like a double-edged sword. On the one hand, exploring the world helps cultivate empathy toward new cultures and can lead to radical change. On the other hand, the potential emissions from boarding a plane and visiting a destination are at odds with a cleaner planet. This is why there is no miracle solution for make travel more sustainable…it's nuanced.
“When we talk about a sustainable destination, different factors come into play,” explains Roi Ariel, general director of The World Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC), an organization that sets global standards for sustainability in travel and tourism. “Leadership teams at destinations considered sustainable understand that “sustainability” is a journey that is never complete. » Therefore, a dynamic approach is certainly the way to go, with considerations ranging from sustainable management and socio-economic implications to cultural and environmental impacts.
“I think what makes a hotel obviously sustainable from a guest's perspective is conscious communication regarding all their initiatives to make their operations more sustainable,” says Few and far Sarah Dusek, co-founder, adding that “if a hotel doesn't talk about its initiatives, chances are it doesn't have any.” Some basic considerations should already be in place, such as reducing (or eliminating) single-use plastics and implementing eco-friendly products like soaps and cleaning supplies. “A conscious connection to food sourcing is something I also expect to see,” Dusek says, emphasizing that the more local, the better. Energy efficiency and waste management strategies are also paramount, she notes, and often incorporate alternative and innovative sources such as solar energy.
More generally, we can consider entire regions as sustainable travel destinations that prioritize conscientious tourism simply by checking accreditations, like GSTC certification. “Turkey, for example, has taken a big step towards sustainability as a destination,” says Ariel, noting that the country has developed the first mandatory national accommodation program based on GSTC criteria. “From 2023 to 2030, all accommodation in Turkey must be certified by a GSTC-accredited certification body. »
With these complexities in mind, scroll below to explore eight unique sustainable travel destinations this year, from the biodiversity of Costa Rica to the remote Arctic shores of Norway.
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