The top 3 green travel trends in 2012
Travel Business
In line with the greening trends worldwide, the tourism industry is undergoing a significant shift in the way it operates and in the types of travel packages it offers.
(Cape Town, 3 April 2012) As a ‘green wave’ continues to sweep across the globe, and consumers increasingly look for ways to minimise their impact on the environment, the tourism industry is undergoing a significant shift in the way it operates and in the types of travel packages it offers.
“A number of recent high-profile environmental campaigns have generated broad awareness of the dire state of some aspects of our natural heritage. Today’s traveller wants to know that his holiday is meaningful and not harmful to the environment. Players in the tourism industry that understand this – and can adapt to the needs of the responsible tourist – will have a distinct advantage over those that can’t,” says Gavin Bell, Marketing Co-ordinator of ecoAfrica, a specialist eco-travel consultancy offering responsible travel packages to more than 15 destinations in Africa.
As Marketing Co-ordinator for ecoAfrica, a company with significant experience in responsible travel, Bell has identified some of the major green travel trends that are likely to affect the tourism industry in 2012:
Voluntourism – Bell says that one of the key changes in the tourism industry after the global economic meltdown of 2008 is that many travellers are more focused on value – both in terms of value-for-money as well as their own values and principles. “We are increasingly seeing travellers wanting their holidays abroad to be meaningful experiences that offer opportunities for self-growth and helping others.”
ecoAfrica also offers a 22-day Vets in the Wild experience that gives veterinary science and wildlife management students an opportunity to gain hands-on field experience. “Students get to meet and interact with conservationists and wildlife veterinarians and take part in game capture operations. The students earn university credits for the programme, and get to learn from experts who can give them a unique insight into the issues associated with conservation in Africa today.”
Walking safaris - Bell mentions that walking safaris are proving to be very popular – where small groups of tourists go on a walkabout with two experienced guides. “The guides share a wealth of bush culture and knowledge while tourists get to see and experience nature first-hand. It serves the dual purpose of bringing people closer to nature while also educating them on the current challenges and issues that our sensitive environment is facing, often turning tourists into nature activists.”
Guilt-free travel – the on-going prevalence of ‘green’ as a global trend means travellers are placing ever-greater importance on the effect that their holidays have on the environment. “We have recently noticed a major increase in people asking for holiday experiences that ‘do no harm’.”
There’s a danger of overstating your ‘green’ credentials, however, explains Bell: “Travellers aren’t all that interested in hotels using low-energy LED lighting anymore – it has become expected, the norm. Many hotels are therefore differentiating by offering exciting eco-related experiences to guests – one hotel even has beehives on the roof and actively encourages guests to go see the beekeeping operations.”
Locally, a number of hotels have embraced the green trend as a key differentiating factor. Bell says some of the hotels they deal with, such as the Cape Grace in Cape Town, go to great lengths to ensure it is as environmentally responsible as possible. “The hotel only has indigenous plants in the garden, reducing the watering requirements for the grounds, and even the cooking oil from the kitchen is collected and recycled as biodiesel.”
African environmental issues – Africa is one of the last places on Earth where people can see and experience the untouched natural environment in all its splendour. “This has helped bring African environmental issues to the forefront of the tourism market,” explains Bell. “Tourists become invested in the natural beauty once they’ve experienced it for themselves, and want to do their part to address the major environmental issues facing Africa.”
The most famous example at the moment is the issue around rhino poaching. According to recent research, 117 rhinos have been killed in South Africa in the past few months, and there is a very real danger that these animals will become extinct if this continues unabated. “Right now there is a lot of talk of the ‘Big Five’ becoming the ‘Big Four’, as dozens of rhinos are poached for their horn, which is then sold on the black market in the East. Due to the publicity that this issue has received, we’ve seen an increase in tourists wishing to see these majestic animals in their natural habitat before they are all but extinct.”
Another big current African environmental issue is the destruction of the natural habitats of chimpanzees due to continued deforestation in Central Africa. “Due to their appearance in a host of Hollywood movies, these primates have become favourites among audiences around the world. Now they are being driven to the brink of extinction – in four African countries they have disappeared altogether. The only place where they can still be seen in their natural environment is in forest reserves and national parks, but even here they are under threat due to illegal hunting practices, and we’ve noticed an upsurge in bookings to these reserves and parks in the last few months,” says Bell.
Environmental responsibility is likely to continue to be a leading consumer trend over the next few years, as people try to counteract the effects of their lifestyles to ensure the survival of our natural heritage. “During the course of the next year, responsible travel will take centre stage in the international tourism industry, where it will likely remain for years to come. It is important for players in the travel and hospitality industry to be aware of these trends in order to accommodate an increasingly environmentally-aware traveller, who wants his holiday to be great not only for him, but also for the environment,” Bell concludes.
“A number of recent high-profile environmental campaigns have generated broad awareness of the dire state of some aspects of our natural heritage. Today’s traveller wants to know that his holiday is meaningful and not harmful to the environment. Players in the tourism industry that understand this – and can adapt to the needs of the responsible tourist – will have a distinct advantage over those that can’t,” says Gavin Bell, Marketing Co-ordinator of ecoAfrica, a specialist eco-travel consultancy offering responsible travel packages to more than 15 destinations in Africa.
As Marketing Co-ordinator for ecoAfrica, a company with significant experience in responsible travel, Bell has identified some of the major green travel trends that are likely to affect the tourism industry in 2012:
Voluntourism – Bell says that one of the key changes in the tourism industry after the global economic meltdown of 2008 is that many travellers are more focused on value – both in terms of value-for-money as well as their own values and principles. “We are increasingly seeing travellers wanting their holidays abroad to be meaningful experiences that offer opportunities for self-growth and helping others.”
ecoAfrica also offers a 22-day Vets in the Wild experience that gives veterinary science and wildlife management students an opportunity to gain hands-on field experience. “Students get to meet and interact with conservationists and wildlife veterinarians and take part in game capture operations. The students earn university credits for the programme, and get to learn from experts who can give them a unique insight into the issues associated with conservation in Africa today.”
Walking safaris - Bell mentions that walking safaris are proving to be very popular – where small groups of tourists go on a walkabout with two experienced guides. “The guides share a wealth of bush culture and knowledge while tourists get to see and experience nature first-hand. It serves the dual purpose of bringing people closer to nature while also educating them on the current challenges and issues that our sensitive environment is facing, often turning tourists into nature activists.”
Guilt-free travel – the on-going prevalence of ‘green’ as a global trend means travellers are placing ever-greater importance on the effect that their holidays have on the environment. “We have recently noticed a major increase in people asking for holiday experiences that ‘do no harm’.”
There’s a danger of overstating your ‘green’ credentials, however, explains Bell: “Travellers aren’t all that interested in hotels using low-energy LED lighting anymore – it has become expected, the norm. Many hotels are therefore differentiating by offering exciting eco-related experiences to guests – one hotel even has beehives on the roof and actively encourages guests to go see the beekeeping operations.”
Locally, a number of hotels have embraced the green trend as a key differentiating factor. Bell says some of the hotels they deal with, such as the Cape Grace in Cape Town, go to great lengths to ensure it is as environmentally responsible as possible. “The hotel only has indigenous plants in the garden, reducing the watering requirements for the grounds, and even the cooking oil from the kitchen is collected and recycled as biodiesel.”
African environmental issues – Africa is one of the last places on Earth where people can see and experience the untouched natural environment in all its splendour. “This has helped bring African environmental issues to the forefront of the tourism market,” explains Bell. “Tourists become invested in the natural beauty once they’ve experienced it for themselves, and want to do their part to address the major environmental issues facing Africa.”
The most famous example at the moment is the issue around rhino poaching. According to recent research, 117 rhinos have been killed in South Africa in the past few months, and there is a very real danger that these animals will become extinct if this continues unabated. “Right now there is a lot of talk of the ‘Big Five’ becoming the ‘Big Four’, as dozens of rhinos are poached for their horn, which is then sold on the black market in the East. Due to the publicity that this issue has received, we’ve seen an increase in tourists wishing to see these majestic animals in their natural habitat before they are all but extinct.”
Another big current African environmental issue is the destruction of the natural habitats of chimpanzees due to continued deforestation in Central Africa. “Due to their appearance in a host of Hollywood movies, these primates have become favourites among audiences around the world. Now they are being driven to the brink of extinction – in four African countries they have disappeared altogether. The only place where they can still be seen in their natural environment is in forest reserves and national parks, but even here they are under threat due to illegal hunting practices, and we’ve noticed an upsurge in bookings to these reserves and parks in the last few months,” says Bell.
Environmental responsibility is likely to continue to be a leading consumer trend over the next few years, as people try to counteract the effects of their lifestyles to ensure the survival of our natural heritage. “During the course of the next year, responsible travel will take centre stage in the international tourism industry, where it will likely remain for years to come. It is important for players in the travel and hospitality industry to be aware of these trends in order to accommodate an increasingly environmentally-aware traveller, who wants his holiday to be great not only for him, but also for the environment,” Bell concludes.
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