Regeneration needs to become part of the travel industry’s business model at every level, from how it creates tours to how it invests in accommodation, transportation, and more
The travel industry offers huge potential for growth, economic development and the empowerment of rural communities, but the harsh truth is, for all of tourism’s many positives, the sector is desperately failing on its environmental and social responsibilities, and the consequences are clear for everyone to see. Ice caps are melting, flash floods threaten communities, sea levels are rising and destinations are suffering from extractive business models that do not benefit destinations or the local people who live there.
Local communities risk losing the most as a result. Not addressing these environmental truths or staying silent on the issues will not make the problem go away. It will only make things worse. If the travel industry doesn’t change and move towards a regenerative approach, there may be no tourism industry at all in the future.
According to the World Travel and Tourism Council, travel and tourism account for up to 11 percent of global carbon emissions. That 11 percent figure will probably be much higher in the coming years because the growth in emissions from the tourism industry continues to outpace the growth in the global GDP.)
India is facing a particular challenge, as it has one of the most rapidly emerging outbound travel markets in the world, as well as a significant inbound tourism sector. Indians want to travel both domestically and internationally in ever growing numbers. And tourists want to visit India to experience its incredible cultures, histories, food and landscapes. This growth is an exciting prospect, but it comes with the need for greater accountability and action.
The idea of a sector that gives rather than takes is not new. As early as 1995, tourism researcher and strategist Anna Pollock was advocating for the travel industry to focus on revitalization. (With community and environmental repair at its centre, “regenerative travel” entails tearing down preconceived notions about what travel entails and reconstructing it piece by piece.)
The question is, what would this really look like? A recent report titled ‘The Future for Sustainable Travel’ puts forward some futuristic ideas on what could Sustainable Travel include. It puts forward the concept that by 2040, governments could regulate travel businesses to ensure that the majority of money spent by tourists in a destination stays in the local economy. In a country like India, this could be a radically game-changing approach.
The challenge—and the opportunity—is for the travel industry to think differently and rapidly adopt more sustainable and regenerative approaches. The switch towards regeneration is structural and must happen at every level. The travel industry needs to stop shying away from its negative environmental and social impacts. Instead, regeneration needs to become a default setting that is embedded throughout the industry, not just a one-off activity or an ad hoc visit to a social enterprise during a two-week tour.
Regeneration needs to become part of the travel industry’s business model at every level, from how it creates tours to how it invests in accommodation, transportation, and more.
This is possible and the tourism sector is well-placed to create this change. It is one of the largest global industries, responsible for one in 10 jobs in the world and contributing $7.7 trillion to global GDP in 2022. It is a global sector which can create global change. However, the industry needs to get serious about addressing its carbon emissions, conserving and regenerating natural landscapes, empowering local host communities, helping to preserve culture, building skills, and developing economic security.
As an industry, tourism needs to show it has the will to change. Now is the time for tourism to step up and show it truly cares about a better future. Our world is counting on it.
(Darrell Wade is the Co-Founder and Chairman of Intrepid Travel.)