Sustainable travel weighs on the minds of holidaymakers, research shows

PARIS, April 26 – The reality of climate change and the urgent need to get away from it all without further damaging the planet are weighing heavily on the minds of many holidaymakers. They want to do the right thing, but travel seems more than ever to be the exception that escapes all restrictions.

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A recent survey of French holidaymakers by MadeinVote for Flower Campings may have revealed what a large number of travelers secretly think: namely that they do not want to change their holiday habits to take into account environmental concerns.

The annual sustainable travel report from global booking giant Booking.com* supports this disconnect between awareness of the need to take action for the planet and the way holidays are experienced.

More than ever, vacation is a way to escape the mental burden of everyday life, including the mental burden of the need to take better care of the environment. Three-quarters of Booking.com respondents say they plan to travel more environmentally friendly in the next twelve months.

At the same time, 28 percent of vacationers say the time they spend traveling is too valuable to put sustainability at the top of their decision-making list. As a result, there is a reality to the weight this topic can have on travelers and their conscience.

About 43 percent of vacationers planning sustainable vacations in the next 12 months admit to feeling guilty if they make choices that don’t deliver on this promise.

According to the research, 45 percent of travelers are well aware of the importance of planning more sustainable vacations.

Except that holidaymakers have grown tired of over-promoting the idea without offering real, accessible solutions. 28 percent admit they are tired of hearing about climate change all the time.

Worse still, 33 percent of respondents think the damage to the Earth is already irreversible, while 25 percent believe climate change is not as severe as portrayed.

At the same time, 44 percent of travelers believe that it is not up to them to change their behavior, but that governments are best placed to balance the economic impacts of tourism.

In addition, 43 percent of the 31,000 travelers in 34 countries and territories surveyed by Booking.com believe that it is travel service providers that have the most room to maneuver to compensate for environmental factors.

A significant number of travelers (34 percent) also felt that it seems pointless to act more sustainably in a destination that does not implement sustainability practices itself.

While it is of course satisfying to see the positive consequences of a more sustainable approach to travel, fortunately a commitment to more environmentally friendly tourism can also be a lever for personal development. In other words, it can be satisfying for travelers to know they’ve taken action.

For example, no less than 62 percent of travelers say that they feel like the best version of themselves when they make sustainable choices on holiday. Additionally, if 67 percent witness sustainable practices during their stay, this will help them be more sustainable in their daily lives at home. — ETX Studio

*The survey was commissioned by Booking.com and conducted independently among a sample of 31,550 people in 34 countries and territories (including 1,000 in the United States, 1,000 in Canada, 1,000 in Mexico, 1,000 in Colombia, 1,000 in Brazil, 1,000 in Argentina, 1,000 in Australia, 500 in New Zealand, 1,000 in Spain, 1,000 in Italy, 1,000 in France, 500 in Switzerland, 1,000 in Great Britain, 1,000 in Ireland, 1,000 in Germany, 1,000 in the Netherlands, 1,000 in Belgium , 1,000 in Denmark, 1,000 in Sweden, 950 in Croatia, 500 in the United Arab Emirates, 1,000 in India, 1,000 in China, 800 in Hong Kong, 1,000 in Thailand, 1,000 in Singapore, 1,000 in Taiwan, 1,000 in Vietnam, 1,000 in Indonesia 1,000 in the Philippines, 1,000 in South Korea, 1,000 in Japan, 1,000 in South Africa and 300 in Kenya). To participate in the survey, respondents had to be at least 18 years old, have traveled at least once in the past twelve months, plan to travel in 2024, and have participated in organizing their trip. The survey was conducted online in February 2024.