One of the things that binds us within Goal 17 is that we love to travel. Travelling enriches our lives, or as Mark Twain so eloquently put it, ‘One must travel, to learn’.
The travel industry is growing.
But how do we ensure that our children can also continue to travel – and thus continue to learn?
The World Travel & Tourism Council expects the travel industry to grow from $10,000 billion in 2019 to $15,500 billion in 2033, a 50% increase. Worldwide, the travel industry represents 12% of the Gross Domestic Product. In the Netherlands, that percentage is ‘only’ 4.5%, countries like Spain and Austria are already 15% dependent on tourism while islands in the Caribbean are 50% – 75%. The travel sector is therefore of great importance, not only to give people special experiences but also to contribute to economic growth and development. Especially in countries where the population is largely dependent on tourists.
That larger numbers of tourists need not come at the expense of nature and deterioration of local communities is proven by countries like Costa Rica and Mozambique. Costa Rica is considered a leader in eco-tourism, especially through active government control and protection of natural parks. Costa Rica deliberately does not focus on mass tourism, but on smaller numbers of tourists who visit the country for the nature parks and want to stay in (sometimes very simple) small-scale and sustainable eco-lodges. In Mozambique, the two largest nature parks are managed exclusively by the local population from the vision that they know the local flora and fauna best. An important additional advantage is that the proceeds are reinvested by and in the local communities.
The travel industry is already actively working to become more sustainable, but that commitment will have to increase significantly in the coming years. No just to meet the Paris climate targets. Much more important is the risk that consumers will stop travelling if they run the risk that their campsite will be flooded by heavy rainfall, or that they will have to leave their hotel because of large forest fires. Climate change has a direct impact on the business model of travel companies. Investing in sustainability is therefore also investing in the future of the travel industry. What is the state of your sustainability strategy?
Our differentiator
Goal 17 helps the travel industry become more sustainable. Not only do we know the sector because we love to travel ourselves, but we also have years of experience in it. At airports, (online) travel agents, tour operators, holiday home rentals, the cruise industry, etc. We have in-depth industry knowledge and are uniquely placed to efficiently prepare a dual materiality analysis, allowing companies to map their impact on people & the environment and the impact of climate change on their business. The formulation of a sustainability strategy, the implementation of current legislation (e.g., the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive) and the application of (mandatory) standards such as Travelife or the Environmental Sustainability Reporting Standards are also in trusted hands at Goal 17. Of course, we also look at the consequences of new legislation, such as the EU’s plans to tax paraffin and fuel oil. Finally; sustainability policy reporting is going to become a legal requirement. Goal 17 helps you choose the right software and set up and implement Environmental, Social & Governance reporting.
Goal 17 helps you drive economic, ecological and social value with and for your organization by designing, executing and reporting on your sustainability transformation strategy through training, consulting, and implementing innovative solutions.
Want to know what Goal 17 can do for you? Contact us at info@goal17.eco or call Marcel Veenhuizen, + 31 6 22 45 78 31 for a free intake.