How to Travel Sustainably?
Your next trip is an opportunity to explore, yes, but also to support the kind of world you want to travel in twenty years from now.
Your next trip could change the world (no pressure, though), but before you swear off travel forever and resign yourself to a life of staycations, let me tell you something hopeful: the industry is actually changing, and you can be part of it. So, how to travel sustainably?
Data for Context
We’re all in this together. Remember when travel seemed simple? You booked a flight, packed your bag, and went. But in recent years, something has changed. Maybe you noticed the crowds in Venice or read about the closure of Maya Bay in Thailand because it needed to recover.
Maybe you just felt a little pang of guilt when you ordered your third single-use plastic water bottle of the day.
The issue behind the change is overwhelming. Tourism now accounts for around 8-9% of global greenhouse gas emissions. That's not a typo.
Between 2009 and 2019, those emissions grew by 3.5% annually—more than twice the rate of the rest of the global economy.
By 2024, even if the sector's economic recovery surpasses pre-pandemic levels, we project that approximately 7.3% of total global emissions will still stem from our passion for travel.
But before you swear off travel forever and resign yourself to a life of staycations, let me tell you something hopeful: the industry is actually changing, and YOU can be part of it. So, let's learn together how to travel sustainably.
The Certifications You've Never Heard Of (But Should Know About)
The important question is, who guarantees the honesty of the tourism industry?
The only correct answer: the world of sustainability certifications. Which are essentially the tourism sector's reports.
The Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) is the leading authority in this field. Think of it as the United Nations of sustainable tourism.
It doesn't directly certify hotels or travel agencies, but it does certify the organizations that do, ensuring that everyone adheres to the same rigorous standards.
Its criteria cover four main areas:
- Sustainable Management.
- Socioeconomic Impact.
- Cultural Impact.
- Environmental Impact.
Fortunately, some of the major hotel chains are joining.
Centara Hotels & Resorts in Thailand achieved 93% GSTC certification for its properties by 2024. Barceló Hotel Group became the first major Spanish hotel chain to receive GSTC certification, with plans to certify all its Spanish properties by 2025. Best Western is committed to ensuring that all its international hotels comply with GSTC-recognized programs by December 2026.
Local, boutique, and independent hotels, not belonging to any large chain but owned by local businesses, are also adopting these standards and certifications.
Other certifications
Worth mentioning and knowing about:
- Green Globe: Uses 44 criteria and more than 400 compliance indicators, with annual audits.
- EarthCheck: A scientifically backed certification that monitors actual environmental impact.
- Green Key: Focuses on accommodations that demonstrate strong environmental management.
- Travelife: Designed specifically for tour operators and travel agencies.
But here's the catch (there's always one): Until recently, most certifications measured what hotels claimed to do, not their actual achievements. The EU Green Declarations Directive, approved in March 2024, is changing this by requiring certifications to be based on real performance data through Life Cycle Assessments.
This means certifications are becoming increasingly rigorous and meaningful. They will be based not just on words, but on facts.
The Real Numbers: What's Actually Changing
Understanding reality allows us to know how to travel more sustainably.
Context. The World Travel & Tourism Council reported that, in 2024, while tourism GDP grew by 6% compared to pre-pandemic levels (from $10.3 trillion in 2019 to $10.9 trillion), emissions decreased by 9.3% compared to 2019 levels. This is what we call decoupling growth from environmental impact, and it is precisely what needs to happen.
Emissions intensity (the amount of CO2 per dollar earned) has decreased by 15% since 2019. This means the industry is becoming more efficient at generating economic value while simultaneously producing fewer emissions.
However, and this is crucial, we are not moving quickly enough. The Paris Agreement requires the tourism sector to reduce its emissions by more than 10% annually. However, we are still far from reaching that target.
Transportation remains the primary contributor to tourism's carbon emissions, accounting for 40% of total emissions, and aviation is the leading contributor to global carbon emissions.
Although some airlines have interesting proposals regarding their fuels and sustainable practices, this is still not enough.
What You Can Actually Do (Without Becoming a Hermit)?
How to travel sustainably?
Okay, enough with the pessimism. This is where you and all of us come in. And I promise you, this isn't your typical "carry a reusable water bottle" advice (although, seriously, do that too).
Rethink your transportation
- For trips under 200 miles (approximately from New York to Washington, D.C.), trains and buses far outperform airplanes in terms of emissions.
- If you must fly, book direct flights: they use significantly less fuel than connecting flights.
- Fly economy. Business class seats take up five times more space and generate five times more emissions per passenger.
- Travel lighter. The weight of your luggage affects fuel efficiency.
Choose your accommodations wisely
- Hotels with GSTC, Green Key, or EarthCheck certifications aren't just greenwashing—they're walking the walk.
- Skip the daily housekeeping. Hanging that "Do Not Disturb" sign saves water and energy.
- Locally-owned accommodations keep money in the community. And often they can be cheaper and offer better service. That's a real win-win.
Be strategic: When and where?
- Travel off-season. It reduces pressure on peak tourist destinations, supports local economies year-round, and saves you money.
- Consider alternative destinations. Instead of Dubrovnik, visit the Croatian island of Vis. Instead of overcrowded Santorini, explore the lesser-known Greek islands. (The Green Guide always sends guides to less busy destinations).
- Support destinations that manage tourism responsibly, such as Copenhagen (which rewards tourists for picking up litter with free food and transportation) or Thailand's Phi Phi Islands (which closed Maya Bay for four years to recover and reopened with strict visitor limits).
Support the local economy
- Book with businesses that have a high impact score (the percentage of your spending that goes to local communities). G Adventures pioneered this metric.
- Eat at restaurants that use local ingredients, instead of fast-food chains, choose farm-to-table restaurants, and, I swear, the travel experience will be completely different.
- Buy from local artisans, not mass-produced souvenir shops.
Why This Actually Matters?
Let's be realistic for a moment. Tourism supports one in ten jobs worldwide: some 320 million people. It creates one in five new jobs globally. In 2024, it generated $3.5 trillion in tax revenue, up from $3.3 trillion in 2019. When you travel sustainably, you're not just saving coral reefs (although that's great). You're:
- Supporting communities that depend on tourism but are drowning in overtourism.
- Protecting cultural heritage sites from degradation.
- Ensuring future generations can experience the same wonders you're seeing.
- Voting with your wallet for a better tourism industry.
The United Nations Statistical Framework for Measuring Tourism Sustainability was adopted in February 2024 by all 193 Member States, meaning that destinations now have standardized methods for measuring their tourism impact.
This is not just about bureaucratic procedures; it is the foundation for evidence-based policies that balance the benefits of tourism with environmental protection.
I'm so glad you made it this far. Plan V is an independent magazine, and your donation allows me to continue doing this.
See you soon.
Thank you!
FAQS
What is the most sustainable way to travel?
Train travel for distances under 500 miles is your best bet—it produces up to 90% fewer emissions than flying. For longer distances, choose direct flights in economy class, stay longer in fewer places rather than hopping destinations, and prioritize accommodations with legitimate sustainability certifications like GSTC or EarthCheck.
How to do sustainable travel?
Start with three key actions: choose low-carbon transportation when possible (trains over planes, direct flights over connections), book certified sustainable accommodations and tour operators, and spend your money locally—eat at local restaurants, hire local guides, and buy from local artisans. Skip daily housekeeping, bring reusable items, and travel off-season to reduce pressure on overtouristed destinations.
What are the 5 P's of sustainable tourism?
The 5 P's are:
- People (supporting local communities and respecting cultures).
- Planet (minimizing environmental impact).
- Prosperity (ensuring tourism benefits local economies).
- Peace (fostering cross-cultural understanding).
- Partnerships (collaboration between travelers, businesses, and governments).
These align with the UN Sustainable Development Goals framework for tourism.
What is the sustainable travel method?
There's no single method—it's a holistic approach combining conscious choices across transportation, accommodation, activities, and spending. The core principle is minimizing negative impacts while maximizing benefits to local communities and environments. This means traveling slower, staying longer, choosing certified operators, respecting local cultures, and leaving destinations better than you found them.
Pamela Herrera
