.svg)
Around 1.4 billion people decided to travel in 2024, according to the UN World Tourism Organisation. Ever wondered why people travel? While the obvious answer is that people travel for leisure, work, education, health, religious purposes, family, growth, escape, and migration, the real deal is what travel does differently for each person. It’s as much a journey inward as it is outward. To some, it may lead to self-discovery, cultural sensitivity, new perspectives, creativity, global understanding, improved social skills, greater mindfulness, and rediscovering joy among many other possibilities.
Every trip, whether short or long, teaches you something new. The travel industry itself is standing at a crossroads. Traditional tourism, while economically beneficial, is crushing the environment with carbon emissions, over-tourism, and resource depletion. Enter technology as a key driver of tourism and sustainability. In a survey in 2022, over 80% of global travellers said sustainable tourism was important to them.
Thus, Big Data predictive analysis, artificial intelligence to optimize travel routes, blockchain for ethical tourism bookings and many more applications are today rightly reshaping sustainable travel. The eco-tourism industry has a global market size of US$172.4 billion: Statista. Let us understand how emerging technologies are driving eco-friendly tourism towards a richer, greener experience.
Post-pandemic, landmarks and popular destinations across the globe are seeing overcrowding leading to massive logistical and environmental challenges. Big Data analytics in tourism is helping cities and tourism boards to manage visitor flows efficiently.
Google’s ‘Popular Times’ feature in Google Maps is a simple yet powerful tool to help tourists navigate the right time to visit museums, restaurants and events. The AI-based predictive analytics helps forecast peak visitor times, allowing for better resource allocation and improved visitor experience.
Heat maps and AI-powered sensors help in the real-time monitoring of foot traffic in fragile heritage sites and tourist-dense areas.
Blockchain technology is emerging as a game-changer in sustainable tourism by providing traceability, transparency and accountability in the travel supply chain.
Supporting local communities is a win-win for the discerning tourists and the communities they support. Platforms like Fairbnb use blockchain technology to redistribute profits from vacation rentals back into the local community.
Many travel agencies and airlines are consciously providing carbon offset programmes. They are using blockchain technology to redistribute the funds collected for reforestation, renewable energy and conservation projects. Traceability and accountability boost customer confidence in ethical tourism.
Travalyst Prince Harry integrates blockchain to ensure hotels and airlines adhere to a genuine commitment to sustainability and not just greenwashing. Blockchain allows tourists to verify the authenticity of the eco-certifications. Insightful and easy to navigate.
Green is the new colour of joy for the mindful tourist. As people become conscious, opting for green-certified hotels and accommodations is among the best ways to support eco-tourism, ensuring reduced energy consumption and responsible tourism practices is a key part of green tourism. The hospitality industry is undergoing a green transformation. Considering that a survey by Statista in 2022 found that 80% of travellers believe in sustainable travel.
Hotels leverage Internet of Things (IoT) technology to optimize energy consumption with smart thermostats, motion sensors, cooling based on occupancy, and automatic light adjustments.
Eco-conscious hotels have adopted AI to minimize water wastage with smart showerheads and water recycling.
Ecobnb is a platform that lists its eco-certified accommodations using sustainable practices like renewable energy, organic local food, ecological cleaning products, more than 80% waste recycling, energy-saving lights, solar thermal panels for hot water, recovery and reuse of rainwater, etc.
VR tourism has seen huge growth with the projection that this industry will reach a $24 billion market size by 2027 (Source: Statista).
National Geographic, The Louvre Museum, Machu Picchu… many are offering tourists an immersive VR experience to virtually visit famous landmarks without contributing to in-person over-tourism.
Augmented Reality (AR) applications enhance the tourist experience with historical and cultural information being offered in real-world locations, thus eliminating the need for print materials like brochures, guides, and pamphlets. This has led to a reduction in paper wastage.
With VR offering a unique immersive experience, tourists can explore the options of armchair travel as an alternative to reduce environmental impact.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) helps improve efficiency and reduce waste for the travel industry. AI-driven platforms analyze vast amounts of data to help tourists make valuable choices.
AI-powered platforms like Google’s Google Flights and Skyscanner help travellers find the most valuable, efficient, and eco-friendly flight options by calculating carbon footprints. The tools prioritize direct flights, thus able to significantly reduce fuel consumption compared to a multiple stopover journey.
Airlines and hotels often leverage AI tools to adjust pricing based on demand, thus offering discounts and deals during off-peak seasons. This helps reduce the burden of over-tourism as well as encourages off-peak tourism ensuring year-long distribution of tourists.
Platforms like Booking.com and Expedia have been able to use AI-powered chatbots to offer prompt service, eco-friendly alternatives, and eco-conscious choices to travellers looking at sustainable itineraries.
Apps like Citymapper and Moovit help travellers find the most eco-friendly public transport options thereby reducing their carbon footprint. Cities can adopt AI-driven public transport networks that can foresee demand and optimize route options.
Platforms like Lime and Bird are offering last-mile travel solutions with e-scooters, and bike-sharing to reduce congestion and emissions in crowded tourist destinations.
Airbus and ZeroAvia are working to develop hydrogen-powered and electric planes with the hope of reducing carbon footprint. By 2035, we may even see the first commercial hydrogen-powered flight take off if all goes well.
The travel industry is poised for a tech-driven sustainable revolution. AI, blockchain, IoT, Big Data, VR, and Smart Mobility are all changing the future of tour today. But for sustainable tour to end up mainstream, a extra will and collective attempt is required. Companies, governments, and travellers themselves must make eco-friendly choices and help sustainable tourism. The dream of carbon-neutral tourism is now not far-fetched, thinking about that 80% of vacationers believe in sustainable tourism.
The journey of 1000 miles begins with one step - Lao Tzu. For responsible tourism that respects nature, the economy, and neighborhood communities - we must all think before taking that one step towards our next travel.
.svg)
