RT News June 2024
Sabre is now sponsoring the Global Responsible Tourism Awards™ There are six categories in 2024: (1) Making Travel Inclusive (2) Championing Cultural Diversity (3) Nature Positive (4) What are you doing about Climate Change? (5) Increasing local sourcing- Creating shared value (6) Employing and Upskilling Local Communities. Gold winners in each regional awards programme automatically enter the Global Awards.
The Rest of the World Awards are open until August 31st enter
There is further information about the 2024 Awards here
24 June Barcelona’s radical plan to manage overtourism
20 June Overtourism is now regularly in the newspaper and it is negative coverage
12 June Better Places leads the way in abandoning B Corp status
06 June Tourism: to use or be used?
Travel Tomorrow celebrated 4 years and 20 million visitors on 17th June. It will continue to deliver value by offering a wide spectrum of relevant news to travellers and their families, as well as a space for the tourism industry to share its views.
The 2022 Responsible Tourism Charter points out that responsibility drives sustainability, lists the most significant issues that need to be addressed, and asserts the importance of transparent reporting to demonstrate what is being achieved and avoid greenwashing.
Responsible Tourism is about using tourism to make better places for people to live and visit. How can we “do tourism better”?
1. Improving Tourist Behaviour- advice and regulation
2. Overtourism - Destinations need to decide whether to use tourism or be used by it.
3. Addressing Cruiseline Challenge
4. Technology Technology for Responsible Tourism
5. Climate Change - mitigation is failing, now we have to adapt.
6. Better Places has led the way in abandoning B Corp status
7. Hawaii is this Responsible Tourism?
8. Japan - dual pricing
9. Antarctica - more regulation and management needed
10. Miscellaneous
1. Improving Tourist Behaviour - advice and regulation
Paige McClanahan has a long piece in the New York Times "Why You’ll Pay More and Behave Better When You Travel This Summer"
Rachel Dixon in The Guardian Be a better tourist! 28 ways to have a fantastic holiday – without infuriating the locals
VML published on Taming Tourism "Global hotspots are countering undesirable tourist behavior by reinforcing basic travel etiquette."
> There has been a rapid rise in the amount of consumer-facing information for those seeking to travel more sustainably.
NEWS18 published advice on How to Choose Sustainable Properties for Your Travel?
Iberostar has used its Wave of Change movement directly in their marketing: promoting its "three pillars of responsible tourism – moving towards a circular economy, promoting responsible seafood consumption, and improving coastal health – create better holidays, and are working to reduce the impact of its hotels, while also working to regenerate and support individual destinations. It's a win-win."
The Pagosa Daily Post published in Colorado published editorial 28 Ways to Be a Better Tourist Part 1 Part 2; Part 3; Part 4
Outer HebridesThe PLACE acronym stands for Parking—park only in designated spots; Litter—leave no trace; Animals—dogs on leads; Campers—book sites where possible. Park in designated spots and leave no trace; and Engage—follow the Scottish Outdoor Code.
Indian Express ran an article on "Seven ways to travel with minimal environmental impact, By choosing sustainable accommodations, embracing slow travel, packing thoughtfully and supporting local initiatives, you can reduce your carbon footprint."
>Efforts to control behaviour by fines
Marbella is set to follow Vigo's example from two years ago and impose a €300 fine for “physiological evacuation at sea and on the beach”, amongst a host of other regulations special beaches are being designated for dogs.
The Yungang Grottoes a UNESCO World Heritage site in Datong, Shanxi Province has fitted the visitor toilets with a digital timer. The innovation has caused considerable controversy
Under new regulations in Platja d’Aro, people found “on the public thoroughfare without clothing or only in their underwear or with clothing or accessories representing human genitals or with dolls or other accessories of a sexual nature” will be liable for fines starting at €300.
Venice has banned loudspeakers and limited tour group size to 25.
Tokyo had banned the consumption of alcohol on public streets
Indonesia: "Minister of Creative Tourism and Economy Sandiaga Uno stated that Indonesia will not tolerate foreign tourists who violate the law. Sandiaga also asked tourism actors to remind foreign tourists to obey the rules and maintain their behavior while traveling."
Running contrary to the trend the Balearic government's revised tourism of excesses decree - now known as responsible tourism and quality improvement - has reduced the zoning in Magalluf to which the decree applies by 90%. There is controversy about how much of Mallorca should be covered by the responsible tourism and quality improvement in tourist zones decree.
2. Overtourism - Destinations need to decide whether to use tourism or be used by it.
Overtourism is now regularly in the mainstream media and it is negative coverage
Across Spain Airbnb is under pressure: "In the space of a fortnight, the cities of Palma, Malaga, Valencia and Barcelona have clamped down on short-term rentals (STRs), announcing strict restrictions.
Barcelona is to ban apartment rentals to tourists by 2028
In June The New Yorker asked Is Travel Broken " Global tourism is projected to reach an all-time high this year. How do we square our zeal for exploration with increasingly pressing reasons to stay put?"
The Majorca Daily Bulletin carried a letter asking "the British, are being bombarded with campaigns and messages about being on their best behaviour while on holiday in Mallorca, how about the clubs and pubs playing their part in all this?
Cinque Terre is struggling to manage tourism sustainably, to use tourism rather than be used by it.
In Barcelona Park Güell timed tickets will only be sold online as a way to spread the crowds through the day,
Iceland CNBC reports that Iceland wants to switch up its tourism tax to protect nature — and fight overtourism
The Menorcan town of Binibeca Vell, built to resemble a traditional Greek village, has become an unlikely overtourism battleground. This private housing development is now divided between those who live there and the daytrippers who arrive on account of its "growing star status on social media sites such as Instagram and TikTok. Within four years posts under the hashtag for Binibeca on Instagram have almost doubled to 61,600. "
Two German tourists and two local workers died when the rooftop area of the Medusa Beach Club collapsed onto diners eating and drinking on floors below, some blamed overtourism.
3. Addressing Cruiseline Challenge
Greece is reported to be considering introducing a cap on cruise liners limiting the availability of berths and anchoring slots. There is more detail here.
Santorini "During the summer months, the whitewashed terraces and balconies that overlook Santorini’s extraordinary volcanic caldera are overrun with selfie-taking visitors" "Cheap flights and social media have fuelled the surge"
Juneau, the capital of Alaska, has taken steps to introduce a cap on cruise ship arrivals. From 2026, a new agreement signed between the city and the Cruise Lines International Association in Alaska (CLIA) proposes to limit the number of cruise ship passengers able to disembark in Juneau to 16,000 from Sunday to Friday, and to just 12,000 on Saturdays. More on the cruise and overtourism problem.
4. Technology for Responsible Tourism
Aachen University of Applied Sciences Flight Academy, Maastricht Aachen Airport (MST) and European and Chinese commercial partners, ASL and NIO are linking the cities of Liège, Maastricht and Aachen, less than 40km apart, by air providing “fly green, travel clean” zero-emissions flights. They can be booked online but are currently sold out.
Eurostar trains are to run 100% on renewables by 2030
The Sirius CEO-JET features a hydrogen-electric powertrain, a cruising speed of 323 knots, and a range of up to 1,150 miles
By the end of 2026, four vertiports should be up and running in the Greek islands, serviced by ten eVTOLs. Aria Hotels has secured the lease for the ten all-electric ALIA eVTOLs, developed by BETA Technologies, through an agreement with LCI, an aerospace subsidiary of Libra Group. Ac
Gas World reports that natural hydrogen is gaining ground – and political interest
SciTechDaily reports that researchers have developed a breakthrough iridium-free catalyst for water electrolysis, paving the way for sustainable and large-scale green hydrogen production. There is more in ScienceDaily.
Spectra reports that there is a "new gold rush: hunting down naturally occurring hydrogen"
Hotel online reports that " By leveraging smart systems for energy management, water conservation, and waste reduction, hotels can meet the growing expectations of today’s environmentally conscious travellers while enhancing their bottom line. Integrating technology and sustainability is no longer a mere option but a necessity for hotels aiming to thrive in a competitive and responsible tourism industry."
5. Climate Change - mitigation is failing, now we have to adapt.
May was the 12th consecutive month of global record temperatures The Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S), has released data showing May 2024 was the warmest May since records began with a global average surface air temperature 0.65°C above the 1991–2020 average.
The EU's climate change monitor - Copernicus - has reported that for the third time in five years, wildfires are once again ravaging the Arctic Circle
Nature Geoscience reports the Tipping point in ice-sheet grounding-zone melting has been reached due to ocean water intrusion
The European Environment Agency reports that "Extreme weather events pose an increased risk to nature, buildings, infrastructure, and human health. These events, expected to increase in frequency and intensity because of climate change, are already causing substantial damage and loss. We must adapt and prepare for life in a changing climate."
Tiger mosquitoes cause a huge rise in dengue fever in Europe
Older walkers being waned off the "overheated Mediterranean as tourism shifts north .. With high temperatures leading to hiking deaths, holiday firms are embracing off-season trips and northern destinations" like Scotland and Scandinavia
the Daily Telegraph is reporting "the beginning of the end of the Mediterranean summer holiday ... With extreme heatwaves becoming the norm, the Med climate may soon be unsuitable for a comfortable holiday."
6. Better Places has led the way in abandoning B Corp status
Saskia Griep has explained why Better Places have decided to withdraw from B Corp certification. She gave three reasons: 1) “The (re)certification process is intensive, takes a long time and costs [the business] thousands of euros.” 2)
“even more important is the lack of transparency about how the scores are calculated. Although a company is assessed on five different themes, you ultimately receive the certificate based on the total number of points. So you can score below average on working conditions and climate impact and still collect sufficient points on the other themes.” 3) “The main disadvantage is that there are no minimum requirements, for example for CO2 emissions, water and energy consumption, to qualify for the quality mark at all.” There is more detail here.
Like other certifications, there is a lack of transparency. It remains to be seen how B Corps fare in the context of the EU’s CSRD and Green Claims Directives and growing consumer interest in actual performance.
7. Hawaii - is this Responsible Tourism?
The Hawaii Tourism Authority (HTA) has partnered with Sweden-based Qurator to develop a label for the island. "Qurator helps the residents of Hawaiʻi connect with the visitor industry by communicating our values and honoring businesses that share them. Whether it’s treating employees with care and respect, protecting our environment or supporting our culture, Qurator highlights the positives the visitor industry contributes to life in Hawaiʻi." The questionnaire takes around one hour to complete. Questions are being asked about whether it is greenwashing. Watch the promotional video
Might Generation Z, born from 1997-2010, reshape the Hawaiian tourism landscape. "Together with unique values, a deep-rooted social and digital prowess, and a desire for authenticity, this demographic is transforming the traditional vacation playbook in the islands."
8. Japan - dual pricing
Two-tier pricing has been introduced by businesses to restore their profitability following the decline of the yen which has lost around one-third of its value over the last three years. Japan needs more tourists despite the problems of overtourism. In an effort to manage tourism, Japan has introduced tourist taxes, introduced charges on the popular walking trails on Mount Fuji, built screens to prevent photographers from crowding some vantage points, imposed street drinking restrictions and warned tourists to stay out of private streets in the geisha area.
Japan has received 3 million international tourists each month for the last three months. Despite the problems of overtourism, litter, noise, crowding and anti-social behaviour Jpan is seeking to double arrival numbers. Ichiro Takahashi, the tourism commissioner is planning to go from 25 million tourists a year to 60 million. The strategy is dispersal: " There are still many little-known places in Japan that are left unexplored by tourists from overseas – I believe Japan has infinite tourism resources.” As the local mayor has pointed out Himeji Castle, the honeypot attraction, is a finite attraction:"“A wooden structure will be worn out and become more brittle after many people climb up and down”. So the mayor is introducing dual pricing and quadrupling the price for foreign visitors.
9. Antarctica - more regulation and management needed
The IUCN warns that existing regulations, like the Madrid Protocol of the Antarctic Treaty System, fail to protect against tourism impacts, including site damage, travel route disruptions, and wildlife disturbances. A record 122,072 people visited Antarctica in the 2023-2024 austral season, with peak tourist time coinciding with penguin breeding season. Adventure activities such as skiing, snowboarding, ice walking, snorkelling, and scuba diving are steadily increasing in Antarctica, a continent with no native human inhabitants. “Developing this legally binding framework is complex due to Antarctica's unique status as a global commons.
What is "the potential of conscious tourism as a powerful tool for conservation efforts. While the industry can introduce hazards to the Antarctic ecosystem, it offers promising opportunities for scientific research and public awareness. These should be considered in the endeavor to save the continent." "IAATO reports that "over 100,000 people visited Antarctica between December 2023 and March 2024. This comprised approximately 32,000 cruise tourists and 71,000 landing visitors. This number represents a 42% increase from the previous season of 2022-2023 and prompts scrutiny of its potential impacts on the Antarctic ecosystem. "A 2022 study revealed alarming findings, indicating elevated concentrations of black carbon in the snow around popular tourist sites. This soot, originating from tourism activities, accelerates snow melting, worsening the effects of global warming."
There is more on overtourism in Antarctica here.
10. Miscellaneous
Kerala: government initiatives turning the entire state into a safe, clean and comfortable destination for women to travel solo or in groups, tourism minister P A Mohamed Riyas said.
Pakistan Tourism Development Corporation (PTDC), in collaboration with Sustainable Tourism Foundation Pakistan (STFP), has initiated a comprehensive public awareness campaign aimed at promoting responsible tourism in Pakistan’s mountainous regions.
Bermuda "Sustainability is at the heart of Bermuda’s beauty From electric hire cars to major sustainability, conservation and eco-tourism projects, Bermuda leads the way when it comes to going green
Madhya Pradesh: Pioneering Sustainable Tourism Practices for a Greener Future
“GROUNDBREAKING. The New Tourist will enable you to have much better travel experiences. McClanahan understands that what we make of tourism has to do with the ways we interact and behave when we holiday in other peoples' homes. The choices we make about how, when, and where we travel make a real difference in whether we have positive or negative impacts.”
—Harold Goodwin, Professor Emeritus at Manchester Metropolitan University and Director of the Responsible Tourism Partnership