Agoda survey cites key measures for sustainable tourism growth

Overtourism, deforestation for tourism and the use of single-use plastic products are top concerns for tourism sector in Vietnam and many other countries, according to the Sustainable Travel Trends Survey launched by the world leading online travel platform Agoda on the occasion of the World Environment Day 2021 (June 5).

A bird view of Cat Ba archipelago

According to the survey, many Vietnamese people hope that hotels and accommodation facilities switch to use renewable energy and reduce single-use products.

Meanwhile, the current trend of tourists is to prioritise untouched and  lesser-known destinations, said the survey.

It cited that the public in Vietnam considers governments and travel agencies should share the responsibility in ensuring sustainable development of tourism.

According to the survey, easy identification of sustainable eco-friendly travel options, limited use of single-use plastics and financial incentives for accommodation providers who maximize energy efficiencies are the top three additional measures needed to make travel more sustainable.

Establishing more protected areas to limit tourist numbers and removal of single-use bathroom amenities round out the top five global measures, it added.

When it came to holding governments most accountable, those in Indonesia and UK were most likely to do so (36 percent), China followed not too far behind at 33 percent, with Australia and Malaysia in fourth and fifth spot (28 percent and 27 percent, respectively).

It also revealed globally that overtourism, and pollution of beaches and waterways are the top two concerns of the impact of tourism, with deforestation and energy inefficiencies (including overconsumption of electricity/water) ranking joint third. 

John Brown, CEO Agoda said that it can be seen from the Agoda Sustainable Travel Trends Survey that the messages of taking simple steps such as switching off lights and air conditioning when leaving the room or reducing waste by minimising use of single-use plastics are being embraced by the public across the globe. 

While there are different interpretations of what practices are eco-friendly or sustainable, most of the public are keen to be able to do their part, by actively pledging to choose eco-friendly properties or make smarter environmental choices when traveling, he said./.

VNA