Sustainable Travel Statistics – Facts and Trends in 2024

Last Updated: June 27th, 2024

Disclosure: WayToStay is reader-supported. If you buy a product we link to, we may earn a commission. Learn More

Sustainable travel is no longer just a buzzword; it is taken very seriously these days, with more eco-friendly destinations to choose from, sustainable hotels to book, and eco-conscious ways to explore. This article will delve into sustainable tourism trends, look at the eco-tourism statistics that go with it, and help you understand how travel is changing for the better.

Responsible tourism has never looked so good – Let’s check out 55 sustainable travel statistics to grasp our choices’ impact on the world.

What is Sustainable Travel?

Commercial-Airplane-With-The-Word-Zero-Emissions

The term sustainable travel is also referred to as eco-tourism, responsible travel, or eco-travel; in fact, they all mean the same thing. It is a mindful or conscious way of traveling, which comes down to the hotels you book, the tours you choose, the way you decide to get around, and the overall ethical choices you make while exploring your chosen destination.

By traveling sustainably, you consciously reduce your carbon footprint, promote environmental conservation and support local businesses, but it doesn’t stop there. It is no surprise that this mindful way of traveling has become a trend in recent years, given the positive impact it has on the world, such as reducing waste, protecting biodiversity, and minimizing negative impacts on local communities who are welcoming us to their country.

Why Is It Essential to Know Eco-friendly Travel Statistics?

It is one thing to know that sustainable travel is a common way for many people to travel, but knowing the exact statistics helps to shed light on the environmental consequences of the travel industry and helps us all make informed decisions. By knowing these figures, travelers can assess their environmental impact, choose eco-friendly destinations, and opt for sustainable hotels or tours on their next trip.

These eco-friendly travel statistics also show us the positive influence of responsible tourism on local economies and communities, which in turn motivates us all to support businesses that promote sustainability. Being aware of these sustainable tourism trends empowers potential travelers to take part in creating a greener and more sustainable travel landscape, not just for ourselves but for future generations.

What does the Term Eco Tourism Really Mean?

Friends-Travel-In-Italian-Dolomites-Mountains

If you travel sustainably, you are participating in eco-tourism, which means mindfully choosing eco-friendly transportation options, environmentally friendly tours and experiences, and accommodation options. Eco-tourism is a commitment to protect the nature you are experiencing, give back to the communities welcoming you, and choose activities with minimal environmental impact.

Significant examples include opting for community-based tours, nature hikes, viewing wildlife, avoiding unregulated wildlife tourism, non-ethical souvenir purchases, and even being mindful of water usage when visiting countries. Eco tourism has many features, which we will delve into in this article, all of which aim to protect the earth we live on.

What is the Most Sustainable Country to Travel to?

This is one of the most commonly asked questions among mindful travelers deciding where to travel next. According to the Sustainable Travel Index, the top five sustainable countries to visit are Sweden, Finland, Austria, Estonia, and Norway.

That said, various nations are making headway in becoming more environmentally conscious regarding the tourism industry. While Scandinavia is among the best at this, other notable countries include New Zealand, Costa Rica, and Iceland.

An Overview of the Main Eco-tourism Statistics

Woman-In-An-Open-Cab-At-Asian-Country

Before we dive in, here is a taster of what will come. Look at some of the leading sustainable travel statistics that remind us why responsibly traveling is essential.

  • 81% of travelers worldwide believe that sustainable travel is essential (Statista)
  • 78% of travelers intend to stay in an eco-friendly hotel when looking at the year ahead (Statista)
  • The hotel industry accounts for 1% of global emissions, and this is set to increase (UNFCCC)
  • 59% of Americans are willing to pay more to sustainable travel businesses (Skift)
  • com revealed 76% of its users want to travel more sustainably in the future. (Booking.com)

Top 5 Ways to be an Environmentally Responsible Traveler

  • Choose eco-friendly accommodations and hotels that promote sustainability
  • Book tours with local companies to support local communities and the economy
  • Be mindful of wildlife tourism and avoid activities like elephant riding, camel treks, and anything that has a negative impact on the natural environment and animal habitats.
  • Travel closer to home or choose sustainable destinations to reduce your carbon footprint
  • Consider your transport options within your destination and choose to walk, cycle, sail, or use public transport where possible.

What are the Main Principles of Eco-tourism?

Cyclists-On-The-Road-In-A-Coniferous-Forest

According to The International Eco-tourism Society, there are a few main principles relating to eco-tourism that those who participate in, market, or implement, should adopt. These include but are not limited to:

  • Minimizing environmental impacts
  • Building environmental and cultural awareness
  • Help sustain the well-being of local people
  • Give back to local businesses
  • Provide direct financial benefits to conservation efforts
  • Recognize the rights and spiritual beliefs of indigenous people
  • Provide positive experiences for both hosts and guests

With that in mind, let’s take a deeper dive into 50+ Sustainable Travel Statistics

50+ Sustainable Travel Statistics

1. According to Booking.com’s 2022 Sustainable Travel Report, 58% of travelers agree that it is essential that their trip benefits the local community (Booking.com)

2. In this same report, 29% of people said they would do more research into how their tourism spend will impact local communities (Booking.com)

3. According to IATA, air travel accounts for 2.5% of the world’s greenhouse emissions (IATA)

4. While taking the same journey by train accounts for seven times less emissions (IATA)

5. 500,000+ accommodations globally are being recognized for their sustainability efforts with a Travel Sustainable badge on Booking.com (Booking.com)

6. 78% of travelers intend to stay in an eco-friendly hotel when looking at the year ahead (Statista)

7. North America was the largest region in the eco-tourism market in 2022 (Report)

8. While Asia Pacific is expected to be the fastest growing region in the forecast period (Report)

Best-Friends-Trekking-Together

9. According to this Top 10 Sustainability Report, European cities have the strongest presence. (Report)

10. Supported by the European Green Deal, the region of Europe aims to be carbon neutral by 2050. (Report)

11. Booking.com revealed that 65% of their customers would feel better about staying in specific accommodations if they had a sustainable certification or label (Booking.com)

12. One in four travelers (39%) said they do not trust that sustainable travel options labeled are actually more sustainable (Booking.com)

13. 74% of people believe they need to act now and make more sustainable choices to save the planet for future generations (Booking.com)

14. According to UNWTO, emissions from tourism are set to increase by 25% by 2030 (UNWTO)

15. 67% now turn off the air conditioning in accommodations when they aren’t there (Booking.com)

16. Global tourism experienced a 4% upturn in 2022 compared to 2020 (Report)

Couple-Covered-With-Blanket-Sitting-On-Rocks

17. According to a UNWTO survey, 28% of travel and tourism stakeholders say they have a climate action plan (Report)

18. In the same survey, 73% were revealed not to be measuring their climate impact at all (Report)

19. 59% of Americans are willing to pay more to sustainable travel businesses (Skift)

20. In 2020, UNWTO revealed that emerging sustainable tourism trends included domestic tourism, road trips, nature tourism, and rural tourism. (Report)

21. In a 2020 Booking.com report, 51% of travelers said they are willing to visit alternative destinations to avoid peak season (Report)

22. In the same report, 53% said the pandemic inspired them to reduce waste and recycle plastic when restrictions were lifted (Report)

23. According to research by American Express Travel, 68% of people said they are trying to be more aware of eco-friendly travel brands to support (Report)

Woman-Backpacker-On-The-Railway-Station

24. According to a 2021 report by Euromonitor International, 69.1% of tourism professionals believe that consumers will now be more committed to sustainability than before the pandemic (Report)

25. Nearly half of travelers believe more sustainable travel options are too expensive, compared to 43% willing to pay extra for travel options with a sustainable certification (Booking.com)

26. Concerning sustainable tourism trends, The World Tourism % Travel Council reported that the pandemic had shifted travelers’ focus to outdoor destinations and staycations. (Report)

27. Booking.com revealed that 43% of travelers prefer to buy local and shop in small independent stores (Booking.com)

28. When it comes to transport, 43% of Booking.com customers said that they now plan to sightsee by bike, on foot, or by public transport (Booking.com)

29. This same report showed that travelers are taking habits from home on vacation with them, by 64% recycling waste and being mindful of energy consumption (Booking.com)

30. While 68% of travelers use recycled shopping bags when on vacation (Booking.com)

31. In this same report, 55% use their reusable water bottle when on vacation (Booking.com)

32. Booking.com revealed 76% of its users want to travel more sustainably in the future. (Booking.com)

Blue-Trash-Bins-And-Assorted-Garbage

33. Research revealed that online searches for the term’ sustainable travel’ increased by 142.6% between April 2019 and April 2022 (Report)

34. In the same report, research showed that online searches for the term’ eco tours’ also rose by 83.8% in the same time frame (Report)

35. Regarding eco-tourism statistics, 31% of people said they chose sustainable accommodation to reduce their impact on the environment (Report)

36. While 24% said they chose it to benefit the local community (Report)

37. In the same report, 315 people said they didn’t know sustainable accommodation was an option, while 29% didn’t know how to find it. (Report)

38. 39. 81% of travelers worldwide believe that sustainable travel is essential (Statista)

39. According to Booking. coms report, 60% re-use the same towel multiple times, up 25% from 2022 (Booking.com)

Tree-Pathway-In-The-Forest-With-Sunlight

40. While 55% use their reusable water bottle, up 19% from 2022 (Booking.com)

41. The hotel industry accounts for 1% of global emissions, and this is set to increase (UNFCCC)

42. Booking.com revealed that when it comes to transportation, 43% now plan their sightseeing so that they can walk, bike, or take public transport. (Booking.com)

43. While 43% travel outside of peak season in a bid to avoid overcrowding (Booking.com)

44. According to a report by Meadowmere Resort in Maine, USA, travelers’ urgency for sustainability has surged 32% (Report)

45. The global eco-tourism market grew from $188.88 billion in 2022 to $200.80 billion in 2023 at a rate of 5.8% (Report)

46. This is set to reach a rate of 16.13% between 2023 – 2028 (Report)

Woman-Enjoying-Breathtaking-Front-Of-The-Landscape

47. Regarding sustainable eco-tourism trends, Meadowmere Resort revealed that 53% of people were influenced to make sustainable travel choices, having been influenced by recent news on climate change. (Report)

48. It has been revealed that 44% of Booking.com customers don’t know where to find sustainable options (Booking.com)

49. While 51% believe there are just not enough sustainable options out there for travelers (Booking.com)

50. In February 2020, Delta Airlines vowed to commit $ 1 billion (about $3 per person in the US) to become the first carbon-neutral airline globally within the next ten years. (Report)

51. 42% would be encouraged to travel more sustainably with reward points for making more sustainable choices that they could use for free extra perks or discounts through online travel booking sites. (Booking.com)

52. In April 2021, Jet Blue pledged to reach net zero by 2040 (Report)

53. Eco-tourism makes up 7% of the tourism industry, which is growing rapidly. (PRB)

54. Tourism contributes 6-7% of global employment, according to UNWTO (UNWTO)

Conclusion

As you can see, the world of sustainable travel is changing, and these eco-tourism statistics provide essential insight into the current and potential eco-tourism trends. So, while many of us aim to do our bit for the environment when traveling, others are still unaware of how to do this, which means that the tourism industry needs to step up to make it more accessible to those who want to get involved.

With an increasing focus on environmentally friendly choices, the number of hotels and tours focusing on sustainability is steadily growing. By analyzing these statistics, policymakers, travel businesses, and travelers themselves can collectively strive for a more sustainable and environmentally friendly travel industry and thus make better choices.

About The Author

Jade is a seasoned traveller, yoga enthusiast, adventure seeker and travel writer passionate about seeing the world and sharing hidden gems with others. As well as having travelled to 91 countries thus far, she has written for several websites and published her first book ‘The Ultimate Irish Road Trip Guide’. She is a keen writer of satirical articles, as well as ‘The best things to do’ and ‘The best dishes to try’ around the globe. Jade is currently on a campervan adventure around Europe, where she continues to get her travel and food inspiration. She is excited to share what she discovers with her readers.

Join our list

Subscribe to our mailing list and get interesting stuff and updates to your email inbox.

Thank you for subscribing.

Something went wrong.

Enter your email and get this picture and description straight to your inbox

🔒 We don’t spam or sell emails. see our privacy policy
Picture of Jade Poleon

Jade Poleon

Jade is a seasoned traveller, yoga enthusiast, adventure seeker and travel writer passionate about seeing the world and sharing hidden gems with others. As well as having travelled to 91 countries thus far, she has written for several websites and published her first book ‘The Ultimate Irish Road Trip Guide’. She is a keen writer of satirical articles, as well as ‘The best things to do’ and ‘The best dishes to try’ around the globe. Jade is currently on a campervan adventure around Europe, where she continues to get her travel and food inspiration. She is excited to share what she discovers with her readers.

Read More From Jade Poleon
Send this to a friend