More than 30,000 passengers from 32 countries and territories provided new insights about sustainable travel trends for 2022. A comprehensive study on sustainable tourism found that passengers want to be more conscientious in all aspects of their trip.

Findings from the study show that 61% of American tourists are interested in greener vacations in the next year, an increase of 15% from the previous 12 months.

Nearly half of all respondents (44 percent) stated that recent news about climate change had affected them to make more Sustainable Travel Decisions. This is in line with the 73 percent of travelers who said that sustainable travel is essential to them. More than a third (35%) of US visitors claim that the sustainability initiatives of lodging and transportation providers significantly impact their choice of property and mode of transportation, respectively.

In fact, whether or not they were particularly seeking one, 61 percent of Americans said they would be more likely to pick a sustainable lodging. More people are becoming aware of the benefits of staying in more environmentally friendly accommodations, as evidenced by the fact that 39 percent of US tourists say they have recently seen one on an online travel site, and 45 percent say they actively research a property's sustainability efforts before making a reservation.

The 47 percent of Americans who claim to have stayed in a sustainable lodging during the last year is even more promising. The grounds for choosing one among those who have had a more sustained stay in the previous 12 months vary:

• 30% of respondents cited environmental responsibility as a primary motivation.
• Almost a third (27%) were looking for a more regionally focused adventure.
• 3.25% think eco-friendly buildings are more considerate to locals.

9 Sustainable Travel Trends

Even though climate change and the other problems we confront are racing by us at the speed of an Olympic sprinter who will soon be out of sight, we are making progress in the right direction at the leisurely pace of a stroll in the park after a big meal.

Will "Don't Look Up" make us all aware of the need to make drastic changes? For sustainability's sake, we need to shift our demand toward more eco-friendly products immediately.

1. For more on Health & Wellness

Moreover, this year, if you aren't already aware of the necessity for vaccinations at home, you most surely will be after any outside trip. Yet there is a significant gap in access to vaccines across regions. Health is an essential concern for humanity since we live on one interconnected planet. None of us can get better until the whole world does.

In addition, it is included in the 2030 Global Goals: SDG 4 on Health and Well-Being must be accomplished in the same time frame as the other Sustainable Development Goals, i.e., by the year 2030. More and more tourism businesses will likely provide health-related services, such as immunization programs at popular tourist spots and active, mindfulness-based retreats.

2. Getting Away from the Crowds

People have missed traveling a lot and are wary of regular broadcasts yet feel secure when isolated from others. The industry and the World Travel and Tourism Council have put in a lot of effort to safeguard and reassure with worldwide norms for "Safe Travels," universal standards of health and safety, for transportation hubs, lodging establishments, tour operators, and attractions, hospitality, and insurance.

Concerns may center on the close quarters of a flight. However, the danger of on-board transmission is very low for various reasons: people face the same way, seatbacks function as barriers, and the air is relatively clean.

Passengers should also take precautions against spreading germs by practicing good hygiene, including frequent hand washing and covering their mouths and noses when sneezing or coughing.

People are eager to take trips, it is generally safe to do so, and many nations are keen to welcome tourists once again. Come on, then!

To feel like you've traveled far, try someplace secluded and outside.

3. Social Hub

Everyone at Covid's was reminded of the value of community, both as a source of the help we need and as an opportunity to provide a hand to others in need. Everyone relies on others.

"Authenticity" has been a sought-after trait among tourists for quite some time, and genuine communities offer the most natural experience possible. Unfortunately, in the typical tourist experience, communities are more often exploited by sustainable travel than they can use it as a means to further their own agendas.

Communities are the best sources of information about what's occurring in their areas, the goals that should be prioritized, and the voices that should be heard; in sustainable, regenerative tourism, we give the community the reins.

They allow for sharing ideas and promote mutual respect and tolerance across cultures, proving that sustainability knows no boundaries. The deeper the roots are planted in the neighborhood, the more genuine and long-lasting the results will be.

Because of the Covid shutdown, foreign workers have been returning home, resulting in a greater need for local communities to take over operations. Whether all tourism was shut down or just internal travel was allowed to continue, the local personnel maintained and renovated properties and procedures to the newest Covid guidelines and kept them running smoothly.

4. Ecologically Friendly Travel

The actual threat to human existence, albeit most have prioritized COVID in the near term, is the climate catastrophe. Regarding awareness rising over the year to Cop26 in November, we were correct the previous year.

The popularity of a movie that brought the Climate Crisis to the public's notice in a humorous yet unsettling way was something we didn't anticipate last year.

5. Return to the Nature

The connection between biodiversity and environmental protection was one issue that COP26 mostly ignored. Additionally, both mitigation and the loss of biodiversity in and of itself depend heavily on nature-based solutions. Is the sixth mass extinction upon us now?

Because of the restrictions placed on tourism, Covid has also had a significant impact on the conservation of nature, "from an economic point of view (financial contribution to conservation as well as to the local economy), from a community point of view (diversifying income, providing alternative valuable land use), and from a philanthropic point of view (driving direct support to conservation initiatives)." (The Extended Run)

6. Transportation Tipping Point

The United States is known for its cautious tourists who carefully consider their journeys and how they get to their destinations and move about them once they are there. Twenty-three percent of travelers say they visited a location within driving distance to minimize their carbon footprint.

In comparison, fourteen percent say they looked into the availability of public transportation and bicycle rentals at their destination. In addition, 11% of people prefer to use the train over the vehicle when going long distances, and 33% of people say they are embarrassed to fly due to the adverse effects on the environment.

Forty-five percent of travelers specifically check for sustainability information when making transportation plans. There is still an effect on booking habits and customer satisfaction even if 46% of respondents say they don't actively seek more sustainable travel trends. For instance, while 76% of people believe the cost is the most critical factor in determining their mode of transportation, 24% agree that sustainability initiatives can impact their ultimate decision.

Knowing that the transportation option booked follows sustainability best practices still makes people feel good, even for the 20% who say sustainability efforts play no role in their choice of transportation, which opens up a wide variety of opportunities to increase consideration for more sustainable travel trends across the entire trip experience.

7. Transport Decarbonization

For low-carbon transportation and alternative fuels, there is a lot of research and development being place. Expect to see more electric vehicles, charging stations for electric cars at hotels, and biking in the tourism industry.

8. Thought-Provoking Material

As consumer values shift Covid, intentionally supporting sustainability, the environment, and communities, we anticipate that these major topics will also influence food patterns.

There will be an increase in the popularity of food tours, market shopping and cooking classes, and agri-tourism due to the growing demand from international visitors for authentic, cultural cuisine experiences that are unlike anything they've had access to at home.

Concern for the environment will lead to a rise in demand for locally sourced, organic, and even edible takeout containers and a general trend toward lower food-mile counts.

Travelers are becoming increasingly conscientious of the food they eat, and tour operators are eager to satisfy their clients on every trip. This has led to a rise in the popularity of "wellness" vacations, and as a result, both groups will be interested in supporting local community sustainable chains.

9. Take a Complete U-turn! Need for Renewal

At its core, Earth Transitions is about renewable travel, becoming increasingly prevalent in travel locations. Our featured tourism is maximally responsible and sustainable, but regeneration entails much more than being environmentally conscious.

It's about a different approach to tourism, one that views it holistically as part of an environment, physically, politically, economically, socially, and technically and as part of a dynamic, interactive ecosystem, which it influences and is influenced by, and which creates the conditions for resilient life to flourish.

Systemic change is required for such a massive global ecosystem as tourism to be sustainable and regenerative. Globally, we must shift our focus from what tourism may "take" from locations to what it can provide to those locations and their inhabitants: a higher purpose than profit.

Countries such as Bhutan, with its Gross National Happiness, and cities such as Amsterdam, trying to operate within the planetary boundaries of Doughnut Economics, are already following these purpose-driven system-changing approaches. This trend will continue to expand.

Summing-Up

We are 100% dedicated to leading the industry in charting a more aware and responsible route for the future of travel. With the rising strain on our natural resources and the actual impact, our way of life has on the environment.

We have lofty objectives for what we hope to accomplish. Still, with the help of our business partners and our creative staff's enthusiasm, we can keep making it more straightforward for everyone to engage with the world more thoughtfully and responsibly. Travel, in our opinion, can and should continue to be a great force for good, improving socioeconomic possibilities for innumerable communities and having the capacity to long-term renew and safeguard our planet.