Examples of contributions to each of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals from the tourism sector.
In previous posts, we had shared ideas for contributing to the Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations 2030 Agenda. Now we want to present some of these ideas through concrete examples, applied in the travel and tourism field. These are private companies and destinations that distinguish themselves in their efforts to contribute to sustainability, and actions or initiatives that contribute to a specific SDG. We hope they will inspire you to be changemakers and contribute to one, two or all of the SDGs!.
SDG 1: No Poverty – Kumarakom Responsible Tourism Project in Kerala, India. This project, which promotes sustainable tourism development, has been recognized by the UNWTO and has enabled training for 650 people living in poverty and the creation of 33 micro-enterprises related to the tourism sector.
SDG 2: Zero Hunger – La Tablée des Chefs in Montreal, Canada. This initiative connects hotels and restaurants with associations and entities that support groups at risk of exclusion, to ensure that surplus food reaches those in need.
SDG 3: Good health and well-being – Paris Navigating Gym, France. This is a boat that sails on the Seine, powered by the energy generated by stationary bicycles. In this way, passengers do sport in addition to seeing the city. This activity promotes sport and healthy living, and at the same time represents a model for sustainable mobility.
SDG 4: Quality education – Playa Viva resort, Mexico. In this regenerative tourism initiative closely linked to the local community, education is one of its main pillars. Every week they work with 120 children from the community to whom they give English, environmental education and art lessons.
SDG 5: Gender Equality – Open Eyes and Sakha, India. Tour operator Open Eyes, winners of the To Do Award and the WTM Responsible Tourism Award India, specializes in transformative responsible tourism experiences, with a special focus on gender equality, using women guides or working with the all-female Sakha cab company.
SDG 6: Clean water and sanitation – Freewa and Grayl. Two initiatives that contribute to this SDG in different ways, as well avoiding single-use plastics: Freewa or Free Water Project is a tourism-oriented application that provides information on where we can refill our drinking water bottle. Grayl, on the other hand, is a water purification system designed for adventure tourists and hikers.
ODS 7: Affordable and clean energy – Ca l’Andreu Ecoturisme in Tiana, Maresme (Catalonia, Spain). This rural accommodation is committed to energy efficiency and renewable energy, producing 90% of its electricity from solar panels, heating water with the hot sun and running a central heating system with biomass boilers using only pellets as fuel.
SDG 8: Decent work and economic growth – In Out Hostel, Barcelona (Catalonia, Spain). This hostel, recognized for its commitment to sustainability, favors social inclusion, with 90% of its staff made up of people with disabilities. In addition, 100% of the staff has a permanent contract and the workers own 51% of the company.
SDG 9: Industry, innovation and infrastructure – Flax and Kale, Barcelona (Catalonia, Spain). In this chain of vegan and flexitarian restaurants, technological innovation at the service of sustainability is one of its commitments to promote change: technological advances in agriculture, food preservation, waste management, etc.
SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities – Casa Batlló, Barcelona (Catalonia, Spain). Gaudí’s building, one of the most visited by tourists, has opened hiring to staff with neurodiversity, through the company Specialisterne, which specializes in people on the autism spectrum.
SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities – Ljubljana, Slovenia. If a sustainable destination is one that is both a good place to visit and a good home for its residents, Ljubljana strives to achieve this goal: a zero emissions area on the city center, marketing campaigns to de-seasonalize demand, tourism offer that highlights local identity and gastronomic events designed for both tourists and residents.
SDG 12: Responsible consumption and production – Valsugana, Italy. This Italian region seeks to protect local producers and encourage local consumption. One of the initiatives taken by the tourism authority is “Adopt a cow”, which allows sponsorship of traditional dairy production in the area.
SDG 13: Climate Action – Intrepid Travel. This tour operator is a pioneer in carbon footprint offsetting (they have been doing it since 2010), and are the first in the industry to work with verified science-based targets to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees.
SDG 14: Life Below Water – Banning non-mineral sunscreens in Maui, Hawaii. To protect the ocean, corals and other marine species from pollutants, the island of Maui bans the sale, distribution and use of non-mineral sunscreens as of October 2022.
SDG 15: Life on Land – Napo Wildlife Center, Ecuador. This eco-resort in Yasuní National Park, a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, is developed to have the least environmental impact and help preserve its environment and biodiversity.
SDG 16: Peace, justice and strong institutions – Mejdi Tours. This company specializes in tours that promote peace and cooperation, such as its dual narrative tours discovering Israel and Palestine, with two guides: one from Israel and one from Palestine.
SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals – Sustainable Destination Partnership, Sydney, Australia. This is a collaboration of public and private entities in the tourism sector to achieve the sustainability goals.
