How to generate change through the inspiration from success stories.
The Covid19 pandemic was a forced pause that gave the world of tourism and events a unique opportunity to reflect on the future of the sector. The traditional model of mass tourism that existed for decades began to be increasingly questioned, and it became clear that it was not viable in the long term and that it endangered the coexistence in tourist destinations, it generated precariousness instead of prosperity, and threatened the integrity of the natural and cultural resources that were the main assets of destinations. Many professionals have come forward to consider sustainable management as essential to meet the needs of the present while guaranteeing the capacity to meet those of the future.
At Pax# Genuine Tourism Advisors we have detected an increased interest in viability and sustainability projects, as well as in projects that allow us to rethink tourism destinations and businesses. In many of our projects we have encountered a large number of professionals, from destination managers to small entrepreneurs, who, concerned about issues such as climate emergency or sensitized about social or gender inequalities, have decided to follow the path of sustainability.
If you are a professional in the travel and tourism industry, it is very likely that you feel the same way: you have probably already asked yourself these questions and reached the conclusion that it is time for a new paradigm. Now comes the tricky part: how do we do it? It is not easy to start from scratch, and it is less easy to do so without references, so it is essential to keep up to date with what is happening in the world to find success stories that inspire us. From Pax# Genuine Tourism Advisors we recommend to you some websites to find approaches for a more ethical, green and responsible tourism. We are talking about motivating stories and examples of how destinations are facing the main obstacles in order to implement sustainability:
- Sustainability Leaders Project: A community where sustainability leaders from around the world share their stories through interviews and articles. You will find success stories of hotels, operators and destinations, as well as the result of consultations with a panel of experts on various topics of interest.
- Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC): It is the reference organization in terms of criteria for sustainability certifications. On its website, it shares interesting cases regarding destination management around the world, especially those that have prospered by obtaining a certification.
- Regenerative Travel: This group of sustainable hotels gathers examples of accommodations and experiences from around the world with a clear focus on regenerative tourism practices: they, therefore, seek to go one step further in sustainability by not only minimizing the damage of one place but also by managing to affect positively local communities and the environment. For the member companies of the Regenerative Travel Network, what is known as a “sense of place” is key, i.e. honoring and respecting the identity of the destination where they are located. The website has a series of articles both from its members and on a variety of topics related to travel and sustainability.
- Ecomadic Magazine: A platform that connects mindful travelers with responsible experiences and companies. The goal is to empower travelers in order to make conscious decisions that will benefit communities and the planet. The articles are divided into 5 axes: climate change, conscious travel, environmental and social justice, sustainable living and green guides.
- Albasud: The Alba Sud association aims to put research and communication at the service of sustainable development in the areas of responsible tourism, fair labor and the earth’s common goods. On its website you will find stories of companies and destinations that are facing climate change or fighting against labor precariousness, for example. In any case, here you won’t find solely success stories but also opinion articles: on problems in the sector, new challenges or opportunities, etc.
- Green Destinations: This foundation carries out an annual ranking of the 100 most sustainable destinations, sharing its best practices. You can find case studies detailing the reasons for success and lessons learned from each destination. In addition, they also launched the Good Travel Guide website, with responsible vacation options based on the award-winning destinations.
Last but not least, we would like to remind you that at Pax# we are ready to advise and support you when facing the challenges that the sustainability path entails. If you want us to participate from the beginning of the process, raise awareness, or help in the implementation of programs and initiatives, you can contact our team and we will schedule an appointment to discuss the options. We would love to be part of your sustainability journey!
