The sector is facing several challenges, but sustainable tourism businesses have a unique opportunity to lead the way in addressing them.
The global tourism industry has experienced exponential growth in recent decades, driven by a desire to explore new destinations and cultures. However, this rapid expansion has also put immense pressure on our planet’s natural resources and ecosystems. Tourism is sometimes seen as an unsustainable economic activity. The carbon footprint generated by the transportation of travelers, the overcrowding of destinations and even a negative environmental impact of visitors give this sector a poor reputation in relation to sustainability.
However, when the sustainability of this activity is criticized, other benefits are often overlooked, such as the wealth and cultural exchange generated, the knowledge and acceptance of diversity, as well as the improved economic and living conditions of the destination’s communities. Is sustainable tourism really possible in today’s world? Maybe. Imagine if each visitor contributed to local projects that improve the community and the environment in their holiday destination, the perspective on tourism would change significantly. However it isn’t always easy for visitors to know how or where to contribute.
ClimateTrade’s API is a powerful tool that can allow hotels and other tour operators to embed climate action right at the point of sale, and enable visitors to make a direct environmental impact that would support local communities and offset the carbon footprint of their trip.
Let’s explore five simple steps towards achieving sustainable tourism using ClimateTrade’s API.
Step 1: Register with ClimateTrade
The journey towards sustainable tourism begins with a simple and free registration process with ClimateTrade. Tourism businesses can activate the API functionality by completing the registration form and expressing their interest in utilizing the API’s features. By doing so, they gain access to ClimateTrade’s cutting-edge sustainability technology.
Step 2: Create API Integration
Upon successful registration, tourism businesses can access ClimateTrade’s client area, aptly named “My ClimateTrade.” Here, they can effortlessly create an API integration with just a few clicks. The user-friendly interface allows businesses to give the integration an identifying name and upload their logo, ensuring that the carbon offset certificates issued are customized to reflect the hotel or brand.
Step 3: Select Impactful Projects from the Marketplace
The heart of ClimateTrade’s sustainable approach lies in its diverse marketplace of certified carbon offset projects. In the third step, tourism businesses can browse through this marketplace and choose projects that align with their sustainability goals. These projects have been meticulously vetted to ensure their positive impact on the environment and local communities.
Step 4: Integrate Project Purchases
Once the desired carbon offset projects have been selected, tourism businesses can proceed to the checkout process within the marketplace. Here, they have the option to indicate that they want to utilize their chosen project purchases in their API integration. This step seamlessly aligns their sustainability efforts with their business operations.
Step 5: Compensate and Certify Impact
The final step towards sustainable tourism is to complete the process by uploading an Excel sheet with the details of the hotel or accommodation’s clients and their corresponding contributions. Contributions can be measured in terms of carbon footprints or monetary amounts. After this simple data entry, the businesses can click on “compensate,” and ClimateTrade’s API takes care of the rest.
ClimateTrade automatically generates personalized certificates for each client, acknowledging their contribution to the sustainability efforts. These certificates are then promptly sent to the designated email addresses, solidifying the businesses’ commitment to transparency and accountability.
Sustainable Tourism with ClimateTrade
Embracing sustainable tourism practices is no longer an option but a necessity for the travel industry. Recently we have all been witnessing horrific fires across major tourist destinations such as Greece and Italy. For the first time we are seeing people cancel their holiday’s to places like Spain, over fears the destination is ‘just too hot’.
According to recent research by McKinsey,, Spain was the second-largest tourism destination in the world pre-pandemic, drawing 84 million visitors in 2019 who brought over €92 billion in revenue. Travel and tourism accounted for around 14 percent of Spain’s total GDP and provided one in eight jobs. The reality is that climate change is contributing to the mediterranean climate becoming much warmer. A 2022 survey by a travel insurance company found that 65 percent of UK holiday makers thought Spain would be too hot to visit by 2027 and it looks like this prediction is already taking shape.
It is important for all of us, both visitors and tourism providers to put sustainable tourism at the heart of our future plans, otherwise the travel industry as we know it could change significantly. ClimateTrade’s API provides an invaluable resource for sustainable tourism businesses to embark on this eco-friendly journey seamlessly. By following these five straightforward steps, businesses can calculate, offset, and certify their carbon footprint, making a tangible and positive impact on the environment.
