Summary
- The impact of sustainability on hospitality & tourism industry is massive and visible.
- The core theme of sustainability is to reduce the negative impact of human activity, which is at the heart of global warming and climate change.
- Data shows that hospitality companies can increase their profits from 51% to 81% by implementing a proper sustainable strategy.
What are Sustainable Practices?
The impact of sustainability on hospitality & tourism industry is massive and visible. But let’s first focus on what sustainable practices are. Sustainable practices in the tourism industry mean that the industry minimizes its environmental and social impact. This means that the industry preserves natural resources and encourages people to conserve energy, water resources, etc.
What is important is that the industry can achieve these targets without compromising on the profits. The impact of sustainability on hospitality & tourism industry is visible and massive.
Data shows that hospitality companies can increase their profits from 51% to 81% by implementing a proper sustainable strategy.
Sustainable practices cover a wide area, such as reducing carbon footprints, supporting local communities, respecting and preserving cultural traditions, protecting heritage sites, etc.
There are various kinds of interrelated terms that are also used along with sustainable practices in the tourism industry. These terms include sustainable tourism, sustainable hospitality, green practices in hospitality, ecotourism, and responsible tourism.
The core theme of these practices is to reduce the negative impact of human activity, which is at the heart of global warming and climate change.
What is the impact of Sustainability on Hospitality & Tourism industry?
The hospitality and tourism industry contributes 10% to the global GDP, i.e., US$ 10.9 trillion, according to the World Travel & Tourism Council.
By 2024, this sector was employing 357 million people globally. This means one person out of every 10 is employed in this industry.
Given the size and contribution of this industry, any little improvement can increase the impact of sustainability on hospitality & tourism industry.
According to a 2024 study, the global tourism emissions grew 3.5% per annum from 2009 to 2019, which is two times faster than the global economy. By 2019, this industry was responsible for 8.8% of the global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.
The main reason behind the popularity of sustainability is the growing impact of climate change around the world. From governments in the rich countries to tour operators, everyone has to play their role to promote sustainability.
The European Union (EU) believes that sustainable and eco-tourism is the correct answer to current climate change challenges. The EU is taking sustainability extremely seriously so that the continent can preserve its rich cultural history for the future generations.
The EU is also encouraging governments, hotels, the tour operator sector, the construction sector, the transport sector, etc. to work on innovative solutions and promote sustainability at all levels.
What is the future of Sustainable Practices in the Tourism Industry?
The future of sustainable practices is bright. The awareness is also increasing among the businesses as well as the travellers. As a result, over 76% of travellers prefer those properties and locations that are taking strict sustainability measures.
Many travellers are reducing the use of plastic bottles, ACs, reusing the same towels, etc., but one challenge is still there: air travelling. This is a big concern because air travelling is the biggest carbon-emitting component of any international travel.
The size of the global travel and tourism industry is also expected to reach 11.5% of global GDP by 2035. This shows that the impact of sustainability on hospitality & tourism is only going to increase in the coming years.
In Canada, the government is also taking measures to increase tourism in the country while at the same time taking measures to protect the environment. The tourism industry in Canada is growing in Canada, thus creating more job opportunities for Canadians.
Conclusion
The global tourism industry continues to expand, with projections indicating further growth in the coming decade. It is satisfying to see the governments and the businesses are recognizing the impact of sustainability on hospitality & tourism industry.
We need to see what role as an individual we can play in this fast-changing situation. It is true that sustainability is changing the hospitality and tourism industry, but it is also true that there are still so many challenges that the industry needs to overcome.
Join the Hospitality & Tourism Management Diploma at Edison College
Edison College offers both one-year and two-year diploma programs in the Hospitality & Tourism Management Diploma Program.
Hospitality management courses in Canada usually cover topics like hotel management, restaurant operations, marketing and sales, financial analysis, accounting, and other important techniques and operations that help students to make a strong career in the hospitality business.
The two-year diploma has an additional co-op placement of 480 hours during which students get the opportunity to get real-world experience so that they can make industry links during their studies.
The practicum part of the diploma immensely helps students find jobs in the field due to the practical work experience.
This diploma instills skills in students that are helpful in so many other roles. For instance, this program equips students with management skills, customer service, and, above all, marketing and sales that can be very helpful in a number of managerial roles.
If you have further questions, you can contact us today to learn more about any of these programs.
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