Everything You Need to Know about Green Tourism!

Green tourism is simply the sustainable practices in the tourism sector. So, why do we need green tourism? What is the role of the tourism sector in tackling the climate crisis? How can we raise awareness on our journeys?

We compiled everything you need to know about green tourism in this article!

Why Do We Need Green Tourism?

Tourism enables us to explore the world, while also experiencing different lifestyles, witnessing the beauties in our world, broadening our horizons and relaxing. On the other hand, tourism improves the welfare of local communities and constitutes an important source of income for many countries.

However, tourism also harms the environment and significantly contributes to the climate crisis. According to a study published in Nature Climate Change, the tourism sector accounts for 8% of global greenhouse gas emissions.

The significance of tackling the climate crisis increases more and more each day. Sustainability is becoming a material issue not only for international organizations, governments, NGOs and local governments, but also for the private sector. From the fashion industry to construction companies, we all endeavor to achieve more sustainable production and consumption models. The sustainable practices in the tourism sector are also becoming prominent.

Hence, green tourism gains significance at this point. So, what are we talking about when we refer to green tourism?

What is Green Tourism?

Green tourism is an umbrella term that is also referred to as sustainable tourism and ecotourism. Briefly, green tourism embraces sustainable practices in tourism. Green tourism aims to minimize any adverse impacts of tourism industry on the environment. However, 'sustainability' is much more involved than the environmental aspect. The definition of sustainability also integrates economic, social and environmental aspects.

United Nations defines Sustainable Tourism as “tourism that takes full account of its current and future economic, social and environmental impacts, addressing the needs of visitors, the industry, the environment and host communities.”

Is There a Difference Between Green Tourism, Ecotourism and Sustainable Tourism?

The terms green tourism, ecotourism and sustainable tourism are used interchangeably. However, there actually refer to very different practices. Sustainable tourism encourages all sustainability activities in tourism. In other words, sustainable tourism also considers the cultural and economic aspects of sustainability in tourism. Ecotourism, on the other hand, encourages tourists and local communities to behave in harmony with the environment. The term green tourism may cover both definitions.

Things to Know about Green Tourism

Simply put, green tourism covers all practices that preserves the environment, natural resources, and local cultures. Note that green tourism consists of all layers of sustainability. Green tourism includes energy efficiency in tourism industry as well as offering socio-economic advantages to local communities. Green tourism also endeavors to preserve cultural heritage while embracing practices that protect the environment.

But, how?

1) By helping to preserve ecological balance and biodiversity.
2) By ensuring the effective use of exhaustible resources through energy efficiency practices.
3) By reducing practices that pollute the environment.
4) By adopting practices that respect the cultural heritage of local communities.
5) By increasing the employment opportunities in local communities.
6) By adopting practices that raise awareness of tourists and travelers.

Therefore, when we talk about green tourism, note that we refer to a collective effort and a holistic approach. Green tourism is not just about reducing the use of chemical cleaning agents that pollute the environment in hotels. Green tourism takes into account the negative social and economic impacts of traditional tourism and encourages the transition to sustainable practices, as well.

What are the Adverse Impacts of Traditional Tourism?

It is not that difficult to guess the negative environmental impacts of tourism. First thing first is the waste generated while building the overall infrastructure such as roads and airports, holiday resorts, hotels, restaurants and stores. You can think of several environmental impacts including increasing air and sea pollution, loss of natural habitats, and loss of biodiversity. So what are the adverse socio-cultural impacts of traditional tourism?

Traditional tourism practices may lead to cultural erosion of local communities. Traditional tourism may play a role in damaging cultural traditions by altering the traditional and local lifestyles, while also deteriorating local identities and social relations, as well as loss of lifestyles and rituals.

Tourism can be an important source of income for countries. However, it can also hinder the traditional economic activities (agriculture, animal husbandry, etc.) of locals and cause their communities to become dependent on tourism revenues. Sustainable tourism, on the other hand, takes into account these negative effects of traditional tourism and aims to prevent them.

What is the Purpose of Green Tourism?

Sustainable tourism protects the environment, while also improving the welfare of local communities. The main purpose of green tourism is to minimize the negative effects of tourism on the environment. Green tourism also focuses on the financial empowerment of local people and offers employment opportunities for locals. The purpose is to preserve the local culture with the goal to raise awareness of visitors on the local culture. The core idea is to design a positive experience for tourists, as well as employees. Green tourism adopts practices that protect the environment and emits less carbon dioxide with the goal to enhance energy efficiency as well as the use of renewable energy.

In brief, green tourism consists of all ecologically, economically and socially sustainable practices. The main purpose of green tourism is to create a sustainable tourism industry. The ultimate goal here is to maximize socio-economic benefits while minimizing the negative impacts on the environment.

What are the Main Benefits of Green Tourism?

Green tourism encourages the efficient use of exhaustible resources, while also increasing the consumption of renewable energy. Green tourism expands practices that increase energy efficiency (LED bulbs, insulation), hence, protects the environment and saves from energy expenses. Raising awareness of tourism businesses on minimizing their air, water and soil pollution and waste generation, green tourism also supports the preservation of natural landscapes and unique ecosystems.

Furthermore, green tourism improves the local welfare. Green tourism adopts the principle of participation, enhances social sustainability; considers the benefit of local people from tourism revenues, employment of local people and equal distribution of income; respects the historical heritage, culture, traditions and diversity of the host communities, while also preserving the cultural heritage and adopting practices for the recognition of the local culture.

Ecotourism, sustainable tourism, green tourism, responsible tourism, ethical tourism… The common point of all these terms differing from each other is that the tourism industry embraces environmental, economic and social sustainability. All of these terms support a tourism destination to be respectful to the environment, preserve cultural heritage and improve the welfare of local people.

Advantages of Green Tourism in Brief

Green Tourism
• Protects the environment.
• Achieves waste management.
• Implements practices that enhance energy efficiency.
• Enables protection of cultural heritage.
• Encourages transition to renewable energy resources.
• Informs tourists about the natural and cultural heritages.
• Adopts practices to protect biodiversity.
• Protects the welfare of the local communities.
• Educates tourism personnel as well as tourists who visit the destination.

Contribute to Green Tourism!

Tourism is a great source of income and employment worldwide. It is also the main source of income for some countries. On the other hand, tourism generates the highest amount of wastes. This is exactly why it is becoming increasingly important to build a sustainable tourism industry. Green tourism practices shall be implemented to tackle the climate crisis as well as supporting the fair distribution of social welfare.

Uncontrolled and unsustainable tourism practices that harms the environment endanger the natural resources, cultural heritage and local communities. The future of the tourism industry lies in green tourism. Sustainable tourism covers a wide spectrum from reducing poverty to conserving biodiversity.

Wouldn’t you like to contribute to green tourism, help develop a sustainable tourism industry and find an alternative that respects the environment and the local culture while planning your next vacation? Carried out in Küçükköy, Ayvalık by Enerjisa Enerji, the SENTRUM project serves this purpose! Come and visit Küçükköy and enjoy your next vacation in the unique nature of the North Aegean, with a clear conscience and the pride of contributing to a sustainable world!