Leave Only Footprints, Take Only Memories

World Tourism Day, observed annually on September 27, serves as a reminder of tourism’s tremendous impact on our global economy, cultures, and environment. It is a day set aside to recognise the role tourism plays in promoting mutual understanding, economic prosperity, and environmental preservation. However, as the twenty-first century progresses, the relationship between tourism and sustainability has grown in importance. Today, it is critical to consider how sustainable travel may impact the future of tourism, ensuring that the wonders of our globe are maintained for future generations.

Tourism as we know it now is a relatively new phenomenon, fuelled by the Industrial Revolution of the nineteenth century. During this time, technological breakthroughs like steamships and railroads made long-distance travel more accessible to the general public. However, the concept of tourism goes far further back—ancient Greeks and Romans travelled for pleasure, visiting monuments, spas, and temples, laying the groundwork for what would become a lucrative industry.

By the mid-twentieth century, tourism had grown into a global industry, with air travel transforming international exploration. The expansion of tourism offered enormous benefits: increased chances for cultural interaction, a thriving hospitality industry, and enhanced economic development, particularly in nations with natural or historical sites. However, with increased tourism came new issues, especially environmental deterioration, overtourism, and the exploitation of indigenous traditions.

This is where the discourse about sustainable tourism started. Over the last few decades, there has been a growing push to ensure that tourism not only benefits travellers but also protects and preserves the areas they visit. Sustainable tourism is defined as tourism that serves the requirements of both tourists and host communities while safeguarding and expanding future prospects. In other words, it seeks to reduce the negative effects of travel while increasing the advantages. This entails focussing on three major pillars: environmental sustainability, sociocultural preservation, and economic viability.

1. Environmental Sustainability: This refers to methods that reduce the carbon impact of travel, protect wildlife, and preserve natural landscapes. Popular tourist attractions, including the Great Barrier Reef, Machu Picchu, and Venice, have all suffered environmental degradation as a result of overtourism, pollution, and unsustainable practices. Sustainable tourism promotes activities such as environmentally friendly transportation, waste reduction, and conservation efforts.
2. Socio-Cultural Preservation: Tourism can have a positive and negative impact on local populations. While it provides much-needed economic opportunities, it may also result in cultural commodification and the destruction of local customs. Sustainable tourism emphasises the necessity of respecting local cultures, assisting indigenous communities, and fostering authentic, responsible tourists.
3. Economic viability: Sustainable tourism seeks to divide the economic advantages of travel fairly among stakeholders. This involves ensuring that the local community, rather than just major enterprises, reaps the benefits of tourism through projects like community-based tourism, in which local citizens directly benefit from tourist activities.

Tourism and sustainability are more than a trend; they are a requirement. As the climate issue intensifies, the tourism sector must evolve. The United Nations has long recognised this, including sustainable tourism among its Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Goal 12.7 specifically asks for the promotion of sustainable tourism that generates jobs while also promoting local culture and products.

Several countries have responded to the challenge, making sustainability a key component of their tourism strategy. Bhutan, for example, has developed a “high-value, low-impact” tourism strategy that limits the number of tourists allowed in the nation and charges a daily fee to fund conservation efforts and community development. Similarly, Costa Rica has established itself as a leader in eco-tourism, with approximately 30% of its territory classified as protected land. In Europe, efforts such as the Green Key program recognise hotels and other tourism-related enterprises that fulfil high environmental standards, encouraging eco-friendly practices throughout the industry.

Consider a traveler embarking on a trip through Peru. Instead of joining the crowds that visit Machu Picchu every day, which contributes to the degradation of the historic monument, they take a less-known route: the Salkantay Trek. This alternate route provides breathtaking vistas of the Andes while reducing pressure on Machu Picchu’s delicate ecosystem. By staying at locally owned accommodations along the journey, the traveler ensures that their money goes directly to the indigenous Quechua communities that live in these mountains.

Such stories are more than simply individual choices; they represent a bigger tourist movement. Travellers can affect the future of tourism by making informed, responsible decisions. This narrative is gaining popularity as individuals become more aware of the environmental and cultural effects of their activities. Furthermore, sustainable travel experiences provide more fulfilling and enriching journeys. Engaging with local cultures, learning about a place’s history and traditions, and making a good influence can make travel more rewarding for both the visitor and the people involved.