ByResponding to the rising numbers of earth-conscious consumers looking for environmentally savvy vacation options, the travel industry is turning “green.”
Like ecotourism, sustainable tourism and responsible tourism, “green travel” is about the importance of protecting the natural and cultural environment of the places you visit through conservation of resources, recycling and contributing in a positive way to local communities.
The main way travelers can “pack” their sustainable habits with them is by choosing green when it comes to lodging options. According to a TripAdvisor survey, nearly 70 percent of travelers believe environmentally-friendly measures in lodging are making a difference and over 30 percent said they would pay more to stay at one.
“A significant number of TripAdvisor survey respondents are environmentally-conscious, which sends a message to the travel industry to ratchet up eco-friendly offerings,” says Michele Perry, director of communications for TripAdvisor. “Travelers are willing to pay more to be green.”
In fact, hotels and inns that don?t opt to jump on the green bandwagon are often seen as lacking. “Travelers don?t want to leave their sustainable practices at home,” notes Glenn Hasek, editor of Green Lodging News, an online newsletter dedicated to greening the hospitality industry.
“People recycle at home,” Hasek says. “They use compact fluorescent bulbs, and they expect to see the same on the road. In fact, they are disappointed if they don?t.”
One popular vacation spot leading the green revolution is Costa Rica with government-sanctioned tourism programs focused specifically on sustainability and preservation.
Locating green lodging is made easier in Costa Rica because of the government?s Certification for Sustainable Tourism (CST) program which evaluates the sustainability of accommodations so consumers can opt for the hotels that are eco-friendly.
“I chose to stay at the Lapa Rios Ecolodge on my honeymoon in Puntarenas, Costa Rica, specifically because of how highly rated they were in their sustainable practices,” says Marjorie Lippman, a newlywed from Timonium. “If I can vacation and relax in a jungle paradise that contributes to the local environment, I consider that a winning combination.”
