As destinations journey towards their net-zero targets, experts say that the ultimate goal should be reducing emissions

landscape can be enjoyed while maintaining a minimal carbon footprint.”

Research from IPK International shows that travellers are becoming increasingly conscious about sustainability as well as climate and environmental protection. To align with this growing awareness, Germany has implemented a range of strategies.

“Germany’s plethora of sustainable offerings include affordable public transport options, green architecture and sprawling parks under the ‘Feel Good’ campaign that was launched in 2022, focusing heavily on sustainable tourism.”

Supporting Local Communities

An important step in developing sustainable business practices is supporting the community in which one operates – and this is no different for tourism. Investing in the local community contributes to the region’s heritage and culture by encouraging both residents and tourists to participate, which in turn provides the economy with a much-needed boost.

Leading global hospitality group Hilton believes that travel provides an opportunity to not only explore different corners of the world but also meet diverse people and celebrate their local cultures and traditions.

Locals take pride in their rich heritage and strive to not only maintain their culture but also conserve their environment and natural beauty.

The team stated that this benefits everyone involved as tourism generates employment opportunities and income for the local population and supports the development of infrastructure at the destination while also offering travellers the authentic experiences they come seeking.

Some of the ways in which this can be achieved include sourcing local ingredients for menus, incorporating cultural elements in the hotel’s design and partnering with local suppliers. Sustainability activities such as beach clean-ups and coral reef propagation projects further immerse guests into the destination by giving them the opportunity to interact with their surroundings.

For example, the team at Hilton Seychelles Northolme Resort & Spa collaborated with the Marine Conservation Society Seychelles to develop a coral reef restoration programme aimed at protecting and restoring the remaining reef. Guests are invited on snorkelling tours to learn about the restoration process and adopt a piece of coral.

Driving Green Transport

With aviation playing a role in bringing people to their destinations, other forms of transport are integral to the development of these destinations. The rise in the volume of tourists is pushing the transport industry to keep up. At the same time, they also need to deliver on the green agendas in place. Blacklane – the luxury provider of rides services and professional chauffeurs – is leading the charge in this space to make the future of transport sustainable and ethical. Nicolas Soucaille, General Manager for Blacklane, UAE, said: “As the transport industry is challenged to meet the growing demand, we view this as an opportunity to incorporate sustainability into our offerings. Dubai now serves as the testbed for Blacklane’s inaugural all-electric fleet of Mercedes EQS vehicles and we have witnessed robust demand. As COP28 approaches, we anticipate further demand for sustainable ground transportation, and we are diligently preparing our fleet to accommodate this need.”

Highlighting the company’s committment, he added: “Blacklane has consistently championed sustainability, becoming the first rides service to achieve carbon-neutral certification in 2017 by offsetting emissions from all rides and business operations. We furthered our commitment by retroactively offsetting our company’s entire carbon footprint since its inception in 2011. Additionally, Blacklane has signed The Climate Pledge, committing to achieve net-zero emissions by 2040. This ambitious goal signifies our dedication to moving beyond carbon offsetting, ultimately striving for a future where our operations produce no emissions at all.”