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The Benefits of Sustainable Tourism and Why Hotels Should Support It

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People can travel and experience the diverse culture of other people through tourism. However, the environment is at risk from irresponsible practices. According to a 2018 study, tourism has been identified as one of the sources of greenhouse gas emissions in the world. Along with the increased interest in tourism is the growing concern for sustainability. It matters to address the problem through the implementation of solutions that take the necessary steps towards sustainability.

Sustainable tourism can save the environment and help the locals in their livelihood. Travel responsibly and observe practices that contribute to environmental protection to do your part in saving nature. It also matters to take note that it’s not just all about environmental gains. Sustainable tourism comes with other advantages too. If you are a hotelier or run an accommodation for guests, you ought to know the benefits of sustainable tourism that will further encourage you to support it.

5 Advantages of Sustainable Tourism

1. Keeps the Environment Clean.

It helps reduce waste problems through recycling, composting, saying no to single-use plastics and other disposables, and using reusable bags when shopping for souvenirs. These best practices preserve the beauty and keep the places you visit clean.

2. Protects Landscapes and Endangered Animals.

The benefits of sustainable tourism go beyond traveling by preserving the area and the wildlife located in the destinations you visit. Sustainable tourism has an incentive for communities to protect the landscapes and the animals living within the area.

3. Supports The Local Communities.

Sustainable tourism provides financial benefits to the local communities by creating job opportunities for them and supporting their businesses. This is one of the benefits of sustainable tourism that you can happily support. Whether you stay in a guesthouse or homestay, hire a local tour guide, eat authentic cuisine, or shop for local products and souvenirs from artisans, they all generate income for the people.  

4. Preserves Cultural Heritage.

You can learn about the rich cultural heritage of the people from the places you visit. Locals will be encouraged to share their unique heritage and look at it as something they can be proud of and worth preserving.

5. Good For The Health.

Wellness is one of the benefits of sustainable tourism. Having clean air and water, eating produce from sustainable farming practices, and enjoying beautiful sceneries can improve your physical and mental health.

Hotels play an important role in achieving the benefits of sustainable tourism. Consumers are now becoming increasingly aware of sustainable practices in hotels and accommodations. According to a 2019 travel report, 70% of global travelers say they would be more likely to book an accommodation if they know it was eco-friendly while 55% of global travelers inform they are more determined to make sustainable travel choices than in 2018. Here are reasons why hotels must be active in sustainability efforts.

Reasons Hotels Must Support Sustainable Tourism

1. Customers want a sustainable business.

A 2020 study shows that due to the pandemic consumers are now more concerned about the environment when making choices. In 2019, 71% considered the environment when making choices at least occasionally. On March 6, 2020, 78% felt the same way while on April 10, 2020, 83% of consumers relate they also considered the environment. Sustainable practices in a hotel create a positive impact on the customer experience. This is one of the benefits of sustainable tourism on hotels that choose to go green.

2. Hotels are susceptible to environmental damage.

Climate change and biodiversity damage are environmental issues that affect the hospitality industry. Reasons for traveling also include the animals and the ecosystems where they live, across an estimated 20 – 40% of the global tourism industry. This is why every hotelier must have an interest in keeping biodiversity safe.

3. Hotels affect the global ecosystem.

In research, findings show that the hotel industry must minimize its carbon emissions by 66% per room by 2030 and by 90% per room by 2050. Hotels can have a harmful effect on biodiversity because of waste production, too much use of resources, and buying of unsustainably farmed produce. By introducing sustainable practices, hotels can be instruments for people and the environment to reap the benefits of sustainable tourism.

4. Saves money on hotel operations.

According to a study, sustainability practices can lessen hotel operating costs by 6.5% per year. Adopting sustainable practices helps you save money on your business aside from helping your guests enjoy the benefits of sustainable tourism. Reduce using single-use plastic items like plastic cups, cutlery, and straws and switch to recyclable options alternatives such as bamboo straws.

Hotel and Spa Essentials focuses on reducing the use of single-use plastic, maintaining safe levels of CO2 emissions, and supporting organizations that commit to sustainable development by using environmentally-friendly hotel and spa supplies like toiletries, bedding, and room equipment. It offers 100% plant-based tubes, bottles, and large-capacity dispensers, made from sugarcane residue known as bagasse. It also uses recycled paper for the bottles and dispensers’ labels, and the soaps are wrapped in recycled cardboard boxes and recycled paper.

ALSO READ: How to Promote Sustainable and Responsible Tourism in Your Hotel

There is a growing concern about the environment. Through sustainable tourism, you can make a positive impact on the environment, society, and economy. There are several benefits of sustainable tourism and hotels can be significant instruments to achieve them. Hotels must be sustainable since more consumers now prefer sustainable practices in their accommodations. 

Hotel and Spa Essentials is a supplier of environmentally-friendly hotel amenities that are used in world-class hotels and accommodations. We are the distributor of two of the most innovative manufacturers of towels and linens in the world – Standard Textile and Ecoknit. Standard Textile has a swathe of innovations that saves up to 15% per laundry load without compromising the end-user experience. Ecoknit guarantees up to 40% quicker drying times and 40% less water usage. In need of a supplier of eco-friendly hotel amenities?

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How to Promote Sustainable and Responsible Tourism in Your Hotel

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Sustainability has become one of the top priorities in the hospitality industry today. The success of those working in this sector like hotels depends on tourism and how the natural and cultural attractions are preserved. However, mass tourism has endangered the earth’s limited resources due to careless practices.

This is where sustainable and responsible tourism comes in. It means being aware of the total impact of tourism on the environment, economy, and society and addressing relevant issues through good practices to minimize the negative effects. It ensures that travelers do not bring any environmental harm to the destinations they visit and also supports the local community in the area. This includes staying at a hotel that recognizes the importance of sustainable and responsible tourism.

As hoteliers, managing sustainable tourism in a responsible manner brings out the best in your hotel. Here are 5 ways you can get started.

5 Ways How your Hotel Can Support Sustainable and Responsible Tourism      

1.      Reduce Energy Consumption

Energy is one of the main priorities in sustainable and responsible tourism because it makes up more than half of a hotel’s carbon footprint. There are steps on how to save energy to make your hotel a lot greener.

What you can do:

  • Install solar panels to produce your electricity.
  • Buy energy-efficient appliances. 
  • Switch to low-energy lighting like LED lamps.
  • Utilize timer switches and thermostatic radiator valves to control the output of your heating system.
  • Turn off lights when they are not used.
  • Give friendly reminders to guests on their use of electricity.
  • Train hotel staff on how to conserve energy.

2. Reduce Water Usage

Like energy, water needs to be saved. Clean water is very essential as there are still many communities around the world that do not have access to potable water. You can practice water-saving techniques as part of your hotel’s sustainable and responsible tourism.

What you can do:

  • Perform a water audit to identify where you are using the most water.
  • Leave guests a note informing them that room cleaning is by request only to prevent water waste.
  • Change the settings of washing machines.
  • Politely ask your hotel guests to reuse towels.
  • Use linens and towels that are environmentally-friendly.

Hotel and Spa Essentials is the exclusive distributor of EcoKnit® terry towels. These towels are preferred by many hotel operators in the world since they are snag-free and quick-drying. They are the most technically advanced energy-efficient terry towels around the world with economical and ecological benefits.                             

3. Practice Recycling and Composting

Recycling and composting are a must if your hotel wants to promote sustainable and responsible tourism. There will be a general evaluation of the quantity of waste produced by your hotel and how much could be used for recycling and composting.

What you can do:

  • Cut down on food waste. Monitor what food your guests order at your hotel’s restaurant.
  • Put recycling bins around your hotel and train your hotel staff on how to use them properly.
  • Guide your guests on things that can be thrown away and what can be recycled.
  • Make a composting bin for the food you must throw away and utilize it in your garden.
  • Promote the use of eco dispensers instead of one-time use supplies.

Hotel and Spa Essentials is a trusted supplier of dispensers to high-end hotels and accommodations. The dispensers are made of sustainable materials such as bio-sourced material from sugar cane and recycled materials and they are in compliance with EU cosmetic regulations that guarantee traceability and safety. Several of our plant-based packagings are made of sugar cane residues to ensure clients that our products like liquid soap dispensers and wall mounts do not harm the ecosystems of the producing areas. We use recycled packaging for our products that come from the recovery of industrial scraps or recalled products.

4. Serve Sustainable Food

Serving sustainable food in your hotel can impress your guests. Sustainable food has three focus areas such as sourcing, society, and environment.

What you can do:

  • Sourcing – serve only local and seasonal food and animals that are raised ethically. Fish must be farmed sustainably. Another element is Fair Trade which means paying higher salaries to producers in developing countries.
  • Society – follow the four principles: treating people fairly, community engagement, healthy eating, and responsible marketing.
  • Environment – being conscious of how much food you waste, how much water and energy you consume, what workplace resources you offer, and how healthy your supply chain is.

5. Engage in Charity Works that Support Conservation

Your hotel can get involved in worthy activities that support conservation as part of promoting sustainable and responsible tourism. The conservation campaign can be for tourist attractions, wildlife sanctuaries, or the local community within the area. 

What you can do:

  • Donate to local conservation groups and invite your hotel guests to do the same.
  • Invite local conservation leaders to have a free speaking engagement at your hotel. Invite your guests to attend so they could learn more about conservation.
  • Distribute pamphlets and other information about local conservation efforts to tourists who might be interested to join.

 ALSO READ: How to Reduce Carbon Footprint in the Tourism Industry

Your hotel can promote sustainable and responsible tourism through conserving energy and water, recycling and composting, serving sustainable food sourced from the local community, and supporting conservation drives. These sustainable initiatives create a positive image for your hotel and can become part of the solution to save the environment. This guarantees that attractions within the area would still be enjoyed by tourists in the future.Hotel and Spa Essentials is the accredited distributor of some of the top hotel amenities brands used in five-star hotels and world-class accommodations. We provide hotel and spa supplies that are friendly to the environment and can match the preferences of your customers. Are you in need of a hotel amenities supplier that can provide you with high-quality and eco-friendly hotel supplies?

Send us a message.