The killer question: should we save jobs or save the earth?

In Africa alone, tourism employs nine million people, and it’s estimated that for each person employed, 10 people are supported. That’s 90 million people positively impacted, in the least developed continent in the world.

During the global pandemic tourist destinations around the world were hit hard by the sudden and prolonged travel restrictions. Low-skilled workers, from cleaning staff to gardeners found themselves without work in economies that had no safety net and no furlough schemes – struggling to provide for their families. The pandemic prompted serious soul-searching in the travel industry – and created an urgent imperative to achieve sustainability goals without creating further challenges for workers.

One organisation that is leading the charge is the UNWTO, through its Transforming Tourism for Climate Change initiative. It aims to help the tourism sector tackle climate change challenges by promoting sustainable tourism practices, increasing destination resilience, and raising awareness among tourists. Its goal is to ensure tourism continues to support economic growth and job creation while minimizing environmental impact and promoting a transition to a low-carbon economy.

Travel is changing – in the future we may see planes powered by biofuels or even solar. But the industry cannot wait for the big leaps in technology when there are so many small steps ready and waiting to happen. Change will come from a series of smaller steps and considered actions– carried out at scale – which reduce the impact of tourism, without reducing the number of tourists.

This means measuring and minimizing carbon emissions, reducing waste and pollution, conserving water and energy and protecting natural habitats. There are so many simple actions that individuals and organizations can take to improve their sustainability without incurring significant costs, such as switching off lights when not in use, installing water butts, and choosing locally produced food and products. These actions can also help boost businesses’ resilience to future shocks.

Weeva has shared a few case studies of eco-committed properties who are leading by example, which can be used by agents to educate themselves on what sustainability looks like on the ground. These range from Tswalu Kalahari Reserve, Grootbos Private Nature Reserve and Morukuru Beach Lodge in South Africa to Sustainable Sri Lanka consulting and advocacy group and Cempedak Island in Indonesia.

Eighty per cent of the tourist industry is made up of small and medium-sized enterprises; they rarely have budgets to employ sustainability professionals and given the complexity of the subject, many are confused about where to start with change. Governments and tourism authorities must come together to educate and support these hoteliers to become greener and grow a resilient industry that provides jobs and sustains livelihoods.

With the right training and knowledge, the industry can manage and reduce its impact on the planet – allowing millions of travellers to enjoy rewarding and responsible trips, that provide economic opportunity for millions around the world.