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Sustainable Tourism

Blue Community Metrics

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Features of Sustainability Assessment for Destinations Every destination inside the app has a dedicated team for making edits to metrics. You can add members to your team for any metric group. With an in-app dashboard, you can track the progress of your sustainability efforts for your destination, anytime, anywhere. You'll find the entire Global Sustainable Tourism Council Criteria integrated into the Assessment App in addition to the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Each question in the assessment is cross referenced with the related 12 Blue Community Strategies, the UN SDGs and the GSTC Criteria which specifically represents the subject matter.
Track Your Sustainability Efforts & Progress From Now until Forever:Establish a baseline for your community by completing a series of questions, based on themes in sustainability. The Blue Community Assessment app allows the work of data collection, entry and update to be distributed across a team. All destinations are assigned a team color. When assessors log in, the system already knows that team they belong to and which criteria they are permitted to edit/update/access. Once all 133 questions have been given an initial answer, 100% of baseline will be complete. From that moment forward, everything is tracked based on updates provided to the assessment over time, activating Historical Data modules and such.
Give the Stakeholders a Reason to Trust YouHelp the community trust you by providing the transparency stakeholders seek. Along with providing reference links to claims made inside the assessment, you can upload photos, videos, documents and evidence. When your destination provides demonstrable proof of improvement and implementations, the public will have a way to see you accomplish your established goals in real time. Blue Community will help your team with your plan and everything you need to succeed with your team efforts.
Establish & Showcase Best Practices in SustainabilityIn addition to establishing best practices by improving a destinations metrics, you can add best practices to the system and sort by category and metric group
Learn from Best Practices in other destinations within the system.Track your destination’s progress over time, as a system, and engage your stakeholders in a in a transparent and easy to manage assessment application. When something improves within a metric group, your Destination will have the opportunity to add a Best Practice to the Blue Community Assessment system

Sustainable Tourism: A Shared Responsibility for a Greener Future

Tourism is one of the most dynamic and far-reaching industries in the world, contributing approximately 10% to global GDP and employing millions of people across diverse sectors. However, with its significant economic impact comes a substantial environmental footprint. From carbon emissions associated with air travel to the depletion of natural resources in popular destinations, the industry is a major player in both environmental degradation and conservation efforts. 



The pressing question remains: Who is responsible for ensuring that tourism becomes more sustainable? The answer is not simple because the entire ecosystem of tourism—businesses, tourists, suppliers, and governments—plays an interconnected role. Sustainability in tourism is a shared responsibility, and only through collaboration can the industry minimize its impact on the environment.

Tourism Businesses: The Frontline of Change

Tourism enterprises—hotels, tour operators, restaurants, and attractions—are at the forefront of sustainability efforts. These businesses wield significant influence in shaping travel behaviors and ensuring that their operations align with environmental best practices.

For instance, Accor Hotels, a global hospitality leader, has committed to cutting its carbon emissions in half by 2030 and implementing water and energy efficiency programs across its properties. Through initiatives such as reducing single-use plastics and investing in renewable energy, Accor exemplifies how the hospitality sector can champion sustainability (Accor, 2023).

Similarly, tour operators like G Adventures and Intrepid Travel have pioneered sustainable tourism by focusing on small-group, low-impact travel. They prioritize local businesses, minimize carbon footprints, and educate travelers about responsible tourism. These companies demonstrate how business models can be reshaped to align with sustainability goals while remaining profitable.




Tourists: The Power of Conscious Choices

While businesses play a crucial role, tourists themselves hold immense power in steering the industry towards sustainability. The choices they make—where to stay, how to travel, and which activities to participate in—directly influence the demand for sustainable practices.

For example, opting for eco-lodges instead of resource-intensive luxury resorts can drastically reduce environmental impact. Lodges like Lapa Rios in Costa Rica and Soneva Fushi in the Maldives operate on renewable energy, source food locally, and engage in wildlife conservation programs.

Moreover, transportation choices significantly impact a traveler’s carbon footprint. Tourists can minimize emissions by choosing train travel over flights, as rail transport is often a much greener alternative. In Europe, Eurail passes promote sustainable travel by allowing visitors to explore multiple destinations while reducing their carbon footprint.



Adventurous travelers can also contribute by engaging in regenerative tourism, which goes beyond sustainability to actively improve the environment and communities. In Iceland, for example, tourists can participate in reforestation projects that help counteract deforestation and climate change (Icelandic Forest Service, 2022).

Suppliers: The Backbone of Sustainable Infrastructure

The sustainability of tourism is also heavily dependent on the suppliers of goods and services, including transportation providers, energy suppliers, and food producers. These stakeholders are integral to the industry's environmental footprint.

Airlines and Transportation Companies

The aviation industry contributes approximately 2.5% of global CO2 emissions, making sustainable aviation practices a priority. Airlines like KLM Royal Dutch Airlines and United Airlines have invested in biofuels and carbon offset programs to mitigate their impact. KLM’s "Fly Responsibly" campaign encourages customers to offset their carbon emissions and promotes the use of alternative transportation for short-haul journeys.

Meanwhile, public transportation networks in tourism-heavy cities are crucial for reducing emissions. Destinations such as Vienna, Austria, have invested in electric trams and bike-sharing programs, making sustainable travel within the city more accessible and affordable (Vienna Tourism Board, 2023).

Hotels and Resorts

Beyond airlines, hotels and resorts are major resource consumers, with high energy and water usage. Sustainable initiatives in the hospitality sector include installing solar panels, implementing water recycling systems, and reducing food waste. The Six Senses Resorts chain has integrated sustainability at its core, banning single-use plastics, sourcing local materials, and supporting marine conservation efforts in regions like the Maldives and Thailand.

Government Regulations and Incentives

Governments play a critical role in promoting sustainable tourism through policies, incentives, and infrastructure investments. Their influence is seen in environmental regulations, sustainable tourism certifications, and conservation programs.

For example, Bhutan has adopted a "High Value, Low Impact" tourism policy, requiring visitors to pay a sustainable development fee. This approach limits overtourism, funds conservation efforts, and ensures that tourism benefits local communities.

Similarly, Norway has committed to becoming a carbon-neutral tourism destination by 2030, introducing strict emissions regulations for cruise ships in its fjords and encouraging eco-friendly accommodations through tax incentives.

Funding Research and Innovation

Governments also support research into sustainable technologies. The European Union, for instance, funds initiatives like Horizon 2020, which explores innovations in eco-friendly aviation, sustainable accommodations, and green infrastructure development.

Eliminating Greenwashing: A Collective Responsibility

One of the biggest threats to sustainable tourism is greenwashing—the practice of falsely marketing businesses as environmentally friendly. Tourists, businesses, and governments must work together to ensure that sustainability claims are transparent and verifiable.

Organizations such as the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) set industry standards for sustainability certification. Tourists can look for GSTC-certified businesses to ensure their choices align with genuine environmental responsibility.

The Future of Sustainable Tourism

Sustainable tourism is not the responsibility of a single entity; it is a shared commitment among businesses, travelers, suppliers, and governments. By making conscious choices, implementing responsible policies, and holding businesses accountable, we can transform the tourism industry into a force for environmental conservation rather than degradation.

As travelers, we can educate ourselves, support businesses that align with sustainability goals, and choose experiences that minimize our impact. As businesses, we can innovate and invest in eco-friendly practices. As governments, we can legislate and provide incentives for greener tourism models.

The beauty and wonder of our planet should be preserved for future generations. By working together, the tourism industry can become a powerful ally in the fight against climate change, ensuring that travel remains a source of joy, education, and conservation rather than destruction.

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