Ecotourism, or environmentally responsible travel, is no longer just a trip with backpacks, spending nights in the open air and with little comfort. The world’s best resorts are adding “eco” to their names, combining sustainability with a high level of service. Luxury-Eco is a new concept that combines two seemingly opposing directions. Since luxury is defined as a good or service that is not considered to be a necessity, it is associated with waste. In reality, however, rarity and durability lies in the concept of true luxury. It is not something mass produced but precious, therefore it is in luxury brands best interests to protect scarce resources.

“Luxury brands can not be that proud about their performance on social environmental issues yet,” says Dr. Jem Bendell, Associate Professor in Griffith Business School.  The business of luxury, however, cannot be isolated from the problems of  pollution, climate change and scarcity of resources. The question is not whether luxury industry could be green, but how it could do so.

“The biggest problem in sustainability in any industry is that there is no general definition of what it is,” comments Vanessa Friedman, fashion editor for the Financial Times. The possible answers could be an efficient use of resources, help to local communities, and decent working conditions for employees. Currently each industry faces the challenge to define its own sustainable practices to make sure the resources we have today will be available tomorrow.

The tourism industry is one of the first that has developed criteria for a clear understanding of what sustainable tourism is, and the rules the tourism business should follow. The framework, called the Global Sustainable Tourism Criteria, published in March 2012, covers four main directions: effective sustainability planning, maximizing social and economic benefits for the local community, enhancing cultural heritage and reducing negative impacts to the environment. Market leaders make efforts to follow the criteria.

The Marriott, for example, is about to spend 75 percent of its budget this year to get sustainable furniture and equipment. Another giant, Hilton, managed to cut waste 19 percent during 2010 with its system LightStay. The company states an objective to cut energy consumption by 20 percent, CO2 emission and waste output; water consumption is to be cut by 10 percent in the period from 2009 to 2014. Hilton’s sustainability policy includes eleven points, one of which is engaging  team members through training, tools, and active involvement.

Not only employees, but also customers, should be educated. Hotels cannot limit clients’ consumption of food, water and energy, but what they can do is to create a community with recommendations that are easy to follow. Practices such as changing the towels only when necessary, not using straws for cocktails and reusing glasses are not restricting, therefore customers are likely to respect them. The key here is to give visitors the idea about their contribution. It’s not enough for a hotel to claim to be green. The figures about reduction of water use and energy and contribution to the local community must be presented. The Sol Melía chain, for example, reported 35,506kg of waste collected and recycled for hotel. Another important factor to look at while choosing a green place is whether a hotel has environmental certification.

The current challenge common for all luxury industries is how to make customers accept and follow green practices. Kavita Maharaj, the Director of Global Corporate Relationship in Havas Media, is optimistic about the future: “It’s quite clear from the research we have done that consumers want it. They say quite categorically: we want to be a part of the solution, we want to be engaged in this issue and do something about it.”

In the end, luxury has sustainability in its roots. “The essence of real luxury is to sell high quality, creative and rare objects with an image of good taste and elegance. Thus luxury is resource dependent and obsessed by the sustainability of its resources,” says Jean Noël Kapferer, expert in brand-management.

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Traveling and keeping all your sustainable habits is not always easy. Depending on where you travel, some cities make it easier than others to protect the environment, and when you are a stranger to the area, it is just that much more difficult. However, every bit helps, and these four travel accessories are great examples of ways you can help the environment before you even leave home.

Platypus Soft Bottles—You save the environment; they save you space.

When visiting destinations where the tap water is safe to drink, bring your own water bottle with you. Not only will you save money, but you will avoid having to add to the 3 billion pounds of waste each year produced by plastic bottles that are not recycled. This way, you do not have to worry if you cannot find a recycling bin! Although any reusable water bottle without BPA and PET will work, sometimes space in your suitcase or carry-on can be a problem.

Platypus sells soft water bottles that fold up when empty, saving precious luggage space. These bottles are sold in lots of different colors and sizes, are completely BPA free, and are much lighter than the typical hard water bottle. The bottles are made in the United States, and less energy and materials are used to manufacture them, compared to the typical hard water bottle. Starting at around $7.00 (for a 0.5 liter bottle), the prices do not break the bank either.

Use eco-friendly footwear.

No matter where you plan on going this summer, chances are pretty good you are looking for new flip flops or sandals to replace grungy, old ones. This year, why not buy biodegradable ones? Feelgoodz sells fair trade flip flops made of top quality, all-natural rubber. This means you do not have to add them to a landfill when you want to dispose of them. Not only are they safe for the environment, but Feelgoodz claims that their flip flops are “curiously comfortable”. The flip flops are available in several different designs and colors for women, men, and children.

Before you throw out your flip flops from last year, check out Feelgoodz “Recycle your un-flop” campaign. You mail them your worn-out footwear, and they send them to Kenya where local artists transform your trash into “eco-boutique” items to be resold in Kenyan villages. Not only are you recycling your shoes, but if you join the Flipsquad, their rewards program, they will give you points towards a free pair. You can buy the flip flops directly online, or search for a store near you.

Travel-size natural bath products

If you are looking for green bath products, check out Indigo Wild’s Zum line. All their soaps and other bath essentials are made with all natural ingredients, such as goat milk, shea butter, natural oils, and vitamins. The ingredients are all listed on their website, and all their merchandise is vegetarian-friendly. Many of their products are also vegan and gluten-free. Products are sold in various sizes and with their travel-size zip bag, everything is under three ounces, so you do not have to worry about them not passing through airport security.

Record your journey with a tree-free journal.

Keeping a travel diary is a great way to remember your vacation and ends up being a priceless souvenir. If you do not already have a journal, consider buying one made with recycled materials. Several companies produce journals with recycled paper, but Ecopaper goes one step more.

Ecopaper makes journals and stationary products with tree-free paper. Their products are 100% recycled, produced from leftover materials from bananas, coffee, lemons, and mangoes. For example, their Banana Paper is made from the pinzotes (stems) of bananas.

Normally, these stems are not used for anything and can actually be harmful to the environment because their strange composition does not decompose fully. However, Ecopaper extracts fiber from these stems to create paper. Their website gives you in-depth information about how they make their paper, and their online store has numerous options of styles and sizes, all for very affordable prices.

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The HospitalityNet.org announced that the World Green Tourism Abu Dhabi Conference is going to be held between the fifth and seventh  of December. It is sponsored by Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority (ADTA) and the Environment Agency of Abu Dhabi.

Abu Dhabi is the capital and second largest city of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in terms of population, and the wealthiest emirate of the UAE in terms of gross domestic product (GDP) and per capita income. This wealth can be credited to its huge hydrocarbon resources of the area, which hold nine percent of the world´s proven oil reserves and almost five percent of the world´s natural gas.

The city has actively attempted to diversify its economy in the recent years through investments in financial services and tourism. Through this new engagement towards tourism, Abu Dhabi has also gotten involved with the environmental issues of the world. The upcoming conference is the region’s only commercial event dedicated to examining how the travel and tourism industry can become more sustainable.

This event will bring an introduction to the tourism industry and sustainability by educating those with little knowledge on its benefits, confronting the challenges in the sector, and presenting innovative solutions and examples of cutting edge initiatives. The conference and exhibition has a notable delegation of heads of industry, academics, advocates, and government bodies gathering to discuss topics surrounding sustainable development, support of local culture, and preservation of indigenous species.

The World Green Tourism Abu Dhabi Conference will cover interesting themes and debates for tourism experts such as:

• Can mass market tourism ever be truly sustainable?
• Empower consumers to make a responsible choice – what steps should the travel industry take?
• Whose responsibility is it to green the tourism industry?
• Practical steps to making your hotel or attraction more sustainable
• Regenerating and developing new destinations using sustainable tourism principles
• Can the tourism industry afford to turn its back on water conservation?
• Adventure tourism, conservation, and supporting local communities
• How can airlines do better?

There is hope that this conference will open more eyes towards sustainable developments in the tourism area and will profit with positive improvements all across the world.

For more information about the conference, please follow the link.

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Eco tourism is a still growing market, with tourists gaining a growing awareness of the carbon footprints on the countries through which they are traveling.

China, a country still suffering a reputation as one of the most polluted countries in the world, has begun taking tentative steps towards promoting a cleaner, greener image for their tourism campaigns.

China’s Ministry for Environmental Protection (MEP) and the China National Tourism Administration (CNTA) have released a survey on the current state of eco tourism in China.

The survey found the eco tourism market continues to expand, and a variety of destinations including nature reserves, forest and wetlands parks and scenic spots have been set up under the program.

China is still an emerging market in terms of the power of the green tourist, and the survey recognized a large number of areas where eco tourism strategies were undefined.

The importance of ensuring further eco tourism was highlighted in a statement from Conservation International China, Country Director Lu Zhi, reflecting positively on the future for eco tourism.

“There is a demand for more eco-tourism in China. Its popularity is not spurred by scientist or government, but is emerging in response to market demand. As the economy grows and more and more Chinese people have disposable income, people’s interest in tourism will ultimately become more diversified and high-end oriented.”

The survey highlighted problems in the current state of eco tourism in China: issues in management, regulation and policy and informational stages of development.

The survey revealed a lack of awareness and implementation of environmental regulations and protection of tourists.

Both the MEP and the CNTA have been responsible for developing China’s growing market in eco tourism, and conducted the eco tourism survey. The survey was conducted over eight months and polled 6556 tourists and 92 management staff.

In response to the problems found with China’s eco tourism, the Ministry for Environmental Protection and the China National Tourism Administration released a list of eight strategies.

The strategies aim to correct the problems found with China’s current implementation of policies.

-    The establishment of various laws and regulations enabling eco tourism to be certified, and to regulate the development of the industry
-    The set up of an inter-departmental way of providing services and guidance in relation to eco tourism
-    Strengthening environmental supervision over eco tourism. Including establishing ways to quickly ensure the environmental quality of tourist destinations
-    Encouraging environmental and low-carbon infrastructure with tailor made solutions for the best possible travel experience
-    Supporting and increasing scientific research in relation to eco tourism
-    Encouraging local government to develop policies in favor of eco tourism
-    Training and developing a professional eco tourism team with a full understanding of the concepts behind eco tourism and desirable management skills

On the positive side for further eco tourism Conservation International China, Country Director Lu Zhi mentioned the diverse landscapes of China and its natural beauty, a factor which will continue to draw tourist numbers.

“In Western China, there are abundant and unique eco-tourism resources, possibly unrivaled worldwide. The towering and majestic Himalayan mountains, glaciers, gorges, and pristine turquoise lakes and rivers all entice the imagination.

“These hot spots of global biodiversity contain unique temperate forest and endangered species like the giant panda, golden monkey, and Tibetan antelope. Broad grasslands, wetlands, and deserts present an endless horizon for the explorer.”

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