Around 40% of the global economy is said to be based on biological products and processes. Mountaineering, trekking, nature walks, and jungle safaris are all examples of biodiversity driven tourism. Therefore, biological resources become a valuable asset to sustain the tourism sector.
Sustainable tourism harmonizes and sets a perfect balance between environmental, economic, and socio-cultural aspects. In biodiversity rich landscapes, sustainable tourism can be a major source of revenue and employment for local communities, providing them with a strong incentive to protect biodiversity. However, haphazard and unplanned tourism that does not involve local populations in the conceptualisation and implementation phases is equally dangerous. In reality, tourism can be seen as both an opportunity for conserving nature and a threat to nature, if not conducted responsibly (ICIMOD).
Tourism is biodiversity and businesses in tourism ‘sell’ biodiversity. For these businesses to be future proof, responsible actions need to be taken. It does not have to be a complete overhaul, a journey of a thousand miles starts with one step.
Employee Engagement (involve your staff)
- Energy efficiency in accommodation
- Offering environmental friendly alternatives to guests eg drinks without straws, vegetarian lunch or no single use plastic
- Fuel efficient driving techniques
Human Resources
- Hire locally – empowers them and reduces poaching, overgrazing, deforestation etc
- Support local businesses (for same reasons above)
- Local/cultural knowledge of the area gives intrinsic value to the attraction, hence giving tourists a reason to act responsibly
Water Use
- Use low filter showers and taps
- Invest in efficient water drills
- Rain water harvesting
- Use push taps
- Use dual flush toilet systems
- Re-use / recycle water
Energy Efficiency
- Use sensors for light ons and offs
- Use LED lighting
- Install solar energy
- Convert waste to energy (biogas)
Partnerships
- Combine efforts for bigger impact in waste collection & recycling
- Carpooling of guests
- Work with global agenda and national visions
- Business demand based innovation
Procurement
- Purchase from sustainable suppliers
- Impose good practice standards on suppliers
Marketing communication
- Use the wins of your sustainable business to attract customers!
- Always explain the reason of offering an alternative
- Use figures and numbers
- Use creative communication eg postcards on taps to educate on water use
- Encourage tourists to offset their own footprint before they leave (eg planting a tree) – embeds the message in their value system
Waste management
- Collect and recycle plastic
- Recycle / reuse water
- Turn organic waste / human to energy
- Have measures to reduce food waste
