Sustainable Travel - Where are we?
Shoba Rudra (Founder, RARE India)
We are not there yet. No one is there yet. However, some countries are undeniably doing better than others. The clue is always in the awareness, belief that change is possible and choosing wisely, says Shoba Rudra, Founder, RARE India. There is so much going on around the world to promote sustainable travel as news in the media seems to reflect. The kind of innovation and willing choices that people in countries like Slovenia, Costa Rica and Finland commit is what these countries are several notches above others. Full article below:
What is immediately visible is how the government leads with policies and regulations, and the citizens follow through with commitment. In India the onus lies entirely with individual states, Kerala and Sikkim being forerunners, followed by hospitality groups and hotels who are individual change makers.
World over, we are in the process of change and in the beginning, it always manifests as chaos. Almost every day you read about massive constructions at the cost of forests, the pollution, the loss of glaciers, rise of water and the scarcity of water extinctions, your spirits plummet and you wonder if there is hope. One look at the aircrafts taking off from a two-tier city airport and one wonders; can a change even be imagined and if there is any hope. And then there are small news items of rewilded spaces, a species resurrected, cleaned up water bodies and individual efforts for recycling, organic farming and revival, a reversal seems possible. On those days I believe that sustainable travel followed with intention and promoted with passion may create a definite shift and growth. As with all changes the estimate of impact of sustainable travel is very low. We did a full-fledged survey this year and saw that less than 10% indicated they will choose sustainable travel and pay a premium for it.
It would be safe to admit that people are more conscious of their choices in travel as compared to say 2014, as with other things like textiles, packaging, waste, water etc. However, the impact may be seen only when the price for the choice is realised, and that is still a campaign in progress. As in all kinds of behavioural changes, there are many more people who are aware and only a percentage of them will make the adjustments and bear the inconvenience and cost rendered by conscious choices. In short, if 100 people are aware of the long-term benefits of sustainable travel, only about 10% or less will follow through with their conscious choice for reasons that range from convenience, proximity, season, and pricing.
Finally, while on one hand there is some follow through of the mandates of the Cop 30 and EU guidelines, awareness and intent is yet to be seen in organisational policy and hence traveller demand. For that, the government and citizens have to take a long-term view of their agendas and action, and every developmental goal must be gauged against the loss of natural wealth.
(The author is Shoba Rudra, Founder, RARE India. The views and opinions expressed in this article do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the publication or its editorial team.)
