There is a heightened appetite for sustainable tourism amongst consumers, with 69% of travellers actively seeking sustainable travel options.
This is according to research by the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) and the Trip.com Group, together with financial advisory firm Deloitte. Their report, ‘A world in motion: shifting consumer travel trends in 2022 and beyond’, shows that sustainability is a key element of the travel agenda, with travellers eager to reduce their carbon footprint and support sustainable tourism.
According to the accompanying survey, three-quarters of travellers are considering travelling more sustainably in the future and nearly 60% have chosen more sustainable travel options in the last couple of years.
Another survey also found that around three-quarters of high-end travellers are willing to pay extra to make their trips more sustainable.
Last year, consumers were willing to stretch their budget for their holiday plans, with 86% of travellers planning on spending the same amount or more on international travel than in 2019, with US tourists leading the list as big spenders.
But 2023 is looking even better in terms of traveller spend. Despite concerns about inflation and the cost-of-living crisis around the world, 31% of travellers said they intended to spend more on international travel this year than in 2022.
Additionally, according to Deloitte’s ‘Global State of the Consumer Tracker’, last year, 53% of global consumers surveyed in the middle of the year said they planned to stay in a hotel over the following three months.
“Sustainability is top of travellers’ agenda, and consumers highlight the value they put on protecting nature and travelling responsibly,” says Julia Simpson, WTTC President and CEO.
“The Asia-Pacific Region, with its rapidly growing middle-class and dynamic economies, is well-positioned to capitalise on the growth of the industry and take its place as a leader in the global tourism economy,” points out Jane Sun, Trip.com Group CEO. “I’m optimistic about the positive momentum for the global resumption and growth of travel in 2023, primarily driven by mainland Chinese consumers, which will help accelerate worldwide recovery and development.”
