How climate change is changing travel

A new research report on consumer travel trends offers lessons for business event organizers.

World Travel Market’s WTM Global Travel Report is based on data from more than 185 countries and focuses on leisure travelers rather than business travelers. but as convene Digital Editor Curt Wagner at conveneAnnual industry forecast trend report, event participants are consumers first. Tracking overall travel trends can provide event organizers with insights into changing consumer preferences and how attendee behavior may change in the future. convene The 80-page report looked at trends related to sustainability and climate issues.

You can download the full World Travel Market Report here.

Extreme weather changes

Last year, nearly 30% of travelers postponed travel to major global travel market destinations due to severe or extreme weather, including wildfires, heat or flooding, the report said. The trend is even more pronounced for those ages 18 to 34 – 43% of Gen Z travelers say they have reconsidered their plans due to extreme weather.

The data also shows changes in where travelers choose to go based on the weather.
“Climate and environmental challenges may lead to the demise of some traditional tourism products in some countries as conditions or the natural environment deteriorate,” the report said. A separate story, published in business insiderreported a 44% surge in summer travel bookings to destinations with mild climates (“cool resorts”), including Canada and Northern Europe.

Higher standards of sustainable development requirements

Nearly two-thirds of travelers recognize that travel “can have a negative impact on the environment,” and more than eight in 10 respondents believe sustainable travel is important, the report said. Three quarters of people say they want to travel more sustainably in the next 12 months. More than half (53%) of travelers say they will try to reduce their carbon footprint when traveling, and 57% say they intend to reduce energy consumption on future trips.

The travel industry has responded strongly to the demand for more sustainable travel options, but choosing the greenest option can be challenging due to the number of different sustainability certifications and a lack of information to substantiate their claims, the report said.

Travel consumers are “increasingly wary” of “greenwashing”, where companies provide false or misleading information about the environmental impact of their services. Travelers do demand more evidence-based sustainable options, leading to greater adoption of third-party certifications, the report said. The report notes that Booking.com is now providing accommodation partners with tools to display third-party certifications in an “improved pathway” to help consumers make more informed decisions, and speculates that organizations such as the Global Sustainable Tourism Council may play a more critical role. role in reviewing future sustainability standards.

Overall, “sustainable travel options will also continue to gain traction and influence activity,” the report said. “Growing awareness of the potential negative impacts of travel on society, culture and the natural environment, coupled with the effects of climate change, will change people’s behaviour.”

Barbara Palmer Associate Editor held.