Aussies going green, but not forgoing luxury

Aussies going green, but not forgoing luxury
By Hannah Edensor


When it comes to being green in travel, Aussies are leading the pack.

Sustainable and culturally responsible tourism is fast becoming a priority of travellers from down under, with research showing that together with America, Australia is among the world’s top sustainable travellers.

Booking.com has revealed that more than half of all global travellers in 2015 claimed they were likely to choose a destination based on its social or environmental impact.

In a survey of 32,000 travellers across 16 countries, ecologically responsible travel is growing in leaps and bounds as a key part of travel, especially compared to the mere 10% of respondents who had taken a sustainable trip in 2014.

“Sustainable travel is more than just ‘going green’ – in 2015 people want to support local cultures, economies and environments anywhere they go,” Booking.com Hotels’ regional manager Alberto Yates said.

“More and more people are learning how easy it is to weave sustainability into the types of trips they already want to take.”

But despite all the good intentions, survey respondents were still adamant about maintaining a certain level of luxury while reducing their carbon footprint.

When compared to other travellers, the greenies were 50% more likely to book luxury accommodation in 2015 compared to the previous year.

But they were also three times as likely to plan on staying in more ‘green’ accommodation this year

This combined interest in luxury and green stays creates a unique opportunity for accommodations to woo these travellers by offering high-end comfort paired with an eco-sensibility.

“Booking.com guests are actively contributing to conservation efforts, as they sleep on organic cotton sheets, wash with water heated by green energy, eat meals from locally sourced ingredients, and recycle their daily waste. They are very much sustainable travellers-supporting local business, offsetting emissions and reducing landfill.”

“Many of the world’s best accommodations already provide remarkably sustainable amenities to ensure their guests can experience all the extravagances of their vacation guilt-free.”

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