Many eco-labels appear on websites, on hotel facades and even on beaches. For 30 years now, eco-labels have been developing in tourism to guide travelers to more environmentally friendly destinations. According to GlobalData, ecolabels will become even more important and vital for tourism, especially as the sector will increasingly have to demonstrate its impact on the environment.
Green Key, European Ecolabel, Green Globe… stickers and other badges are increasingly appearing on hotel facades, website ads and even on beaches. These certificates appeared in the 1990s and continue to evolve.
“Social consciousness is becoming more important. Environmental issues in tourism are becoming more important than we could imagine,” says Paul Arceno, vice president of MT Lab.
While we should not fall into the ‘greenwash’ trap, these promotions and their development emphasize one thing above all else: the consumer wants an increasingly sustainable offer.”
According to experts, eco-labelling will become increasingly important in the tourism sector. Accepting badges that score higher or lower on environmental criteria makes companies’ sustainability claims more credible. This will increase the demand for their products and services.
These badges help tourism businesses increase transparency, offer travelers responsible alternatives, and demonstrate positive environmental performance. And that’s also the whole point of these certificates: to provide transparency to help travelers make their choice.
Moreover, according to the research company, almost 75% of global consumers agree that the introduction of sustainability labels on products should be mandatory.
In a market sector such as tourism, where multinational companies operate, ecolabels should also provide reliable information; it just becomes vital for tourism.
Like home appliances, tourism can see how its products will be judged on their environmental impact and on their sustainability (social dimension).
Whether it is the creation of independent eco-labels or the adoption of labels awarded by external accreditation providers, travel and tourism companies should strive to obtain quality labels that increase transparency, increase revenue and promote sustainability.