Sustainable tourism: how to make your trip eco-friendly?
Written on : 15 June 2021 By : Elisa PINHEIRO
What is sustainable tourism?
You've probably heard of this term before, but what does it really mean?
Definition:
The World Tourism Organization defines sustainable tourism as "taking full account of its current and future economic, social and environmental impacts, by meeting the needs of visitors, professionals, the environment and host communities".
Goals:
Still according to the World Tourism Organization, sustainable tourism is oriented around 3 main pillars:
The reasonable use of natural resources to ensure their preservation.
Respect the traditions, values and cultural heritage of the host country. Your trip must be intercultural.
Contribute to the fight against poverty by being conscious of your purchases. They can have an economic impact on the country
In short, sustainable tourism consists of traveling with respect for social, environmental and economic values.
Sustainable development applied to tourism
According to a study published in Nature in 2018, 8% of global CO2 emissions come from tourism and the forecasts of this trend are increasing. 75% of these emissions are linked to the means of transport, largely air travel, but also housing which reaches 20%. It is therefore necessary to travel responsibly.
How to make it happen?
Sustainable tourism encompasses all practices related to the preservation of natural and cultural resources and respect for the host populations. According to an Ifop survey for Alliance France Tourisme, 85% of French people are interested in a more sustainable tourism. But how to turn your trip into an ecological one?
Traveling while limiting your impact on the planet requires several choices:
Transports: reduce your carbon footprint by favoring non-polluting transportation (bike rides) or public transportation but also by reducing the distances traveled.
Shopping: support local shops, crafts, handmade products, and avoid purchasing unnecessary souvenirs.
Food: eat local and seasonal products, avoid food waste, prefer recycle waste and packaging.
Energy: reduce your energy consumption, favour accommodations that use renewable energies, like solar energy.
Culture: respect the culture and traditions of the country you are re visiting(inhabitants, heritage, nature...)
If you are interested in this topic, a citizen consultation on sustainable tourism is underway on the make.org platform (from May 10 to June 20, 2021). You can propose your ideas or comment on existing ones.
Our sustainable villas
As seen before, tourism accounts for 8% of the world's CO2 emissions each year and housing is responsible for about 20%. The choice of your vacation home is therefore essential, whether it is a house using solar energy, environmentally friendly materials or green ones.
Villanovo offers villas with pools heated by solar panels, such as the Majestic villa in Greece and the Dar Doukkala riad in Morocco, but also villas that use solar energy on a daily basis.
Discover our selection of villas respecting sustainable development:
Eco Riu | Spain - Ibiza
Nestled in the heart of nature on a 22,000 m2 property, less than 10 km from Santa Eulalia you can find the Eco Riu house. Built with respect for the environment, it is a beautiful finca with white walls and exposed beams on the ceiling, decorated in a modern ibicenco style. Besides, it is entirely solar powered.
The house has 4 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms, a swimming pool with terrace and many relaxing corners in the shade of plants.
Eco Riu is ideal for a quiet and peaceful vacation, you will feel like you are alone in the world!
Isolated in the beautiful Pine Ridge forest reserve of Parco Delle Madonie, Villa Terre has 2 bedrooms and bathrooms. With breathtaking views on the sea that can be admired from the relaxation area.
Completely renovated in 2013, its facades are made of hand-carved native stones, its ceilings are crossed by chestnut beams and the floor of ancient clay tiles. In addition, the interior decoration features works of art and handicrafts made by local artists.
Close to the city and the beaches, many activities in nature are offered to you in the surroundings of your villa. A true haven of peace for your family stay!
Villa Aurora is 90% solar powered and uses geothermal energy. Ecological but also contemporary, the decoration of this residence of 6 bedrooms and 5 bathrooms was chosen with care.
In a magical setting, Villa Aurora is nestled in a one-hectare wooded park in the heart of olive trees and palm trees with the Atlas Mountains in the background. Only 20 minutes from the center of Marrakech, you can relax in the peaceful atmosphere of the countryside and reconnect with nature.
No surprise, Italy is also going green! To address this need, Villa Del Campo features solar panels and a water purification system. In harmony with nature, this 7-bedroom, 7-bathroom house in the hills of Monte Stigliano offers a farmhouse with 3,000 olive trees, beautiful, ancient terraces lined with old dry stone and delicious fig trees.
Don't miss the chance to taste the local olive oil, which is one of the region's must-have products. With 349 square meters of living space and surrounded by green nature that you can enjoy from its infinity pool, Villa del Campo will win your heart without a doubt.
Built in dry stones, Kasbah Mamouna is self-sufficient in water and electricity, which are provided by a battery of solar panels and a generator in support. In the heart of the countryside, this Kasbah includes 4 bedrooms and bathrooms. Without renouncing to the modern equipment, the villa puts at your disposal flat screen TV, DVD player, equipped kitchen...
Add to this an architecture modelled on that of Moroccan kasbahs, modernized by contemporary interiors, and you get a luxury house as atypical as Kasbah Mamouna.
