sustainable transportation guidelines for nature-based tour operators

ESTC Vancouver Dr. Wolfgang Strasdas Oct.18, 2008

Sustainable Tourism Management

Sustainable TransportationGuidelines

for Nature-based Tour Operators



Energy-saving light bulbs

... are a good start ...



... but the real issue ...

... for sustainable tourism is this !



Structure of this presentation

1. Background: Why focus on transportation ?

2. Principles of sustainable transportation

3. Implementation (case studies)



Why focus on transportation?

Source: Scott et al.2007



Why focus on transportation?

Climate impact of aviation may be much biggerdue to high-altitude and non-CO2 greenhouse gases

Long-haul tourism: > 90% of trip emissions transport-related(DE); Seychelles: 97%

Worldwide, holiday trips have become more frequent, shorter and to more distant destinations

Modal shift increasingly from ground (public) transportto air transport

Individual energy balances: frequent flying is part of an extremely unsustainable lifestyle



Unfortunately, ecotourism is no exception

same planes ...

Remote destinations ...

Multiple-site trips ...

motorized on-site activities(whale watching, helicopter flights!) ...

NZ: Nature-based tourism more energy-intensive thanmainstream beach resort tourism !

Ecotourism cannot be truly sustainablewithout solving this problem!



Mitigation strategies

1. Technological (energy efficiency, renewables)

2. Logistics (airport, flight management, etc.)

3. Modal shift (increase share of public/ground transport)

4. Climate-friendly travel behavior, products

5. Carbon-offsetting

6. Government regulation (fuel taxes, emissions trading, etc.)



1. Travel less frequently, but stay longer in far awaydestinations !

2. Prefer nearby destinations if you have little time !

3. Relax - do not squeeze too many sites into one trip !

4. Use environmentally friendly modes of transportationwherever possible !

5. Stay in shape through muscle-powered mobility !

6. Compensate for your emissions, if you cannot avoid them, by paying into certified offset projects !

Travelling with the Climate in Mind



Why focus on tour operators ?

TOs design and market trips

TOs choose destinations

TOs select and contract suppliers

TOs function as a link between suppliers and customers

TOs can educate/influence travellersby offering them climate-friendly packages

TOs can favorably position themselves to cater

to the climate-conscious consumer



Sustainable Transportation Guidelines- Framework -

TFSTI

NBEA

EANB

NBEA

Localtransport

EUREUREURNational transport

CANAECOTFFARFARInt‘ltransport

Coopera-tion with

destination

Internalmanage-

ment

SupplyChain Ma-nagement

Customerrelations

Productdevelop-

ment

Overall: Introduce a carbon-management system !



Sustainable Transportation Guidelines- The hardcore solution -



Sustainable Transportation Guidelines- Product development -

Exclude short trips by plane if reasonably possible

Offer environmentally-friendly means of transport as part of the experience (esp. trains)

Conceive long-haul trips with extended length of stay

Spend more quality time at selected sites (sense of place)

Minimize local transport and energy-intensive leisureactivities; advertize non-motorized mobility as part of theexperience

Compensate remaining emissions through high-quality, certified offset projects

Integrate costs into price of carbon-neutral trip options



Sustainable Transportation Guidelines- Customer relations -

Inform/educate customers about climate change, how theycontribute to it by traveling and how they can mitigate their impact

Calculate climate footprint of trips (GHG emission per day) and include it in trip information

Specially promote climate-friendly travel products(lighthouse projects)

Make longer trips more attractive by advertizing trip price per day

Inform customers about carbon-offsetting

(if not included in trip price) Integrate voluntary payment intobooking procedure and/or match customers‘ payments



Carbon-offsetting as indulgencies

Source: Mike Lester, The Rome News-Tribune.com (27 March, 2007) online at: www.caglecartoons.com



Needed : A single sustainability label for

carbon-offset providers !



Sustainability Standards for Carbon-offsets

1. Adequate calculation of emissions (RFI etc.)

2. Adequate compensation projects(additionality, permanence)

3. Standardized certification/verification

4. Customer education Energy reduction beforeoffsetting !



Ecotourism Survey results (2007)

Website analysis (N=248): 15% mentionsustainable transport activities

Survey (N=67): High general awarenessof climate change, but often lackof specific knowledge

Outbound TOs: carbon-offsetting(no modal shift, no modified travel patterns)

Inbound TOs focus on local transportation: technological improvements; minimization of travel

Barriers: lack of knowledge, higher costs, customer acceptancequestionnable, supply constraints

ATTA



no flights below the 700 km range

min. of 7 days for any plane trip

min. of 14 days for plane trips > 2.000 km

Compensation of flight emissions through cooperationwith atmosfair (Gold Standard carbon-offsets)

Exclusion of motorizedleisure activities

Introducing CSR reportingto curb growing incidenceof non-compliance

(Association of German special-interest operators)



Modal shift: The case of Avanti Bus Travel

Bus trips to Southern Europe (typical flight destinations)



How far one gets with one ton of CO2 ...

Reisebus31250 km

Bahn19231 km

PKW6944 km

Flugzeug2525 km

0

5000

10000

15000

20000

25000

30000

35000

km Fahrleistung bei einer Tonne CO2 Klimawirkung

Source: Fed. Environmental Agency 2007



“Carbon-audited“ office operationsModal shift as part of trip design(public transit, traditional local transport)

All flight emissions of staff & customers(if purchased through Intrepid AUS) are being compensatedCompensation through high-qualityoffset projects

Customers appreciate & supportIntrepid taking action

Photos: N. Blackett, Intrepid UK



Thank you for your

sustained attention !

sustainable transportation guidelines for nature-based tour operators

Documents

wolfgang strasdas

mindestc vancouver

naturebased tourism

destinations tos

climatefriendly packages

customers tos

tos design

market trips tos