Op-Ed: The Travel Sector Must Enhance Its Climate Initiatives

In 2005, I took my young family on an adventure to Botswana with Dinogo. We were thrilled—who wouldn't be? I had planned a trip that involved exploring some of the country's finest national parks, camping under the stars, and encountering Africa’s iconic 'big five' animals up close.

During the downtime at the airport, I grabbed a copy of Tim Flannery’s book The Weather Makers, a pivotal work on climate, biodiversity, and the human impact on our planet. While I had heard about climate change, my understanding was limited (it was 2005, after all). I still recall my daughter’s reaction in the bookstore—she was adamant that I should choose Harry Potter instead. “That looks so dull, Dad!” she exclaimed.

At that time, Intrepid Travel, which I co-founded with my university friend Geoff Manchester, was 16 years old. We launched the company with a desire to guide travelers off the beaten path—steering clear of all-inclusive resorts and embracing a more authentic travel experience by using local transport and staying in small, community-run guesthouses. We aimed for our travelers to connect with locals, learn from their experiences, and enjoy the journey. More importantly, we aspired to foster understanding and respect among different cultures. The model was thriving; we were expanding rapidly and enjoying good profits. However, reading Flannery’s book hit me hard with a realization: we had a significant issue at hand.

Our operations were anything but responsible.

When it comes to the environment, we’ve been nothing short of reckless. The tourism industry relies heavily on carbon-emitting travel. A quick coffee break and some insights from Flannery’s book led me to realize that Intrepid contributes approximately 250,000 tons of carbon emissions annually. We needed to take action.

Upon returning to the office, I made it a priority to engage with our staff and gather opinions from our travelers. Shockingly, 91 percent agreed that "Intrepid should aim to reduce its emissions and address climate change." Thus began our transformative journey.

Since then, Intrepid has made significant progress. We’re now a certified B Corp and recognized as carbon neutral by the Australian government. We’ve set ambitious science-based targets to guide our path toward further decarbonization, and we even employ a dedicated climate scientist to ensure we stay committed.

Determined not to become complacent, we're eliminating domestic flights from our itineraries whenever feasible, utilizing electric vehicles, and collaborating with our partners—like hotels and transport services—to enhance sustainability. Surprisingly, our climate-focused initiatives have not hindered our growth; we are now a much larger company than we were in 2005, boasting increased customer satisfaction and higher staff engagement. Purposefulness and profitability can indeed coexist.

Unfortunately, we are losing this crucial fight.

Although the world is beginning to shift away from carbon dependence and global emissions might start to decline in 2024, the travel and tourism sector is falling short. According to the World Travel and Tourism Council, our industry accounts for nearly 11 percent of global carbon emissions. Alarmingly, the increase in emissions from tourism is outpacing global GDP growth, suggesting that this 11 percent could rise even further in the coming years.

As the climate crisis deepens, we face the risk of losing the very wonders we seek to experience on our travels: our beautiful planet. Escalating temperatures are already making travel less enjoyable in many regions. Rainforests are vanishing, deserts are expanding, sea levels are rising, wildfires are rampant, and snowfields are shrinking.

We have the ability and responsibility to improve. The silver lining is that, unlike many other sectors, the tourism industry has numerous opportunities to make a positive difference. The travel and tourism sector supports one in ten jobs worldwide and contributed $7.7 trillion to the global GDP in 2022.

In our latest report, "The Future for Sustainable Travel," released in October 2023, we investigate how tourism can evolve to not only reduce its negative impact on the climate but also to enhance benefits for both people and the planet. We advocate for a shift from an extractive travel model that depletes resources to a regenerative approach that contributes positively, leaving communities and ecosystems in a better state than we found them.

This concept isn't novel. Since 1995, tourism researcher and strategist Anna Pollock has urged the travel industry to focus on regeneration. Regenerative travel means redefining our understanding of travel and rebuilding it from the ground up, prioritizing community and environmental restoration. In 2020, the Future of Tourism Coalition published 13 guiding principles for regenerative tourism, emphasizing the need to redefine economic success to include the growth of small businesses, adhere to recognized sustainability standards, and safeguard cultural assets.

Individual travelers can certainly start planning their journeys with regeneration in mind. However, a more impactful change would come from a comprehensive shift across the industry, regulatory frameworks, and local governments.

I see a chance for Intrepid to weave sustainable initiatives, businesses, and destinations into cohesive regenerative itineraries. Picture a tourism model that generates additional tax revenue from hotels and restaurants to support local communities in areas like healthcare and education. Envision tourist economic contributions being used to protect and expand natural spaces. Imagine travel that empowers locals by enhancing their skills, fostering pride in their culture, and bolstering community security.

We must make this kind of positive impact the standard, rather than a sporadic effort or a casual visit to a social enterprise during a brief trip. It’s crucial to elevate our approach so that travelers are embraced rather than resented.

Perhaps I should have heeded my daughter’s insistence and read Harry Potter back in 2005. Life might have been simpler. Yet, I’m pleased I didn’t, and it turns out my daughter is too—she has become a litigator, holding companies accountable for failing in their environmental and social duties.