During a work trip to an Italian city, Silvia Ombellini and Simone Riccardi envisioned the development of a website devoted to sustainable tourism.
At the time of the conference 10 years ago, Mr Riccardi was employed by an Italian university and was required to travel to Potenza, which is located in the south of the country.
"We wanted to stay in a hotel with good ecological values, but the search proved to be quite the challenge," Ms Ombellini reports. "Finding and reserving sustainable lodgings through the internet was no walk in the park."
It was an idea sparked that brought about the formation of a business, Ecobnb - a website where people look for greener alternatives in the form of lodgings like hotels, lodges, B&Bs, and other accommodations.
Ms Ombellini remarks that they sought to establish a meeting ground for eco travelers and proprietors of lodging that are investing in a greater future.
Ecobnb, with its headquarters in Trento, Italy, has an expansive inventory ranging from a Tuscan vegan and organic farmhouse to an eco mountain lodge in Costa Rica, currently boasting a total of more than 3,000 properties worldwide.
In order to be included on the site, accommodation providers must comply with a minimum of five out of the following ten standards: incorporating a usage of 100% renewable energy; making use of organic or regionally procured foodstuffs; harvesting and reusing rain water; installing low waste lightbulbs; harnessing solar energy to heat water; achieving a recycling rate of over 80%; utilising eco-conscious cleansers; fitting water flow reducers; implementing green architecture; as well as being reachable without a car.
However, travellers can customize their search so that it only displays results related to their interests, like plant-based food and electric vehicle charging stations powered by renewable energy.
Ms Ombellini has mentioned that some accommodation providers offer reduced rates for people cycling to the destination or not bringing along an automobile for the journey.
When someone locates a property they would like to book, Ecobnb will not process the payment. Instead, they will contact the accommodation which then sends information to the customer directly. Ecobnb earns revenue through charging venues a monthly fee for having their property featured on its website.
Ms Ombellini reported that the number of travelers who use Ecobnb annually has increased substantially, reaching 2.8 million in the present compared to 780,000 in 2018.
"Visitors to holiday destinations are reconsidering their bond with the Earth," she remarks. "People, particularly the youth, are recognizing their duty in providing a secure path for the future and for the world around us."
Studies show that the majority of people are searching for sustainable travel options; this is backed up by a survey this year which concluded that 69% of travelers are actively doing so.
In the Netherlands, Conscious Hotels has a series of seven eco-friendly properties that take steps to remain as eco-friendly as possible. All the renewable energy sources are used, the furniture is sourced sustainably, and only meat-free meals are served, 90% of which are procured from within a radius of 90km (56 miles).
Marco Lemmers, the chief executive of Conscious Hotels, explains that on the planet side, they take a lifecycle assessment approach to sustainability.
At our hotel, we go beyond simply emphasizing climate change. We also strive to consider the implications of biodiversity, land use, and toxins. Every decision we make is directed towards environmental sustainability.
An increasing number of travellers are taking sustainability into consideration when selecting the options they will take, believing that they need to do something in order to protect the environment.
Since its founding in 2020, Byway Travel, a flight-free travel company, has experienced a surge in popularity, with 173 bookings made in 2021 and 2,200 expected for the current year.
The company - which organises individual trips for people - is also dedicated to combating over-tourism. As an example, instead of Venice, which gets far more tourists, it selects the Italian port city of Trieste for those seeking waterfront café culture.
According to Cat Jones, the founder of Byway Travel, their trips are more environmentally friendly as they don't involve air travel.
However, we are working towards reducing the environmental impact of over-tourism, which is why we strive to support local economies of all the fantastic locations and increase the use of sustainable services and products, mainly through partnerships with locally-sourced and sustainable organizations.
Marina Novelli, a professor of tourism and international development, reports that the travel sector has been incorporating sustainability measures such as solar energy, cold water storage, recycling, and repurposing.
She insists sustainability must encompass employment practices, fair compensation, and policies addressing equality.
Prof Novelli cautions that, as it is seen in other sectors, there is a wide scope of greenwashing in the hospitality industry - hotels and other sorts of lodging that have a tendency to exaggerate their environmental credentials, but realistically, are far from being eco-friendly.
She emphasizes that overcoming this issue lies with the individual traveler. "I'm stressing that the consumer must take responsibility, because if we keep asking the right questions, service providers will be pushed to perform properly," she states.
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People should take the time to be attentive and do their due diligence before making a reservation.
Although Ecobnb is dedicated to sustainability, is it truly sustainable when many people may be traveling by air to reach the listings it offers?
Ms Ombellini confirms that air travel has a considerable effect. She mentions that they are encouraging the concept of staying in one's own country, and encouraging people to abstain from flights whenever feasible.
What is her attitude towards the future of green travel?
She states that as the days go by, increasing numbers of people are becoming more invested in living a green lifestyle. Additionally, they desire to have a green holiday experience as well.
These small decisions can coalesce, and we can effect changes and create something novel. We can be the alteration we want to experience in the universe.
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