In these times of global uncertainty, sustainable travel remains at the forefront of Indian travellers' minds. A whopping 83% travellers believe that action must be taken immediately to make more sustainable choices and protect the planet for future generations. Furthermore, 80% agree that recent climate change issues have spurred them to be more mindful of their impact on the planet.
Sustainability over Spending
However, with the changing economic climate, sustainable travel and spending are seen as mutually exclusive. As 84% of Indian travellers feel that the global energy crisis and the rising cost of living are affecting their spending plans, 97% want to travel sustainably over the next 12 months. Yet, 66% feel that sustainable travel options are too expensive. Despite this, 80% of travellers are willing to pay extra for travel options with a sustainable certification, showing their desire to drive change.
Breaking Barriers To Change
The cost of sustainable travel is not the only barrier for Indian travellers. A lack of options and information around sustainable travel choices also impedes their ability to make responsible choices. Nonetheless, the rise of regenerative travel is encouraging travellers to leave a positive impact. A staggering 83% of respondents believe sustainable travel helps protect the planet, while 73% want to leave the places they visit better than they found them.
Santosh Kumar, Country Manager India, Sri Lanka, Maldives and Indonesia at Booking.com, said, "Indians are travelling extensively again, with several of them becoming increasingly conscious of their impact on the planet. To solve some of the challenges travellers face to be sustainable, we have made responsible travel more accessible by awarding the Travel Sustainable Badge to more than 400,000 properties globally. India has emerged as one of the top 10 countries with 20,000 properties now recognised for their sustainability efforts on Booking.com."
