Ecotourism is becoming necessary, and people seem to be more aware that sustainable traveling can contribute to saving our environment.
We, as civilized, can decide not to destroy nature with our choices and invest more time, effort, and alertness in persevering our planet and the environments and cultures that are becoming endangered.
Eco tourism statistics can teach us much about preservation. By investing in green travel and picking eco-friendly accommodations, the ecotourism industry can collect money that they can use in caring for the fragile ecosystem and everything dependable on it.
If you are interested in ecotourism and have wondered how much travelers have shifted to this choice in the past years, we are here to give you the answers.
Is ecotourism still on the rise, and do most travelers decide on eco-friendly accommodation? Which are the greenest tourism destinations, and do hotels care about sustainability?
If you want to find out, keep reading and form your opinion after going through these hot eco-tourism statistics!
Eco Tourism Statistics Summary
- Ecotourism has been on the rise since the ’80s.
- Costa Rica is the country most linked to ecotourism.
- The global market size of the ecotourism industry in 2019 was $181.9 billion.
- In 2018, 87% of travelers wanted to travel more sustainably.
- 40% of people who travel want to reduce the environmental impact of tourism.
- In 2021, 85.6% of travelers would pick an eco-friendly hotel and pay more if needed.
- In 2022, 78% of travelers plan to stay in eco-friendly accommodations in the forthcoming year.
- 64.4% of global travelers were worried about single-use plastic in 2021.
- 20.5% of tourists were worried about energy and temperature waste in hotels.
- As of 2022, 81% of travelers think green travel is crucial.
- 42% of travelers couldn’t afford the extra costs of ecotourism.
Eco Tourism Statistics
1. Ecotourism has been on the rise since the ’80s
According to global ecotourism statistics, the number of eco-tourists since the ’80s only continues to grow. In particular, this number is estimated to rise about 10% annually.
Investing in ecotourism is critical because when people decide to travel green, they contribute to lowering the carbon footprint of tourism.
Likewise, they educate themselves more about why caring for the environment and nature is paramount.
2. Costa Rica is the country most linked to ecotourism
(Ecobnb)
When traveling sustainably, people are curious about which countries contribute most to ecotourism. Costa Rica is one of the countries which contributes most to sustainable traveling and protecting nature.
The law protects wildlife and flora, there’s no hunting allowed, and there are eco-friendly hotels for tourists.
Other sustainable tourism advocates are Norway, Kerala in India, Kenya, and Iceland.
3. The global market size of the ecotourism industry in 2019 was $181.9 billion
(Statista)
According to ecotourism statistics, the ecotourism market is estimated to reach $333.8 billion in 2027. The compound annual growth rate of the ecotourism market is calculated at 14.3%.
In contrast to 2019, in 2021, the ecotourism market size was $185.87 billion. The growth of the ecotourism market is due to the raised awareness about the effect of tourism on the environment.
4. In 2018, 87% of travelers wanted to travel more sustainably
According to ecotourism research published in 2018, 87% of travelers wished to travel more sustainably. Another 39% said that they try their best to keep travel sustainable.
In opposition, 43% of travelers rarely or never traveled sustainably.
5. 40% of people who travel want to reduce the environmental impact of tourism
Sustainability can be perceived differently by different people. When asked what they mean by traveling sustainably, 46% of travelers pointed to choosing eco-friendly accommodations.
On the other hand, 40% of travelers were up for sustainable tourism because they care about the effect of tourism on the environment. Furthermore, 34% of travelers thought choosing an eco-friendly place could give them a relevant experience, while 33% wanted to feel good and at peace with their traveling choices.
6. In 2021, 85.6% of travelers would pick an eco-friendly hotel and pay more if needed
(Operto)
According to a survey from July 2021, 85.6% of people surveyed said they would rather pick an eco-friendly hotel and pay more money to travel sustainably. More than half of the surveyed, or 52.4% to be precise, thought that eco-friendly places are a bonus to the stay.
7. 82% of people believed that tourism sustainability is the responsibility of both hotels and guests
(Operto)
The newest 2021 eco tourism statistics show that 82% of global travelers believe that sustainability depends on both the hotels and guests.
Conversely, only 13.2% of people said that eco-friendly and green experience while traveling is the responsibility only of the hotels and accommodation providers.
8. In 2022, 78% of travelers plan to stay in eco-friendly accommodations in the forthcoming year
(Statista)
The most recent ecotourism statistics reveal that 78% of global travelers intend to pick an eco-friendly or green place to stay when going on a trip. Unfortunately, stats show a slight decrease over the last year’s 81%.
9. 64.4% of global travelers were worried about single-use plastic in 2021
(Operto)
Hotels are using excess plastic, and that’s not a secret. A survey from 2021 reveals that 64.4% of worldwide travelers were worried about plastic key cards, single-use cutlery, and plastic bottles used in hotels.
That’s not odd in any way, considering that 35 billion plastic bottles are thrown away yearly in the United States, of which only 12% are recycled.
10. 20.5% of tourists were worried about energy and temperature waste in hotels
(Operto)
The same research from 2021 indicates that travelers weren’t worried only about plastic when choosing accommodation for their trips. One in five travelers, or 20.5%, was bothered by energy and temperature waste in hotels, while 15.1% cared about wasted water.
11. As of 2022, 81% of travelers think green travel is crucial
(Statista)
Luckily, tourism statistics from February 2022 reveal that 81% of travelers think sustainable travel and ecotourism are important.
This is a big increase from 2020, when 48% of people who travel believed that choosing an eco-friendly option is crucial.
12. 53% of people who travel sustainably recommended buying local
As the acquainted eco tourism statistics disclose, 53% of global travelers who chose sustainable tourism recommended buying local to achieve sustainability while on a trip.
Moreover, 52% of global green tourists said that public transport is a good option for sustainability, and 40% advised visiting less-known tourist sights.
30% of these travelers suggested that picking an eco-friendly certified accommodation is the best you can do when wanting to travel green.
In comparison, 41% recommended eating in local restaurants which use locally sourced goods.
13. 42% of travelers couldn’t afford the extra costs of ecotourism
As per the most recent data, 42% of travelers didn’t opt for green tourism because they couldn’t afford the extra costs. Another 32% stated that the lack of information prevents them from traveling more sustainably.
22% of the respondents in the audit thought that eco-friendly traveling is too time-consuming, while the same percentage said there are not enough sustainable travel destinations.
Finally, only 20% said green and eco-friendly travel doesn’t meet their luxury needs.
14. 52% of travelers stated that accommodation providers and bus travelers were making little effort to be sustainable
(Statista)
When discussing sustainability, different tourism sectors take distinct methods of being sustainable. That being said, in 2020, 7% of respondents in a survey said that train operators were doing everything they could to be more sustainable.
In contrast, those same respondents thought that 5% of accommodation providers were doing their best regarding sustainability. In comparison, only 4% of people said that cruise companies did all they could about being greener.
The same ecotourism statistics point out that 52% of travelers stated that accommodation providers and bus companies were making little effort to be sustainable.
(Statista)
The last tourism statistics confirm that in 2016, 5% of global carbon emissions were from tourism-related transport. Unfortunately, this percentage is forecasted only to grow and will possibly reach 5.3% in 2030.
Conclusion
After reading these ecotourism statistics, we can certainly say that travelers have been more conscious regarding green traveling and protecting our habitat in recent years.
Ecotourism seems to stay on the rise. More people will realize that saving nature and being eco-aware is crucial when going on a trip and that today there are more sustainable travel options.
We can see that many people are investing in sustainability choices in tourism, and the ecotourism market size is growing.
Suppose we pick to shop locally, spend on local products, choose green transport, and stay in eco-friendly accommodations. In that case, we can do something to preserve the environment and keep it clean, alive and fresh for generations to come.