SustyTrip accepts interns for content development, database maintenance, marketing and other innovative ideas. We also welcome guest blogs on a variety of sustainable travel and tourism subjects; please send a blog for consideration, along with a 200×200 pixel image, to info@sustytrip.com for consideration.
How can I join SustyTrip?
What is SustyTrip.com?
Why SustyTrip.com?
What metrics are used to add sustainable travel suggestions?
What is Biosphere Responsible Tourism?
What is Green Key?
What is the TripAdvisor GreenLeaders award?
How does SustyTrip avoid greenwashing?
How is the online platform monetized?
What is sustainable tourism?
How can I join SustyTrip?
What is SustyTrip.com?
SustyTrip is a site that enables users to factor sustainability into restaurant, accommodation, guided tour, museums, and other travel activity decisions. SustyTrip sources from research and the crowd, based on quadruple bottom line principles: society, environment, economy, and future generations.
Why SustyTrip.com?
There is a lack of consolidated, practical, and worldwide information on sustainable travel. Travelers with the best intentions do not know where to eat, where to stay, how to commute, and what activities to take part in that contribute to sustainable development.
Responsible tourists, eco-tourists, and tourists who simply do not want to do harm to the local population do not have useful information when they need it, where they need it. The information available is piecemeal and requires planning, searching through various sites and blogs, and asking around. Frustrated and time-constrained, the sustainable traveler reverts to patronizing businesses that do not match their eco-friendly and socially conscious outlook.
What metrics are used to add sustainable travel suggestions?
SustyTrip bases its choices on four pillars of sustainable development: society, environment, economy, and future generations/intergenerational equity. All entries must follow at least one pillar beyond economic viability. SustyTrip relies on individual company missions and actions, third party certifications and awards (such as Biosphere Responsible Tourism, Green Globe, LEED/BREEAM, Green Seal, Blue Flag Beaches, Green Key, Green Leaf, Green Tourism Business Scheme, STEP, Green Planet, TripAdvisor’s GreenLeaders, etc.), and the real travel experiences by users.
What is Biosphere Responsible Tourism?
The Instituto de Turismo Responsable (ITR) has created the Responsible Tourism System (STR). In addition to the requirements of quality and environment, the STR includes requirements on sustainable development such as social responsibility, conservation of cultural property, meeting the expectations of tourists about the destination, increasing the quality of life of the host population, and so on. The requirements demanded by BIOSPHERE standards are grouped in the following areas:
– The preservation of natural, cultural and landscaping heritage.
– The economic and social development of the local community.
– The contribution of the entity to the quality of life of the employees.
– The conservation of the environment.
– The satisfaction of the clients regarding his/her involvement in the system and the quality of the service.
The Biosphere Certification is a Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) Approved certification.
What is Green Key?
Green Key is an Eco-label from the Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE) that rests on 5 pillars:
1. Education of staff, clients and owners towards increased sustainable development and environmental awareness in leisure establishments;
2. Environmental preservation by the reduction of the environmental impact of each establishment in the world scene;
3. Economical management by the reduction of consumption meaning a reduction of costs;
4. Marketing strategy by the promotion of the Green Key label and the establishments using the Green Key icon;
5. Strengthening of the tourism and leisure branch by taking responsibility broader than then their individual establishments.
Getting awarded with Green Key means that an establishment has fulfilled a list of requirements. These requirements are contained in guideline criteria.
What is the TripAdvisor GreenLeaders award?
The TripAdvisor GreenLeaders program is available for eco-friendly hotels and B&Bs, from budget to luxury. They’re all committed to green practices like recycling, local and organic food, and electric car charging stations. The GreenLeaders program has over 8,000 participating properties in 67 countries across the world. Qualifying properties can achieve one of five different levels.
TripAdvisor GreenLeaders are properties that have met all seven of the program’s required green practices and have scored at least 30% on the GreenPractices survey. Tier eligibility is determined by the properties score:
-Bronze: 30-39%
-Silver: 40-49%
-Gold: 50-59%
-Platinum: 60%+
TripAdvisor GreenPartners:
TripAdvisor GreenPartners are properties that have all seven of the program’s required green practices in place but which haven’t yet reached the TripAdvisor GreenLeaders score requirements.
How does SustyTrip avoid greenwashing?
There will be some level of risk of greenwashing from companies, especially those that have not been verified by a third party for sustainability criteria. However, this is where the crowd can help. Send comments based on your experience to @SustyTrip and info@sustainablevisit.com.
While certifications can be a useful tool to verify sustainability attributes, SustyTrip understands that not all businesses have the means to purchase the certification audits. SustyTrip does not want to penalize businesses that are meeting sustainable tourism principles but that do not have the third-party recognition. We rely on both research-based and user-generated content.
How is the online platform monetized?
The site may use a combination of affiliate programs (a percentage of a reservation is taken as commission on an affiliate partner’s site – we do not directly host reservations), pay-per-click ads, and banner ads.
What is sustainable tourism?
Community Tourism:
Community tourism (sometimes called community-based tourism) is a form of tourism that aims to include and benefit local communities, particularly indigenous peoples and villagers in developing countries. (Tourism Concern)
Ecotourism:
Responsible travel to natural areas that conserves the environment and improves the well-being of local people. (International Eco Tourism Society)
Geotourism:
Geotourism is defined as tourism that sustains or enhances the geographical character of a place-its environment, culture, aesthetics, heritage, and the well-being of its residents. (National Geographic)
Responsible Tourism:
Tourism through which individual tourists and travellers can have a positive impact on the people, places, and cultures they come into contact with. (Cape Town 2002 Declaration on Responsible Tourism)
Sustainable Tourism:
Sustainable tourism development meets the needs of present tourists and host regions while protecting and enhancing opportunity for the future. It is envisioned leading to management of all resources in such a way that economic, social, and aesthetic needs can be fulfilled, while maintaining cultural integrity, essential ecological processes, biological diversity and life support systems. Sustainable tourism products are products which are operated in harmony with the local environment, community, and cultures, so that these become permanent beneficiaries, not the victims of tourism development…(WTTC, WTO, Earth Council)
Tourism which leads to management of all resources in such a way that economic, social and aesthetic needs can be fulfilled while maintaining cultural integrity, essential ecological processes, biological diversity and life support systems. (World Tourism Organization 1996)
Tourism that meets the needs of the present tourists and host regions while protecting and enhancing the opportunity for the future. (United Nations Environment Program on Tourism)
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