Sustainable group travel has long been regarded as an oxymoron. But it doesn’t have to be.
Whether you’re already motivated to go green or still warming up to the idea, you’ll find that sustainability is more popular than ever, thanks to growing awareness of environmental concerns and the priorities of younger generations of travelers. And it can be a good thing for your travel business, too. Sustainability often lowers costs and promotes a positive image of your travel business.
If building a more sustainable group travel business model is on your agenda in 2025, here are five points to consider.
Planes, Trains or Automobiles
Transportation is undoubtedly the biggest source of a group trip’s energy use and emissions. Luckily, we live in a world with plenty of options when it comes to getting from Point A to Point B. Train trips are already trendy, and they come with the benefit of being one of the more sustainable group travel options. And motorcoaches are significantly better for the environment than taking multiple cars, and they emit far fewer greenhouse gases than planes and cruise ships.
If traveling by plane or cruise ship is unavoidable, don’t fret! There are still ways to make your carbon-conscious travelers happy. Carbon offsetting, voluntary programs that let travelers compensate for their emissions with environmental action, aim to neutralize the effects of one’s travel. These programs are not new but are growing in popularity, with organizations like WeTravel are beginning to offer them. Before you purchase offsets, though, be sure to do your homework and vet offset programs carefully, because some have been found to provide little actual benefit to the environment.
Reduce Waste
Perhaps one of the easiest ways to make your trips a little better for the environment is to reduce the amount of waste they produce. If you’re used to handing out disposal water bottles every single day of your trip, consider handing out branded reusable water bottles instead. Skip the plastic swag like key chains and koozies and opt for long-lasting items like metal straws, tumblers and canvas bags. Instead of overloading your travelers with pamphlets, opt for digital itineraries when possible.
Choose ‘Green’ Vendors
Many hotels and resorts have sustainability initiatives in place. Research which hotel properties in your destination prioritize eco-friendly practices. Usually this means they’re designed to save water and electricity and reduce waste. They may have even been built with sustainable materials and have food composting programs. If it’s important to your travelers, they can skip daily towel service. You can also check into other vendors, like motorcoach companies or tour operators, to see if they prioritize sustainable and ethical practices. Wildlife and ecotourism are where this is especially important — look for tours that don’t disrupt natural habitats or disturb wildlife.
Contribute to Local Economies
While sustainable group travel is about using fewer resources and prioritizing the health of the planet, it’s also about funding local economies and contributing to the health of the destinations you visit so they can continue hosting tourists for generations to come. Prioritize spending time and money with locals rather than national chains or corporations. In addition to being the more sustainable option, doing business with locals usually provides a more authentic experience. Take your groups to locally owned restaurants to enjoy original flavors. Skip the shopping mall and let your groups peruse a main street with small businesses for one-of-a-kind souvenirs and gifts. You can even add a voluntourism opportunity to your itinerary for a more direct local contribution.
Avoid Overtourism
One of the biggest reasons travel gets a bad rap when it comes to sustainability is the effect that overtourism has. When too many travelers go to a location at once, air, water and noise pollution are often the result. That’s in addition to excess trash, damage to nature and disruption of daily life for locals. That’s not to say that your travelers have to miss out on the top destinations from their travel bucket lists. Visiting destinations during their shoulder seasons is one way to avoid overtourism, and it comes with the bonus of saving cost and skipping crowds.
