The role of tour operators and guides in efficient energy use and reduced waste

In the domains of efficient energy use and responsible consumption, tour operators and guides can play a crucial role by:

1. Learning about benchmarking in their domain

The sustainability of tourism and any related activities can only be considered to have a long-term positive impact if they can be measured to generate result analysis and progress assessment. For that purpose, benchmarking must be implemented to compare “a business’s performance in a given area (such as water consumption) with those of a similar business” to determine progress and competitive advantages (GIFT, 2022).

Commonly used benchmarks in the tourism sector (ibid.):

• Electricity and energy consumption in kilowatt hours (kWh) per square meter of serviced space
• Fresh water consumption in liters or cubic meters (m³) per guest per night
• Waste production (kg per guest per night and/or liters per guest per night)

Tour operators and guides should be familiar with benchmarks in their domain. In this way, they can advertise the positive impact of organised actions, increase competitiveness, and raise awareness on small steps that can make a big difference.

To measure your company’s carbon footprint, you can use online measurement tools like the Carbon Measurement Blueprint for Tour Operators provided by Intrepid (https://www.intrepidtravel.com/eu/download-our-carbon-measurement-blueprint-for-tour-operators). Upon completing the measurement, you can adjust your sustainability goals and improve your actions.

2. Promoting low-carbon tourist attractions

By designing tourist experiences that involve lower to no carbon emissions, tour operators and guides can entice more visitors and customers to adopt an environmentally friendly mindset. Low-carbon attractions are the attractions that recognize the value of the natural environment and impose no damaging effects to the existing natural balance. These include natural points of interests such as forests, lakes, etc. They also include low-carbon tourist products developed with a care for the environment and the commitment not to disturb it.

3. Promoting low-carbon tourist facilities

Tourism facilities including accommodation, sanitation, supply facilities or ither special service facilities can be a part of the solution when looking to minimise carbon emissions and energy consumption (Lacalle, 2021).

Tour operators and guides can promote sustainable practices and low-carbon facilities by actions like the following:

• Highlighting the creation of an ecological parking at a spot of interest.
• Promote spots of interest that provide electric car chargers at their facilities.
• Promote facilities that provide bicycles or low-carbon vehicles.
• Promote facilities that use eco-friendly toilets and garbage cans.
• Promote spots of interest that invest in environmentally friendly facilities, new energy supply systems, and renewable energy sources (e.g., solar panels, water consumption regulatory systems, rainwater harvesting devices, etc.).

4. Promoting low-carbon tourist consumption mode

Tourism professionals can act as ambassadors for the preservation of the environment. They can encourage their customer to adopt eco-friendly attitudes in a wide range of activities like transportation, energy consumption, etc. Tour guides can also contribute to low-carbon tourism by educating and raising awareness among tourists about the importance of sustainable travel practices. They can encourage tourists to take part in activities that have a low environmental impact, such as hiking, cycling or kayaking.

An action plan to raise awareness:

1. Promoting eco-friendly transportation: Tour operators can promote eco-friendly transportation options such as walking, cycling, or public transport. They can also encourage visitors to offset their carbon footprint by participating in carbon offset programs or by donating to environmental organizations.
2. Encouraging sustainable accommodation: Tour operators can encourage visitors to stay in eco-friendly and sustainable accommodations that use renewable energy sources, minimize waste, and conserve water.
3. Promoting sustainable food and beverage practices: Tour operators and guides can promote sustainable food and beverage practices, such as sourcing locally produced, organic, and seasonal food. They can also encourage visitors to reduce their consumption of meat and other high-carbon foods.
4. Using energy-efficient equipment: Tour operators and guides can use energy-efficient equipment, such as energy-saving light bulbs and equipment with low carbon emissions, to reduce their carbon footprint.
5. Providing eco-friendly activities: Tour operators and guides can provide eco-friendly activities that promote sustainable tourism practices, such as nature walks, bird watching, and local cultural experiences.
6. Encouraging responsible behavior: Tour operators and guides can encourage responsible behavior among their visitors by promoting sustainable practices such as reducing waste, conserving water, and minimizing their impact on the environment. They can also discourage activities that are harmful to the environment or cultural sites.

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