Tourexpi
Booking.com: Growing Awareness of Tourism’s Impact on Communities
Since
the first survey in 2016, the platform has gathered insights from nearly
230,000 travellers across 35 markets, examining both travel behaviors and
perceptions of tourism's effects on local communities.
Key
Findings: Growing Consciousness Among Australian Travellers
For
the first time, more than half (51%) of Australian travellers are aware of the
impact tourism has not only on the environment but also on local communities.
This marks a significant rise from 2016, when only 40% of Australians believed
they were travelling sustainably. By 2025, an overwhelming 91% of respondents
expressed a desire to make more sustainable travel choices.
While
the majority (62%) of Australian travellers acknowledge the positive impact of
tourism in their local areas, they also cite challenges such as increased
traffic, littering, overcrowding, and the rising cost of living.
Furthermore,
Australians are demonstrating a strong commitment to community-focused tourism:
·
77% of respondents want the money they
spend while travelling to benefit local economies.
·
73% want to leave destinations in a
better state than when they arrived.
Community-Centric
Approach to Sustainable Travel
This
year’s research introduces a new perspective by not only examining how people
travel but also how they experience inbound tourism in their own communities.
This dual approach provides valuable insights into both the benefits and
challenges of tourism from the viewpoint of locals and visitors alike.
Todd
Lacey, Regional Manager for Oceania at Booking.com, emphasized the importance
of aligning tourism development with the expectations of conscientious
travellers:
“To
ensure that destinations can continue to be enjoyed by both locals and visitors
alike, tourism, infrastructure, and innovation need to keep pace with
travellers' good intent. We ultimately want to make it easier for travellers to
connect with a more diverse range of local communities across Australia, from
far-flung regions to Indigenous tourism operators, to help spread the positive
benefits of tourism more broadly.”
For
those interested in exploring the full findings, Booking.com’s comprehensive
2025 Sustainable Travel Research report is available for download here.
Image
Credit: © Booking.com
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