Sustainable tourism: benefits for the visitor and the visited

Tourism is one of the main sources of income for many countries, and the growth of its industry has been unstoppable for decades. However, despite its significant economic weight, tourism has its negative side: ecological degradation, social dislocation, loss of cultural heritage, etc. For this reason, theadvantages of sustainable tourismare increasingly appreciated. Below we show you what it is, the advantages, andhow to do sustainable tourism.

What is sustainable tourism

The negative impact that certain tourism causes on our natural and cultural environment has led to a growing number of people seeking alternative ways to spend their vacations or travel while minimizing environmental repercussions.Sustainable tourism is the kind that respects both the tourist and the local population, providing educational and exciting stays for visitors without harming the local environment in any way.

Advantages of sustainable tourism

The benefits of sustainable tourism are many. Below we show you some of the most important ones:

• Ensures a balance between costs and benefits.
• Generates employment among the local population.
• Encourages investment in local economies.
• Diversifies employment, especially in rural areas.
• Stimulates the improvement of local infrastructures, communications and transport.
• Offers activities that can be enjoyed by both tourists and the local community.
• Helps preserve natural, historical, and cultural heritage.
• Facilitates greater understanding and communication between people from different backgrounds.

How to prepare your tourist accommodation for this type of tourism

If you want your tourist house or apartment to be truly sustainable, you must consider the following aspects:

• Harmony with the natural environment. Housing must have an architecture that does not negatively impact the environment and with building materials that are not harmful.
• Air conditioning. It is essential that energy sources contribute to the reduction of CO₂ emissions, such as pellet boilers or geothermal energy.
• Solar energy. Especially suitable for homes located in geographical areas with many hours of sunshine, as is the case in southern Spain. Solar panels to generate electricity are one of the best means to have a sustainable home.
• Good insulation. Periodically check the joints of your windows and, if possible, change them for ones with double glazing. Good insulation can save up to 50% energy.
• Use LED light bulbs. Although they may be a bit more expensive at first, they are much more economical due to their long durability, and they also lack toxic elements.
• Use non-polluting cleaning products. You can leave them to your tenants prepared in a homemade way based on hydrogen peroxide, lemon juice, baking soda..., or else buying them and making sure they are not polluting.
• Recycling bins. Make sure your tenants have different bins for waste, so that they can have different departments for organic waste, glass, plastic, paper and cardboard.
• Install smart locks. This way you will reduce operating costs, streamline check-in processes and improve your accommodation evaluations.

The benefits of sustainable tourism are countless, both for tourists themselves and for owners and the local population. Our planet is our home, we don't have more; and if we don't take care of it, no one will. In addition, if you want to save time and money with key delivery, you can take a look at the Raixer's smart lock.‍

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