A new report has raised concerns that travel as we currently know it may face extinction by the year 2040 due to the adverse impacts of climate change.
According to independent.co.uk, this report, titled the “Sustainable Future for Travel,” has been produced by Intrepid, which is the world’s largest B-Corp-certified travel company, in collaboration with the foresight agency The Future Laboratory. It outlines a potentially grim future for holidays if we fail to take immediate action.
Some of the predictions for the future of travel include holidaymakers “chasing the shade” to escape extreme heat and swapping traditional summer destinations like Greece and Mallorca for cooler alternatives in Belgium, Slovenia, and Poland, as temperatures continue to rise.
Perhaps the most alarming prediction is that low-lying destinations popular with tourists, such as the Maldives and Jakarta, may be nearly fully submerged by 2050 if climate change continues unabated. The rising temperatures could also have a detrimental impact on cherished experiences, like visits to Lapland to see Santa Claus, as snow becomes scarcer, and ski seasons may continue to shorten.
Darrell Wade, co-founder and chairman of Intrepid Travel, emphasized a critical issue with current tourism practices, stating that it is often extractive rather than regenerative. He highlights that this unsustainable approach cannot persist for much longer.
The report envisions a future where virtual holidays become a mainstream alternative, and the implementation of carbon passports could restrict movement unless significant changes are made in the travel industry.
Martin Raymond, from The Future Laboratory, noted that a new era is on the horizon for the travel and tourism industry. He anticipates that transient and transformative travel experiences will revolutionize the concept of “leaving no trace,” emphasizing a shift towards more sustainable and eco-friendly practices. Hotels are expected to play a significant role in driving this transformation.
Raymond also predicts that in the next decade, we will witness the emergence of more “now-you-see-it-now-you-don’t” travel experiences around the world. These experiences may focus on short-term, immersive, and eco-conscious travel options, catering to the changing preferences and values of environmentally conscious travelers.
Highlighting how travel could change for the better, the report outlines five key trends it predicts will shape the future of holidays:
Regulation on ‘tourism leakage’
“By 2040, governments will be required to implement regulations on travel businesses to ensure that the majority of money spent by tourists in a destination stays in the local economy,” reads the report. “This will pave the way for a more equitable and mutually beneficial relationship between travellers and the communities they visit, elevating the quality of life of the locals.”
Real-time carbon footprint tracking
The Sustainable Future for Travel analysis predicts that carbon tracking will become “even more individualised thanks to AI”. It says: “Travellers will log daily emissions and track travel metrics in real-time to reduce their footprint to meet individual carbon goals.”
Accommodation that leaves no trace
A new generation of pop-up accommodation options combining sustainability and local craftmanship plus locally sourced materials to ensure a minimal footprint is the future when it comes to where we’ll stay on holiday, claims the report.
Overland transport and slow travel
“Train travel will be integral to this regenerative approach and by 2040, travellers will have the option to choose between high-speed innovations and slower modes, depending on their preferences, footprint and time constraints,” reads the report. It forecasts that luxury, spaceship-style sleeper pods will provide comfort on hyper fast train journeys to “help reduce our reliance on air travel”.
People-led, not product-led, trips
In future, people will book holidays and travel experiences based on the social experience, rather than the hotel or destination, predicts the research. “People-led travel is about the people you meet in destination and the deep human connections you form,” it explains.
Mr Wade added: “The direct, catastrophic impact of climate change has for too long been viewed as something distant in the future. But this is no longer an impending event; it’s happening now. Tourism must evolve and become regenerative, as the current model is unsustainable.
“We must recognise that the future needs to be different from business as usual, and that the climate crisis is not a competitive advantage. The clock is ticking for our planet and the future of the travel and tourism industry.
“There is limited time left and immediate collective action and innovation is needed to decarbonise travel together and truly achieve the immense potential for sustainable development within our industry.”
