The COVID-19 pandemic has created
“opportunities for positive change” and “to rebuild more responsibly to the
benefit of the places we visit, the people who live there and the planet as a
whole.”
That is one of the
key messages in “The Reemergence of Travel,” a new report from Travalyst, a
sustainable travel coalition launched
in 2019 by Prince Harry, the Duke of Sussex, in partnership with
Booking.com, Skyscanner, Trip.com Group, Tripadvisor and Visa.
Former Skyscanner
CEO Bryan Dove, who stepped down from the position in June 2020, became chair of
Travalyst last fall and is now working alongside the Duke of Sussex to oversee the
coalition’s global work.
“Traveling,
exploring the world and discovering new places is part of being human; it will
never go away,” Dove says.
“It’s through
travel that we come to understand and learn from each other, helping to bring
communities together from all over the world. This is why the Travalyst mission
is so fundamental. As global citizens, we have a responsibility to preserve our
world for future generations to explore and enjoy. I am proud to be working
alongside some of the biggest players in travel once again to help both
travelers and the travel industry make more sustainable choices.”
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The report identifies
two critical solutions the coalition sees as priorities for the sustainable
transformation of the travel industry. First is “universal transparent
reporting on sustainability efforts.”
Travalyst says an
early stage digital framework is being developed by the founding companies that will enable consumers to access clear information about the sustainability
practices of accommodation and aviation suppliers, with eventual expansion to
all aspects of travel.
The second area of
focus will be “championing the success of local communities, destinations and
operators.”
This effort is
intended to “direct both supplier and consumer attention towards key examples
of what ‘good’ looks like.” As an initial step, Travalyst will learn how New
Zealand has managed its sustainability efforts and its response to the COVID-19
pandemic.
Created in
partnership with international sustainability non-profit Forum for the Future,
the report also analyzes trends that can be applied to the recovery for travel and
tourism, noting that the most effective “reset” after COVID-19 will come if all
stakeholders – government, business, philanthropy and civil society – engage in
“transformative, not incremental, change.”