Certifying Travel Companies

A major new study, sponsored by Traveler magazine and reported in our May/June issue, shows that most Americans don’t want their visits to harm destinations but aren’t quite sure what to do about it.

According to the survey, 71 percent of American travelers say, “It is important to me that my visit not damage the environment.” Sixty-one percent think travel is better “when my destination preserves its natural, historic, and cultural sights and attractions.”

But only 12 percent “make decisions regarding which travel companies to use based at least in part on their environmental and social policies.” Fact is, travelers usually have no easy way to tell what those policies are.

That’s why several international organizations are experimenting with certification plans. These systems would allow consumers to tell from a single rating or seal of approval whether a hotel or tour operator is environmentally responsible and contributing to the preservation of the destination.

This month we ask: Would certification of hotels for sustainable practices make a difference in your travel choices?

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—Jonathan B. Tourtellot

Jonathan B. Tourtellot is Traveler magazine’s geotourism editor.

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