Booking.com Has Released its Sustainable Travel Report for 2022

Travel is back on many people’s radar for 2022, but with a global pandemic and an increase in the cost of living, heading off on vacation is, unsurprisingly, looking a little different. Sustainability also comes into play, whether that’s enjoying a trip closer to home or heading away out of peak season to avoid overcrowding.

To shine a light on eco-friendly travel, Booking.com has released its 2022 Sustainable Travel Report. Insights gathered from more than 30,000 travelers across 32 countries and territories reveal a healthy and growing appetite for more sustainable travel options, and demand for more options across the globe.

The report shows that sustainability is important to 73 percent of U.S. travellers, with 44 percent saying that recent news about climate change has influenced them to make more sustainable travel choices. 61 percent of Americans said that they would be more likely to choose a sustainable accommodation—whether they were looking specifically for one or not—and a third (33 percent) say they feel ashamed to fly because of its impact on the environment. 

Traveling on a short-haul flight will lessen carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, but bypassing an airplane altogether is even better. Nearly a quarter of respondents (23 percent) say they chose to travel to a destination closer to home to reduce their carbon footprint, while 57 percent would consider traveling closer to home for future trips.

Booking.com is committed to providing plenty of sustainable travel options for customers. More than 95,000 properties globally are recognized for their sustainability efforts with a Travel Sustainable badge on Booking.com, and the company remains carbon-neutral in its operations.

“With increased pressure on our natural resources and the undeniable impact our way of life is having on the  environment, we are 100 percent committed to leading the industry in charting a more mindful and responsible course for the future of travel,” said Glenn Fogel, CEO of Booking.com, in a press release. “We have ambitious goals for what we want to achieve, but together with our partners across the industry and the passion of our innovative employees, we can continue to make it easier for everyone to experience the world in a more mindful and responsible way. We believe that travel is and should remain a powerful force for good, bringing enhanced cultural understanding, socio-economic opportunities for countless communities and the potential to help rejuvenate and protect our planet for the long term.”