Authored article by Rajesh Radhakrishnan, General Manager, THE Park Chennai

Sustainable, eco-conscious and purposeful travel and tourism is becoming increasingly popular. Globally, more travellers are making their stay decisions based on these parameters. There is a growing awareness and concern of the impact of human activities on the environment, due to which people are prioritizing sustainability in all facets of travel and tourism.

Governments, world over are focusing on what the ideal carrying capacity of each destination should be in order to protect ecological integrity of the region. The Ministry of Tourism in India has drafted a country-wide strategy on sustainable and rural tourism with a focus on protecting biodiversity, promoting economic, socio-cultural sustainability. To promote this sector of tourism, government is also looking to strengthen the sector by offering credible certification schemes, training, research, digitization and marketing for the benefit of its stakeholders. The schemes elevate the sector by means of private and community partnerships – for example, homestays and community lodges are to be incentivised and owners of farmland adjoining forests are encouraged to adopt ecotourism as an alternative to their land use.

Eco-conscious travellers are increasingly looking for hotels that align with their values, and choosing options, which use sustainable practices. At THE Park Hotels, we are adopting robust garbage segregation and recycling programs among other best practises. It is imperative to segregate and dispose garbage so that tourist activities do not add to ecological burden. Many hotels have organic waste composters in the premises and the compost is utilised in landscaping. Apart from the routine recyclables like plastics, tins and e-waste, there are initiatives to recycle cigarette buds into pillows, bags etc. Water conservation, another key area where improved technologies like ultra-low water dispensing taps and flush systems, water free urinals and sewage treatment plants that can reduce the fresh water requirement substantially are implemented. In-house drinking water-bottling plants are replacing millions of PET water bottles. Eco- friendly toilet amenities like soap and shampoo dispensers, bamboo toothbrushes and razors are being used. Seasonal menus with focus on ethical produce is another key strategy. 

Another trend in the realm of sustainability is the use of green technologies, which THE Park Hotels has also implemented effectively. Renewable energy usage is gaining momentum and with enabling policies in place, be it hotels or travel and transportation could be fuelled by green energy in the near future. THE Park Hotels among other hotel chains have tied up with private wind mill and solar energy companies to source sustainable energy. Green vehicles and electric charging infrastructure are also being adopted across the group. Digitisation is reducing carbon footprint by way of digital invoices, paperless check-in’s, key-less locks and QR code based menus. These practices not only benefit the environment, but also contribute to reduced operational costs for hotels.

Eco-conscious tourism is certainly the way forward since it embraces conservation of natural heritage and environment. Experiences such as eco-trails, adventure treks, bird watching, wildlife safaris, skiing make for interesting tourist activities, yet have little or no impact on the environment. Promoting lesser-known destinations helps disperse the tourists and is more sustainable in the long run, contributing to the well-being and development of local economies and communities. 

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