German travelers want to be sustainable - but what prevents them from?

German travelers want to be sustainable - but what prevents them from?

Deutschland - The longing for sustainable travel is great, but what about the bookings in practice? A recent study by the Research Foundation for Vacation and Travel (for) shows that around two thirds of German value attach great importance to sustainability, but this is crucial for only three percent when booking travel. This indicates a massive discrepancy between wishes and reality, as already reported in the Volksblatt . The project manager of the fur travel analysis, Friedericke Kuhn, explains that the price and personal motivation to enjoy are often in the foreground when booking the travel. Many like to fall back on distant destinations on vacation - sustainable trips are often synonymous with a more conscious selection and closer destinations.

a strong desire for change

Although 48 percent of Germans want ecologically compatible travel offers and prioritize 62 percent social responsibility on their vacation trips, the practical implementation is behind these requirements. In 2023, only eleven percent of the holiday trips were booked with a sustainability label and only five percent of travelers used CO2 compensation options, as shown by Environmental Bundesamt . In the same year, the average distance for arrival for vacation destinations was 1,877 kilometers, with the proportion of air travel reaching a new high with 47 percent. This suggests that, despite the theoretical approval of a more environmentally friendly vacation, many people tend to rapid air travel.

Kuhn emphasizes that even among younger travelers who often prioritize sustainable practices, the average travel distance is still high. In order to fully exploit the potential for sustainable trips, incentives urgently need to be created that enable travelers to implement their attitude into action. It turns out that sustainable travel is not more expensive per se - rather it depends on the choice of destination and the travel agent. In order to redirect this trend, attractive offers and more comprehensive information are essential so that sustainable travel becomes the norm and not just a wish.