Let’s reinvent travel.
Leisure Lab is a think tank and media lab to promote sustainable tourism, or as we like to call it BREAK-EVEN TOURISM. In this LAB REPORTS section we publish news articles and create inspirational travel stories to help bring about positive change in the way we travel.
How the Travel Industry Can Bounce Back More Sustainably
Tourism accounts for 8% of global carbon emissions – that needs to change, says Laura Itzkowitz from Architectural Digest.
Let’s shift from global to local
Globalization is robbing us of our humanity. But luckily, localization can restore it. Take a moment to watch this powerfull video by Patreon, an online platform for content creators.
7 wins that gave us hope for the environment in 2020
From commitments to produce more electric vehicles to new marine protections, these trends may be a sign of good things to come, says National Geographic writer Sarah Gibbens.
These Indigenous women are reshaping Canada’s tourism industry
Long marginalized by the tourism sector, Indigenous women [in Canada] are bringing First Nations, Métis, and Inuit narratives to the mainstream. A story by National Geographic writer Jessica Prupas.
What is Nanotourism, and how can it help us?
Eme Johnson, author at Travel Tomorrow, explores a ‘new’ form of tourism: Nanotourism.
How can we ensure a lasting recovery for tourism?
In a blog post for World Travel Market (WTM), Jeremy Smith questions whether we should really be thinking about ‘building back better’. To quote Jerry Spooner, Director of Tourism of the Pacific island nation Vanuatu: “It’s time to ensure tourism is for the benefit, and not at the expense of our people and generations to come […]”.
Travel Doesn’t Change You. You Change You.
There is nothing that traveling itself will do other than exposing you to who you really are. A journey towards authenticity is internal, not geographical, says Phil Rosen, in a piece that was published on open platform Medium.
What is ‘greenwashing’ and how can we avoid it while travelling?
Don’t be seduced by talk of solar panels or [animal] sanctuaries, says Juliet Kinsman, sustainability editor at Condé Nast Traveller. Have a think about what [hospitality enterprises] could and should be doing for the community on their doorstep. A quick greenwashing checklist.
Anja Park – an ecotourism success story in Madagascar
Anja has grown into a powerhouse of community-led conservation in Madagascar. The reserve now earns enough revenue to employ 85 guides and animal spotters and to fund a wide array of community projects, says Rowan Moore Gerety, who’s a writer at Mongabay.
30 sustainable travel websites for the conscious traveler
Having trouble finding sustainable accommodations and experiences? Ana Cecilia Duék, director and editor at Brazil-based sustainability platform Viajar Verde, lined up 30 booking websites concerned with positive impacts on the environment, communities and destinations.
How can destinations spread demand?
In this series, the World Travel & Tourism Council looks at how over popular destinations can find ways to spread demand, encouraging people to visit at less busy times.
How travel has become more sustainable over the last 10 years
There’s still a long way to go – but look how far we’ve come, says Helen Coffey, deputy head of travel for The Independent.
Survey results – How break-even is your travel organization?
In a recent survey we asked you – members of the international travel industry – to rate your company on our break-even scale. The amount of responses has been overwhelming. The survey was filled out by more than one hundred travel professionals. These are the main findings.
Do you use Airbnb? Did you know ...
Picture yourself in a small village in the middle of the French Provence: buying fresh bread at the bakery in the morning, slurping locally produced wine at the corner restaurant in the night. Spending your days exploring the surrounding chateaus, villages, or simply adopting the pace of the villagers. Sounds like this should be your next trip?
Move Over, Sustainable Travel. Regenerative Travel Has Arrived
Can a post-vaccine return to travel be smarter and greener than it was before March 2020? Some in the tourism industry are betting on it, says Elaine Glusac, a writer for The New York Times.
Linger longer – let’s talk Slow Travel
Picture yourself in a small village in the middle of the French Provence: buying fresh bread at the bakery in the morning, slurping locally produced wine at the corner restaurant in the night. Spending your days exploring the surrounding chateaus, villages, or simply adopting the pace of the villagers. Sounds like this should be your next trip?
Tourism for Good – Ensuring local people benefit
‘When you think of sustainable travel, what comes to mind? Gorilla trekking in Uganda, perhaps, or a sojourn in a remote yet well-appointed eco-lodge in the forests of Costa Rica […]. If these high-cost trips are what pop into your head, your picture of what qualifies as sustainable tourism is not necessarily wrong – it’s just incomplete,’ says Lucas Peterson, a columnist for The New York Times.
How Instagram Is Changing Travel
Social media-savvy travelers are increasingly drawing their destination inspiration from Instagram—but at what cost? Carrie Miller, a New Zealand-based writer, traveler, and storyteller, aims to find out.
How tour operators are tackling over-tourism
Operators of all sorts – from industry innovators to smaller enterprises – have introduced a range of strategic approaches to address the issues of overtourism, whether it’s tweaking tour dates or adjusting itineraries to minimise the impact on popular places.
The European train journeys that are even faster than flying
More travelers are looking for ways to reduce the carbon footprint of their adventures, but time and money are still the two major factors in deciding what to book. New research from Omio, a travel transport booking app, has revealed 25 European routes that are actually faster by bus or train than flying.