Travel industry leaders remain committed to action
around sustainability but require more support, according to data from
Travalyst, the not-for-profit organization founded by Prince
Harry, Duke of Sussex.

Travalyst’s Five-Year Milestone
Report includes survey data from travelers and industry leaders in the United
States and the United Kingdom, as well as insights on the coalition’s efforts since its 2019 launch and moving forward.

The survey of travel leaders revealed that the “industry
is committed to action, despite a challenging context,” the report said.

In fact, more than nine in 10 travel industry leaders said
they agree that governments should ensure companies in the space report on
their sustainability and environmental impact. More than seven in 10 also said that “recent backlash against environmental, social and governance (ESG)
efforts in some countries have had no impact on sustainability efforts within
their organization.”

At the same time, however, only three in 10 said they “feel
very well-equipped to deal with incoming sustainability regulations,” while six
in 10 said that their decision to offer sustainable products or services will depend
on consumer demand levels.

Consumers, too, said they take sustainability into account
when booking travel. But while 30% of U.K. travelers and 42% of U.S.
travelers with plans to travel this year said they consider the sustainability
efforts of accommodation providers, only 13% and 18%, respectively, actually factored them into their decision.

What needs to be done?

From industry leaders’ perspective, sustainability could be improved with guidance and support
with certifications amid new regulations, Travalyst found. One in two noted the
need for assistance from an organization without a financial interest and one in
three cited the need for government intervention to ensure compliance.

When it comes to accelerating progress, industry leaders also highlighted the need for collaboration and better incentives.

One in three said companies should
work together on sustainability efforts and share data on effective versus ineffective
approaches. The majority of respondents (nine in 10) noted that stronger
incentives from the government for travel and tourism companies would be
beneficial as well.

For their part, 59% of U.K. travelers and 51% of American
travelers support government legislation requiring these travel companies to report
their environmental impact, Travalyst found.

The Five-Year Milestone Report also outlined Travalyst’s plans to bolster sustainability efforts in the coming years.

“Since our founding, we have brought together some of the world’s biggest travel and technology companies to deliver consistent, credible and compliant sustainability information at scale,” said Sally Davey, CEO of Travalyst.

“Over the next five years, we will expand and future-proof our existing efforts, roll out new and impactful initiatives and support the industry to align with incoming regulations. This report outlines our plans—and the impact we aim to achieve.”