The needs analysis conducted with the French tourism SMEs revealed several common obstacles and challenges related to the green transition of tourism services. One prevalent challenge was the limited adoption of locally sourced, environmentally friendly ingredients in food services, which could reduce the sector’s environmental footprint. Many SMEs faced difficulties in sourcing and integrating these ingredients due to supply chain constraints and cost considerations, highlighting the need for innovative solutions and partnerships with local producers. Additionally, reducing food waste emerged as a significant challenge within the hospitality industry, requiring improved inventory management, portion control, and customer education.
A good example of how to address these challenges is the SusTour project, funded by the European COSME programme, aimed at enhancing the capacities and skills of tour operators and travel agents (SMEs) towards sustainable tourism practices. This project, spanning several European countries, focused on implementing comprehensive training, management systems, standards, and solutions to improve sustainable management and performance among participating companies. The core objectives of SusTour were multifaceted, including updating existing standards, training modules, and tools to effectively integrate sustainability within tour operators and their supply chain. Notably, the project engaged a substantial group of advisors and auditors from 12 different countries, certifying them to support SMEs in their sustainability journeys. Through a blended training approach involving classroom sessions, online modules, webinars, and coaching, SusTour aimed to build the capacities of over 175 SMEs in sustainable tourism practices. Additionally, the project facilitated the development of sustainability standards and tools to reduce carbon and plastic impacts within the travel sector, targeting the management of excursions and engagement with excursion suppliers to implement sustainable practices. The culmination of these efforts resulted in over 120 tour operators achieving the Travelife Partner award and 60 tour operators receiving the Travelife Certified award, reflecting their commitment and excellence in sustainability.
The “Sustainability Codes of Good Practice for excursion providers” offer valuable insights and lessons relevant to the twin transition, particularly focusing on sustainable tourism practices. These codes aim to guide tourism companies in planning and executing activities while minimizing negative impacts and maximizing benefits for destinations and participants. Emphasizing responsible management of external environmental, socio-cultural, and economic impacts, the codes align with industry criteria set by the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) and the Eco-Management and Audit Scheme (EMAS) reference document. The consultative process involved in developing these codes ensured global relevance, gathering input from stakeholders across continents. The customization feature allows Travelife members to adapt these codes with their logo, facilitating widespread adoption and implementation of sustainable practices among excursion providers. Overall, the Sustainability Codes of Good Practice serve as a practical tool for fostering sustainable tourism and offer valuable lessons for promoting the twin transition towards green practices within the tourism industry.
