Sustainable tourism in the Kleve district: competition for green solutions!

Sustainable tourism in the Kleve district: competition for green solutions!

Sustainability in tourism is becoming increasingly important, especially when renting holiday apartments. Verena Rohde, managing director of WTM Kleve, emphasizes that sustainability is a crucial factor for the future of tourism. She points out the need for holiday apartment operators in the region to actively work on sustainable solutions in order to survive in competition. On October 20th, a network meeting will take place in the Kleve district vocational training center, at which over 30 holiday apartment providers will be involved in order to jointly develop concepts that meet the demands of ecological travel. Registration is required by October 15th and the registration link is here.

The meeting will provide important impetus for the industry. Dirk Reiser, Professor of Sustainable Tourism Management, will give a lecture on “Sustainable Accommodation”, while experts from the climate protection sector will take part to discuss different perspectives on the challenges in tourism. A competition to promote sustainable ideas will provide additional incentives for participants. A total of 3,000 euros in cash prizes will be awarded for the best three concepts.

Sustainability as a trend

The study “Sustainability Monitor: Sustainability in Holiday Travel” shows that awareness of sustainable travel options is constantly growing. In a long-term study, changes in travelers' consumption behavior were recorded over several years. During the Corona pandemic, Germans traveled in a more climate-friendly way by traveling less and choosing more environmentally friendly means of transport. However, from 2022 onwards, travel behavior quickly returned to pre-pandemic normative patterns.

The analysis from 2022 to 2024 shows that 49% of Germans want ecologically friendly vacation trips for 2024. This number represents an increase of 7 percentage points compared to 2019. Similarly, 61% of travelers want socially responsible offers, with support for social sustainability even higher than environmental sustainability. Only 5% of vacationers use CO2 compensation options, which remains stable compared to 2022.

Challenges and developments

Although sustainability is becoming increasingly relevant, it was only a deciding factor in 3% of vacation trips in 2023 and played a minor role in 17% of trips. At the same time, 44% of vacationers experienced crowded situations during their trips, which is often associated with arrivals and departures, especially by plane.

The market for sustainable tourism has potential, but in practice it has often fallen short of expectations. Companies that promote sustainable travel often rely on recommendations, as 30% of companies have policies in place. Travelers who already rely on sustainable means of transport in everyday life also show a preference for environmentally friendly options on holiday.

In summary, sustainable tourism is a focus, both in the local vacation rental industry and at a national level, as the study results from the Federal Environment Agency clearly demonstrate. The upcoming events and competitions could be decisive for how this market develops and what new standards will become established.

For more information about the challenges and current state of sustainability in tourism, please take a look at the Federal Environment Agency's comprehensive analysis below Federal Environment Agency.