Wir wollen ehrlich sein: Reisen, insbesondere in ferne Destinationen, ist nicht besonders nachhaltig. Laut einer Studie, veröffentlicht im Dezember 2024 in der Fachzeitschrift Nature Communications, verursachte die globale Tourismusbranche im Jahr 2019 5.2 Gigatonnen CO₂, was rund 8.8 % der weltweiten Emissionen ausmachte. Zum Vergleich: Die gesamte Schweiz verursacht pro Jahr rund 40 Millionen Tonnen CO₂. Folglich stösst der weltweite Tourismus mehr als 100-mal so viel CO₂ aus wie die gesamte Schweiz in einem Jahr.

Let's be honest: travel, especially to distant destinations, is not particularly sustainable. According to a study published in December 2024 in the journal Nature Communications, the global tourism industry caused 5.2 gigatons of CO₂ in 2019, which accounted for around 8.8 % of global emissions. By comparison, the whole of Switzerland produces around 40 million tons of CO₂ per year. This means that global tourism emits more than 100 times as much CO₂ as the whole of Switzerland in one year.

The health consequences of climate change are often forgotten: rising temperatures and increasing air pollution can heighten the risk of cardiovascular disease, while the continuous loss of biodiversity promotes infectious diseases. Prof. Dr. Jan Fehr, the head doctor at our clinic, explained some of the health effects of climate change in this interview he provided to use last year and provided valuable insights into how tourism can influence public health.

This makes it all the more important to make conscious decisions when traveling and to reduce one's own ecological footprint. In this context, the concept of Responsible Global Citizenship is becoming increasingly important - an attitude that should be supported and promoted by both travelers and society as a whole.

Here are some tips based on the recommendations of Unisanté, the University Center for General Medicine and Public Health in Lausanne, and the Swiss Society of Tropical and Travel Medicine (SSTTM) to help you make your travels more sustainable.

Tip 1: Train Over Plane

The choice of transportation has the greatest influence on the CO₂ emissions of a trip. According to a study from 2018, around 49% of greenhouse gases in the tourism sector are caused by transportation.

Therefore:

• Choose destinations that are easily accessible by train or bicycle. Switzerland offers numerous attractive destinations that can be traveled to sustainably.

• Use environmentally friendly means of transportation such as bus, train or bicycle - even for shorter distances within your destination. If you want to travel from Thailand to Laos, for example, you can take a two-day boat trip on the Mekong instead of flying.

• For long-haul flights, direct flights are more climate-friendly than connections with stopovers.

• You can also calculate your carbon footprint on platforms such as myClimate and determine the most climate-friendly transportation option for your trip.

Tip 2: Avoid Mass Tourism

Avoid destinations that are affected by mass tourism – not only for your own sake, but above all for the sake of the environment. Overcrowded tourism hotspots have a considerable impact on both the climate and the local population. For example, highly concentrated crowds on islands such as Bali lead to enormous environmental problems and resource scarcity. This primarily affects the local population. In the long term, however, this leads to global problems that affect us all.

And let's be honest: who wants to wait two hours in the blazing sun just to visit a tourist site? Instead, explore lesser-known destinations or deliberately go on vacation outside the main season - this often gives you a more authentic and deeper insight into the culture of the country in question.

Tip 3: Choose Climate-Friendly Accommodation

Look for sustainable options when choosing your accommodation. Hotels with recognized environmental certificates such as Green Key or Bio-Hotels use renewable energy, reduce their water consumption and rely on regional products. Be sure to check the authenticity of the labels, as there are unfortunately also unreliable certificates that engage in Greenwashing. In addition, the market for sustainable tourism will be promoted more strongly if more travelers prefer climate-friendly accommodation and thus the demand for sustainable options grows.

Source: https://www.myclimate.org/en/information/faq/faq-detail/greenwashing-greenwishing-greenhushing-bluewashing/

Tip 4: Support Local Communities 

Support local communities by booking your room in accommodation run by locals. Avoid large hotel chains as they are often unsustainable and contribute little to the local economy: profits often flow abroad. In addition, such hotels are often standardized and offer only limited insights into the real culture of the destination.

Local accommodation, such as family-run hotels, bed-and-breakfasts or guesthouses, directly support the local population and create local jobs. These accommodations are often characterized by a more authentic atmosphere and offer you the opportunity to get to know the culture and traditions of the region first-hand. In addition, local operators often have a stronger interest in implementing sustainable practices as they are closely connected to the environment.

You also help to strengthen the local economy by supporting local markets and restaurants. This also gives you a unique culinary experience. Choosing local suppliers not only helps to protect the environment but also promotes the preservation of traditions and the creation of a fairer tourism model.

Tip 5: Protect Resources

Conscious use of water and energy helps to save valuable resources. The following therefore applies in general - whether in everyday life or when traveling:

• Take shorter showers and use water sparingly.

• Use air conditioning and heating with care, turn it off when you leave your room.

• Only have towels and bed linen changed when it is absolutely necessary.

• Avoid water-intensive activities such as golf or swimming pools in dry regions.

Tip 6: Choose Local Food

Imported food causes high transportation emissions as it often has to be transported over long distances, which is associated with significant CO₂ emissions. By eating locally and seasonally, on the other hand, you can not only significantly reduce your carbon footprint, but also discover the fresh, authentic flavors of the region. Whether fresh fruit, vegetables or fish - every dish reflects the nature and traditions of the country.

Choosing locally grown produce also supports the local agriculture and economy and promotes more sustainable food production.

To minimize the risk of traveler's diarrhea, the rule of thumb is: “Cook it, boil it, peel it or leave it”. This means that you should only eat well-cooked or cooked food, peel raw fruit and vegetables or only consume safely packaged products. This way you can enjoy the local cuisine without taking any health risks.

 

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Tip 7: Reduce Waste and Consume Sustainably

Plastic waste is one of the biggest environmental problems in tourism. You should therefore opt for

• reusable drinking bottles, bags and cutlery: However, make sure you use them hygienically by only cleaning cutlery and drinking bottles with clean, boiled water and disinfecting them regularly.

• Environmentally friendly souvenirs - avoid products made from endangered species or disposable plastic.

Sustainable travel requires conscious decisions but is by no means impossible. There are many individual ways to help protect the climate, be it by choosing sustainable means of transportation, reducing waste or supporting environmentally conscious companies. However, for long-term and effective climate improvement, it is essential that governments and industries also do their part. Policy decisions, such as stricter environmental regulations and the promotion of renewable energy, as well as more sustainable practices in the tourism industry are crucial to effectively combat climate change and ensure a more sustainable future.

Overview: General Recommendations for Ecotourists

Source: Unisanté, University Center for General Medicine and Public Health in Lausanne & Swiss Society for Tropical and Travel Medicine (SSTTM)

Sources

• Booking.com Sustainable Travel Report 2024
  https://www.gstcouncil.org/booking-sustainable-travel-report-2024/

• Study Drivers of global tourism carbon emissions, published: 10 December 2024
  https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-024-54582-7

• Presentation Unisanté, University Center for General Medicine and Public Health in Lausanne & Swiss Society for Tropical and Travel Medicine (SSTTM): Eco-travel : which recommendations?
  https://www.ssttm.ch/dokumente/ecovoyage-cme-ssttm-alix-miauton.pdf

• Study The carbon footprint of global tourism, published: 23 May 2018
  https://www.nature.com/articles/s41558-018-0141-x?_ga=2.18565241.1703394967.1690170341-2133030499.1689826219

• myClimate: What on Earth are Greenwashing, Greenwishing, Greenhushing and Bluewashing?
  https://www.myclimate.org/en/information/faq/faq-detail/greenwashing-greenwishing-greenhushing-bluewashing/