The government had been promoting sustainability. All businesses included, campsites are not excluded. Yes. While we all know that campsites like camping Dordogne can be as sustainable as one can go, there are still measures that we can do to make it further sustainable.
So this is how to make a campsite more sustainable…
Then let’s just do it! It can’t be that difficult to act sustainably. Or is it? Well – yes and no. Once it is clear what is important and what everyone can do, it is no longer difficult. However, that must be clear beforehand. Fortunately, we don’t have to reinvent the wheel here either. A look at some of the sustainability goals of the “2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development” is enough to get ideas:
- Promotion of education for sustainable development
- Increasing energy efficiency and the share of renewable energies
- Sustainable space management
- Promotion of accessibility
- Promotion of environmentally friendly and resource-saving mobility
- Promotion of sustainable consumption and waste avoidance (e.g. through repairs, recycling, an extension of lifespan)
- Promotion of ecological and sustainable agriculture
- Combating climate change and its effects
- Promotion of intact ecosystems
- Promotion of sustainable commitment in sports clubs
And? Does any of this sound familiar to you? I am convinced that many people have been dealing with numerous facets of sustainability for a long time without realizing it or calling it that. Much of this is certainly already part of the offer on your campsite.
Is there a demand for sustainability?
Of course, every entrepreneur asks himself this question – including the campsite entrepreneur. So is there a demand for sustainable tourism?
An international study by the Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts already showed in 2011 that when comparing products directly, customers are not willing to pay more for a sustainable one. At the same time, however, sustainable tourism products represent a good opportunity to differentiate oneself from other offers. The study proves that there is an interesting market with a target group of customers interested in sustainability. 22% already pay attention to sustainability aspects when booking a holiday.
According to Reiseanalyse 2015, 42% of the population now agree that their holiday should be as ecologically compatible, resource-saving, and environmentally friendly as possible. 49% attach importance to the fact that their vacation is socially acceptable. The FUR comes to the conclusion that sustainable tourism has obviously arrived in the middle of society, with the proportion of people from the upper social classes (higher education, higher professional status, higher income) still having the largest share in this result.
Here it becomes clear: Yes, there is definitely a demand for sustainable tourism products. And that’s good news – especially for the camping industry. But: Of course, there are still many hurdles that prevent the guest from making a trip in a sustainable way, such as that there are no additional costs and that there must be no compromises in the holiday wishes. However, sustainable tourism is more than just this side of the coin. Sustainable offers, in particular, should not only pay attention to quantity but also to the quality of their own services.
Conclusion
Sustainability and sustainable tourism is not just an article “to go”. However, with a little engagement with the topic and some work, this myth can become a coherent concept. If sustainability is understood as an overall strategic approach, there are a number of advantages and opportunities for campsites. Anyone who understands marketing as an overall strategic approach can also use the topic of sustainability there in a targeted manner. However, it would be important to think actively, well-founded, and above all holistically about how your own company, place, or destination can be made fit for the future. This requires a lot of collaboration and joint reflection with other actors in the region.
Sustainable tourism is quality tourism and this fact should not be underestimated. In view of the current framework conditions, however, the topic of sustainability and thus a balanced ecological, social and economic view of the campsite as a company is very forward-looking. Especially since the issue of sustainability has meanwhile also become a stable part of EU funding policy.