According to UN Tourism, an estimated 1.4 billion tourists traveled internationally last year. “What we need to think about is how … these billions of people that travel all around, become more conscious and respect the environment and the communities more,“ Bayona said.

　　Wind turbines operate on Mannar Island, Sri Lanka, on May 19,2024. [PHOTO/GETTY IMAGES]

　　Strong message

　　She said there is a strong message from institutions and the public sector to create low-carbon strategies, and there are programs aimed at promoting sustainability.

　　According to her, it is vital to advance a methodology to measure sustainable tourism, with social impact being a key factor. “This is really important because tourism is the most human economic sector, a human-to-human business (where) we need to measure the real impact on communities,“ she said.

　　William Yu, founder and CEO of World Green Organisation, a Hong Kong-based NGO, said, “There is a growing global trend toward low-carbon tourism, and the Asia-Pacific region is no exception.“

　　Pursuing this new trend can bring immense advantages. Environmental benefits apart, there are also economic gains to be made, such as creating new job opportunities, stimulating local economies, and generating more revenue from sustainable tourism.

　　More importantly, supporting local communities and promoting cultural heritage is another key concept for low-carbon tourism. “For social benefits, I believe cultural exchanges could be enhanced, not to mention supporting local communities, and enhancing the overall tourist experience,“ Yu said.