Without never sacrificing the comfort of its guests, the hotel industry is reinventing itself day after day to meet the expectations of demanding travelling families. Because the planet deserves to be cuddled, Little Guest (a collection of luxury hotels, villas and resorts for families with children) has taken a close look at the issue of sustainable tourism and ecological family vacations. Commitments, responsible practices, green labels…we tell you everything.

 

Where to go for a luxurious holiday while respecting the environment? This is the question that more and more parents are asking themselves as they seek to reduce their carbon footprint and exploit the facets of eco-responsible tourism. In order to shed light on the subject, we have investigated in order to guide you in the planning of eco-friendly family holidays.

 

1 – WHAT IS SUSTAINABLE TOURISM ?

Définition and explanation

According to the 1987 Brundtland Report of the UNO World Commission on Environment and Development, sustainable tourism is « a development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.”

It is thus a form of tourism that applies the principles of sustainable development, with the aim of participating in the proper functioning of the economy and society, but also and above all of the environment. If this notion is rather simple to understand for us adults, toddlers may not understand much of it… Here is a small diagram that will explain in detail the pillars of sustainable development.

 

 

But in concrete terms, what is being done to reduce our environmental impact during the holidays? The most important thing to keep in mind is that just because we go on holiday does not mean that our behaviour has to change, or that we have to let ourselves go. When we know that 65% of French people say they sort their waste at home every day, but that only 57% do so on holiday (Développement durable et empreinte écologique. Futura. 2015), this is cause for alarm.

Economically speaking, the tourism industry is one of the most polluting in the world. It is considered that 8% of global greenhouse gas emissions are due to mass tourism. To counter this phenomenon, you will surely hear about ecotourism, social, ethical, solidarity, humanitarian or fair tourism, or even slow tourism, but each of these formulas is no more and no less than a sub-component of sustainable tourism.

Therefore, so that your little family who cares about taking care of our planet organizes its holidays in the most responsible way, Little Guest has taken stock and gives you all its eco-friendly advice!

 

 

Slow tourism

Because sustainable tourism remains a complex and somewhat scholarly notion, we have decided to talk to you more specifically about slow tourism, a form of tourism that is easy to adopt, as beneficial for you and your children as it is for the Earth.

The Art of Slow Travel defines this new approach to travel as « a state of mind that rejects traditional ideas of tourism and encourages you to immerse yourself in your environment and remain open to new experiences« .  In other words, it’s about reinventing the way we explore the world and sharing these values with future generations in order to pass on our efforts and thank nature for what it has to offer.

In concrete terms, how do we practice slow tourism? Quite simply by taking our time and using it to rediscover the essential. Walking in nature, observing the local fauna and flora, avoiding crowded places, eating regional and seasonal products, taking care of oneself and one’s loved ones… these little habits apply particularly well to families with children. You don’t have to deal with stress and you concentrate on activities that are entirely dedicated to your well-being and above all respect the environment.

 

Who are the adepts of slow tourism?

According to Luc Mazuel, the main adherents to slow tourism are mostly young couples with children, young dynamic retirees, as well as larger families. When we know that the generation of millennials travels between 5 and 7 times a year for an average of 8 to 10 days, and that it takes about 2.5 months to prepare their next trip, it makes us think that our children and grandchildren will be big fans of slow tourism… so why not give them a good example now?

Always concerned about satisfying families, Little Guest has chosen to develop its range of eco-friendly hotels and to offer more choices allowing tribes to reconnect with nature and get closer to each other, in a healthy and natural setting.

 

 

2 – Answers to the most frequently asked questions

What are the different labels and should we rely on them?

Just like in the organic market, many labels have emerged, and deciphering their meaning has become a real puzzle. Don’t panic! Here is a small summary of the existing labels. One of them is the EU Ecolabel for Tourist Accommodations, an independent eco-label used by EU member states. To obtain this certification, an establishment (hotel, campsite or association) must meet 67 specific criteria and make a commitment on several points, including: the supply of renewable electricity, reduction of energy and water consumption, reduction of waste and wastewater, among others. One small black spot: AFNOR, which checks compliance with this charter, only carries out this check every two years.

The second label is « Hôtels au Naturel« , which lists 20 « human-sized » accommodations to stay in an intimate setting and get as far away as possible from mass tourism and large hotel chains. These places closest to nature tend to use sustainable solutions for a healthier future.

At Little Guest, we believe that certifications are certainly useful, but that they only represent additional information, and that it is necessary to make sure that the destination of your choice is simply respectful of the values of sustainable development, i.e. that it meets social and cultural issues, that it limits pollution and waste and that it protects fragile environments.

 

Quelles sont les destinations à privilégier ?

Of course, sustainable tourism rhymes with local tourism. The best places to visit are the establishments close to your home, in order to reduce your carbon footprint linked to travel as much as possible.

For French people, Little Guest recommends, for example, Les Fermes de Marie *****, a bucolic little corner of paradise in Haute-Savoie. This small hamlet of cosy chalets offers a breathtaking view on the surrounding massifs. In winter, you become the king of snow sports here, while in summer, families go on lovely hikes. When the sun is shining, children love to run in the gardens, catch chickens, or tend the vegetable garden… what could be more natural? On top of that, the traditional restaurant offers a refined regional menu adapted to each season!

 

 

For the northerners, Le Domaine de la Bretesche ***** is an excellent choice. Nestled in the heart of the superb Breton regional park of the Brière, this 14th-century castle has been listed as a historical monument since 1926. There, families can enjoy a peaceful and serene setting, taste delicious recipes made from local produce and practice their swing on one of the most beautiful golf courses in France.

 

 

What about plane travel?

According to a very interesting article entitled « Le tourisme fait s’envoler le réchauffement planétaire« , taken from the daily French newspaper Le Monde, it is estimated that 8% of greenhouse gas emissions are due to international tourism. As mentioned earlier in this article, this figure may of course seem enormous, but it is important to take into account not only CO2 emissions due to transport, but also those related to the consumption of tourism services. Moreover, it must be understood that 25% of these emissions are produced by internal and regional travel in the United States.

Thus, flying to a destination that is 100% eco-friendly and environmentally friendly is better than taking the car to spend your vacation in a hotel whose positioning in terms of sustainable tourism seems questionable, especially when you know that a plane consumes as much, if not less, than a car!

 

3 – To go further…

• What is eco-responsible housing? The responsibility and sustainability of a building can be measured in particular by its design and energy consumption. Indoor and outdoor furniture, materials used, relationship to recycling and green energy, use of cosmetics and cleaning products… check our article to know more!

• How to consume organic and local, even on holiday? Product quality and the know-how of the cooks are the secrets of successful gastronomy. Little Guest recently worked on a selection of the best hotel establishments in which real starred chefs are on the stove to prepare succulent dishes based on fresh and local food.

• Are ecological holidays and luxury hotels necessarily incompatible? This is the question we tried to answer in an article containing our opinion, examples of hotels and good practices to adopt in our holiday life!

• How can you become a family of eco-friendly travellers? Before claiming to be so, it is important to reduce your ecological footprint as much as possible and to follow a few essential steps: choose your destination and means of transportation carefully and adopt responsible actions (reducing waste and water and energy consumption, local and seasonal food, etc.).

 

Ready to reinvent the way you travel?