Written by: Martina Dadić, Karlo Parčina, Marta Pulić, students of the Faculty of Economics in Split (business economics, major in marketing)
Digital technology in today’s world is becoming an indispensable tool in promoting sustainable tourism. Smart applications, online platforms, and digital innovations have a key role in encouraging eco-conscious travel habits and supporting local economies. They provide travelers with information on sustainable transportation options, accommodations, eco-tourism destinations, and more.
There are numerous apps and websites on the market that encourage eco-conscious travel habits in various ways. Some of them include:
1. EccoPassenger
This platform, available in five languages, helps travelers find the most environmentally friendly ways to travel. EccoPassenger compares CO2 and other environmental indicators of different modes of transportation, such as trains, cars, and airplanes.
2. Green Globe
The Green Globe platform promotes sustainable tourism by providing information about eco-certified accommodations, restaurants, and activities worldwide.
3. HappyCow
This app is especially useful for vegetarians and vegans, as it provides information about vegan and vegetarian restaurants around the world. In this way, it encourages dietary habits that are less burdensome on the environment since, as it is well known, the meat industry has a very harmful impact on the environment.
4. BlaBlaCar
This app allows drivers to offer spare seats in their cars to other travelers heading in the same direction for a fee. It is a very useful service, as it encourages resource sharing and reduces exhaust emissions per passenger. Instead of travelers using their own vehicles, they can find cheaper and more eco-friendly transportation options through the app.
5. ScanEat
The ScanEat app allows users to scan the barcodes of food products to obtain information about their nutritional values, ingredients, and potential allergens. Additionally, the app provides information about the sustainability of products, including eco-labels, production methods, and the origin of ingredients.
The digital revolution has transformed and continues to transform sustainable tourism worldwide. It is becoming a key ally and greatly facilitates the practice of sustainable behavior for those who are ready to adopt it. It is very important to become aware of it and take action. Small steps lead to big changes. Let’s get moving!
This article was created by students as part of the Career for Green, Digital, and Sustainable Tourism. It is a project that aims to educate students, pupils and tourism professionals with a focus on zero-waste principles, the Dalmatia Green certificate and digitalization. You can read other articles from the project here.