Growing awareness: Indians are actively transitioning to eco-friendly travel

Recently, eco-travel has been gaining more and more popularity, including among the people of India. Almost 8 out of 10 travelers have expressed their willingness to make their travels more environmentally friendly, according to the study.

At the same time, 18% of respondents said that they would always make every effort to make their travel more environmentally friendly. As Indians venture out to explore new horizons, they are increasingly aware of the potential impact of their choices, according to TheFreePressJournal.

According to a survey conducted by the digital travel platform Agoda, 87% of Indian travelers care about greener travel. The respondents emphasized that financial incentives, the availability of eco-friendly travel packages, and clearer guidelines on eco-friendly travel methods could encourage them to make greener choices on their next trip.

At the same time, 22% of travelers rarely consider sustainability in their travel decisions, with travelers from Japan being the least concerned (45%) compared to only 8% of travelers from the Philippines.

Financial incentives were the most important factor that could encourage tourists to make more environmentally friendly travel choices. On average, 45% of respondents identified incentives such as discounts as a key factor. This sentiment was particularly strong in Singapore (58%), Taiwan (54%), and Indonesia (47%). 41% of Indian travelers chose incentives or discounts as the main driver.

The availability of eco-friendly travel packages comes in second, with offerings ranging from guided hikes to conservation destinations to supporting local initiatives. This is of interest to travelers from the Philippines (28%), Vietnam (24%), and Thailand (23%). Clear guidelines for sustainable travel practices, education and awareness of environmental impact, and relevant sustainability policies from local authorities rounded out the top five.

Agoda representatives say that the study proved that travelers want to make more environmentally friendly choices. When asked which eco-friendly travel methods Indian travelers prefer during their trips, supporting local communities and conservation projects came out on top: 29% of respondents chose this practice.

Top 5 factors that help you choose greener travel:

• Incentives or discounts for making greener choices: 41%
• More sustainable travel packages and routes that are labeled: 22%
• Clearer guidelines on eco-friendly and responsible travel practices: 15%
• More education/awareness about environmental impact: 13%
• Government incentives or policies for greener travel: 6%

Best sustainable travel practices that travelers prioritize in their trips:

• Supporting local communities, environmental projects: 29%

• Choosing more environmentally friendly transportation: 18%
• Recycling, waste reduction (e.g., towel/bedding reuse programs): 17%
• In Asia, recycling and waste reduction (20%), as well as reusing towels and bedding, were the second most popular activities, followed by participating in conservation events and tours (17%).

Other key practices include choosing lodging with sustainability certifications in fourth and choosing more sustainable transportation options in fifth.

Previously, TravelWise wrote about the best nature parks in India. Have time to see endangered animals.