Today marks World Tourism Day 2023 and one of the key themes this year is tourism and green investment. With the impact of climate change so clear to everyone, both this year and in 2022, World Tourism Day has focused minds in thinking about how tourism affects the planet and how the tourism industry can grow sustainably for the future.
Jo Mackay, founder of Italy villa rental company, Bookings For You, feels that every company must play their part. ‘For us, it’s about encouraging people to travel responsibly. We believe that travel can be incredibly rewarding and enriching – we don’t believe that we should be limiting the frequency of travel – but, at the same time, we recognise that there is a definite need to tread more carefully. Without action, we run the risk of ruining the privilege of travel for future generations and we need to play our part in protecting it for them. For us, it’s also about the small things that we can do as an Italy villa rental business to improve our own personal carbon footprint.‘
We have actually always been impressed by Italy’s eco credentials. Italy already generates more than a third of its electricity from renewable sources and they have surpassed a European goal to recycle 65% of urban waste by 2025. Around 80% of the country’s waste is now recycled in Italy. 18% of products made in Italy are also made using recycled materials. And the Made in Italy brand supports a green economy. 345,000 Italian companies embrace low carbon production.
Italians have also pursued sustainable practices long before they were implemented elsewhere in the world. They started charging for carrier bags well over a decade ago. And Milan’s Bosco Verticale (Vertical Forest), whilst not the first building in the world to be covered in plants, definitely became a global poster child for a new, greener type of architecture.
All this is great news but, many of our holidaymakers want to know what they can do to travel more sustainably, carefully and responsibly. ‘For us, a large part of that is the way in which you choose to travel,’ says Jo Mackay. ‘It’s not about tearing around Italy ticking off as many major landmarks as you can in a set period of time. It’s about stopping to truly connect. It’s about having the time to stop and to make connections with a place, its people, its history, its beliefs and its culture. It’s about having respect.’
Here are some other easy eco-friendly travel tips for those travelling to Italy. Some are simpler than others but ticking off as many as you can will all contribute to a better future for tourism in Italy.
Recycle: We know that the Italian recycling system can cause headaches for the guests staying in our Italy villa rentals. It is certainly more complicated than here in the UK or in the USA (but largely comparable to a number of other countries in Europe) and it can take a while to get your head around. But, following the Italian recycling rules will ensure you’re doing your bit for the environment.
Choose local guides: We are proud to recommend local guides and companies to our Italy villa rental guests if they’re looking to book additional experiences during their stays. After all, they will have the real connection to the region’s history and culture.
Avoid printing out your paperwork: As a company, Bookings For You have moved to a paper free workplace. We encourage our clients to also adopt a similar approach. Store your booking details and vouchers online rather than printing them all off.
Use public transport and walk: We think Italy’s public transport system is impressive. It’s so easy and efficient to reach Italy’s cities using the train. Plus, driving in an Italian city is definitely not for the feint hearted so we wouldn’t recommend hiring a car in an Italian city anyway! High speed rail routes connect all the major cities and there are regular trains connecting smaller towns. With trains reaching speeds of up to 300 km per hour, it’s a far quicker way than a car to get from one place to the next. Once there, Italy’s cities are easy to explore on foot. Or opt to use the public transport that they have – Rome, Milan and Naples all have a metro system and Milan and Rome also have a tram network. There are also buses, but just be aware that these tend to be a slower way to get from A to B.
Get on your bike: Italy is great cycling country and it is encouraged to get out and about on two wheels. It’s also a great way to explore the country in an eco friendly way. Tuscany, for example, has over 500 km of cycle tracks to choose from and by 2026, a new 140 km cycle track will take cyclists all around Lake Garda.
Take a water bottle with you: It can be thirsty work exploring Italy’s towns and cities and you will need to keep hydrated, particularly in the Summer months. Many of Italy’s villages, towns and cities have public water fountains where you can easily refill your water bottle. Known as Le Fontanelle (little fountains) or Nasoni (big noses), these provide locals and visitors alike with delicious, clean and fresh drinking water allowing you to drink directly from them or to use them to refill your bottle. Just keep an eye out for the non potabile sign – this means it’s not suitable for drinking.
Support local artists and craftsmen: I’m yet to meet a guest staying in one of our villa rentals in Italy that doesn’t want to buy a souvenir to take home with them. However, if you want to shop sustainably we recommend you opt to purchase items from local artists and craftsmen rather than opting for the mass produced souvenirs.
Eat local, sustainable foods: Italians have always led the way when it comes to eating local produce. Zero kilometre food is a concept that has been in Italy for a number of years now and it refers to food that is grown or produced, sold and eaten locally. In essence, food that has travelled zero kilometres from field to fork. Shop from local markets rather than the supermarket when you’re staying in an Italian villa rental to ensure you’re eating sustainably and opt for organically grown produce wherever you can.
Get off the beaten track: Mass tourism has definitely had a negative impact on certain areas of Italy and here, local government is already taking steps to offset its impact. In the Cinque Terre, for example, certain trails have been closed to protect the landscape whilst flip flops have also been banned. And in Venice, limits have been put on the number and size of cruise ships and vessels that can enter the lagoon. Sustainable travel for us means visiting places off the beaten track and this is where you can play your part. This truly is a win-win. You’ll see the very best of Italy, untouched and unspoilt by mass tourism but also it rewards the people and businesses that live and work in these less visited corners of the country.
Find an alternative to flying: Whilst it may be quick and easy to fly to Italy, there are other ways to get there. Another option is to take the train which is far more efficient when it comes to CO2 emissions per passenger kilometre travelled. As an example, if travelling from the UK, you could opt to take the Eurostar from London St Pancras to Paris. From here, you could catch a high speed TGV train to Turin or Milan getting you from London to Italy in just 11 hours.