As new variants of COVID-19 emerge, recovery for the travel and tourism industry becomes less linear.

Travel bans, restrictions and new health protocols still pose challenges and the pandemic unveiled flaws

and limitations in volume-driven tourism models. Instead, social and environmental values will be at the

core of new strategies. As destinations around the world slowly begin to reopen while protecting local

communities and preserve livelihoods, there is a growing awareness among consumers, businesses and

governments for the need to prioritise not only profit but people and the planet.

Domestic tourism can help with recovery in the short to mid-term, but radical change will be essential

in building resiliency and agility to futureproof the sector. Using the United Nations (UN) Sustainable

Development Goals (SDGs) as a blueprint, travel and tourism businesses are joining forces to declare

a climate emergency. Sustainable transformations will play a significant factor in the future to ensure

businesses and communities can thrive in a post-COVID age.

Euromonitor International developed a Sustainable Travel Index to help destinations and travel

businesses shift to more sustainable and purpose-driven tourism models. Each country was analysed

across seven key pillars which make up sustainable tourism.

The sustainable travel pillars outlined by Euromonitor include:

1. Environmental Sustainability

2. Social Sustainability

3. Economic Sustainability

4. Risk

5. Sustainable Demand

6. Sustainable Transport

7. Sustainable Lodging