Tourism Innovation Summit puts sustainability in travel centre stage

Global OTA booking.com is among a plethora of travel and tourism organisations that will discuss the key topic at next week's trade show in Seville 

Global OTA booking.com will explain how they are embedding sustainability into their culture at next week’s Tourism Innovation Summit in Seville.

The firm will be among many travel and tourism organisations providing insights into how they are addressing the issue at the three-day trade show and international conference.

Other brands due to speak on the key theme include Air Europa, Spanish retailer Viajes El Corte Ingles, and Garden Hotel Group, and Sofia Airport. 

A first Tootbus Sustainable Tourism Barometer conducted by Opinion Way, will also be presented at the TIS2022.

Arnaud Masson, senior vice president digital and sightseeing at Tootbus, said: “The barometer allows us to assess the importance of sustainability for travellers.

“Eighty per cent of us are ready to favour sustainable urban travel, but less than 20% are ready to do so if it comes at a higher price. However, we are confident that travellers’ awareness will boost the responsiveness of all tour operators towards sustainability.”

Sustainable tourism projects in popular city destinations Berlin, Gothenburg, Amsterdam, Bologna and Valencia will be showcased during TIS2022.

Best practice will also be shared by representatives from Barcelona, Colombia and Portugal about how destinations can commit to a sustainable future while supporting a vibrant travel sector. 

The show will highlight the technology that is being adopted by travel and tourism organisations to minimise the sector’s impact on the environment.

Edgar Weggelaar, Tourism Innovation Global Summit director, said: “TIS will be a turning point towards a new stage of the industry, in which a more sustainable, safe and digitised tourism takes the baton and relaunches a crucial sector for the global economy.”

TIS2022 will see 6,000 travel professionals and 400 expert speakers gather in the Andalucian capital of Seville for the third edition of the event that was launched in 2020.