The 20th Sustainability Forum focused on sustainable tourism in the run-up to the summer holiday season. Like every summer, people are drawn to holidays: whether by plane, ship across the seas or hiking in the mountains - the tourism industry is booming unabated after corona.
But: "In view of climate change, the classic warm-water destinations on the Mediterranean, which have so far been classics for German summer holidays, such as Spain, France, Italy, the Adriatic coast, Morocco, Turkey or Djerba, will lose out significantly in favour of northern European destinations where these extreme temperatures are not to be expected in the future," explained Prof. Dr Heinz-Dieter Quack, Vice President of Ostfalia and destination researcher at the Institute for Tourism and Regional Research, the so-called "coolcation" trend in tourism.
In Germany, the number of domestic flights without government restrictions has halved following the coronavirus crisis, while France and Spain have introduced regulations to curb flights that are possible in less than 2.5 hours by train.
In this way, travel behaviour will adapt to climate change, while "sustainability" itself is not a selling point and sustainable travel - as bitter as it is - can only be enforced through "supply pressure": "The transformation is supply-driven. It is not the travellers, but the providers who have to set a good example," Quack was convinced. After all, the largest group of travellers are the "followers", i.e. those who base their travel behaviour on the motto "if everyone does it, then I'll do it too".
Manuel Andrack from the German Hiking Institute then showed how hiking can promote sustainability while also providing fun and happiness. It is very remarkable that the hiking motif of "experiencing the region" has become increasingly important in recent years.
The Elm-Lappwald Nature Park has also felt this, as Heike Volkmann concluded. "Most of our guests come from the region. Increasing the attractiveness of the local hiking offer contributes to sustainable travelling," explained the office manager of the nature park, which is located between many sights and has 80 hiking and 20 cycling routes.
In the panel discussion chaired by Dean Prof. Dr iur. Kai Litschen, Prof. Quack pleaded for a more relaxed approach to long-distance travel: "Fly less, but stay longer - that must be the motto." A holiday to the Maldives should last three weeks rather than one.
The next Sustainability Forum will take place on Wednesday, 24 September 2025 at 18:00.
