How Will the Rise of Biophilia Influence Your Next Vacation?

Image Credit: The World Economic Forum

The latest travel trend taking the world by storm is biophilia, the intrinsic human desire to connect with nature. This shift towards nature-based travel is not just a fleeting trend but a profound change in how people seek relaxation and rejuvenation.

Biophilia, the inherent human tendency to seek connections with nature, has been proven to offer numerous health benefits. Research indicates that spending time in nature can lower blood pressure, improve immune system function, and reduce stress hormone levels. It is no wonder that this trend has become immensely popular among the 1.3 billion tourists seeking to unwind and recharge. According to the World Economic Forum’s Travel and Tourism Development Index 2024 (TDDI), there has been a notable increase in pageviews on Tripadvisor for a country’s most popular natural and cultural attractions since 2021.

Financial Impact of Nature Tourism
Nature tourism, a key component of biophilia, generates over $600 billion in global revenue. Wildlife tourism alone supports 22 million jobs worldwide and brings in $142 million in entrance fees for protected areas in Africa. Additionally, $44 trillion of economic value—more than half of the world’s GDP—is moderately or highly dependent on nature. This dependence is especially pronounced in developing nations where tourism significantly contributes to the economy. For instance, tourism accounts for approximately 8.5% of Africa’s GDP, a continent celebrated for its nature-based experiences.

The connection between nature, tourism, and the economy is expected to grow stronger as more people travel, particularly after the COVID-19 pandemic. The financial footprint of travel and tourism represented 9.1% of global GDP in 2023—just over $9.9 trillion—and is projected to break all records in 2024, reaching $11.1 trillion.

Balancing Tourism Growth and Environmental Impact
As the tourism industry expands, it is crucial to ensure that this growth does not come at the expense of nature and biophilic spaces. By 2033, the GDP of the global travel and tourism sector could grow at nearly double the rate of the broader global economy, potentially adding more than 100 million new jobs. To protect our connection to nature, quick and effective action is needed to mitigate the impact of travel on local resources. The paper states that the travel and tourism industry uses up to 8% of material extraction and 5.8% of the world’s water.

Environmental Protection Initiatives
Significant progress is being made to balance tourism growth with environmental protection. Since 2019, the average Environmental Sustainability pillar scores in the TTDI have increased by 2.7%, with Energy Sustainability rising by 4.6% as the sector adopts low-carbon energy options like solar power. These advancements are promising for maintaining easy access to nature.

However, the Pollution and Environmental Conditions subpillar has only increased by 0.5% since the last edition of the TTDI. Slow improvements in air pollution reduction, deforestation mitigation, and the protection of endangered species continue to hinder our connection with nature. Nearly 7 million people die from combined indoor and outdoor pollution annually, and over 44,000 species are threatened with extinction.

Collaborative Efforts for Sustainable Travel
Collaboration is essential to improve this delicate balancing act. The Forum’s Nature Action Agenda exemplifies a multi-sector movement aimed at halting biodiversity loss by 2030, which is crucial for fostering biophilia. This initiative seeks to enable humans to live in harmony with nature by 2050, in alignment with the Global Biodiversity Framework.

In conclusion, the rise of biophilia as a travel trend underscores the growing importance of our connection to nature. As travel and tourism continue to evolve, it is imperative to balance economic growth with environmental sustainability to ensure that nature remains an integral part of our lives.

As reported by WEF in their recent article