The Elephant in the Eco-Tourism Cabin

When we talk about eco-tourism, the conversation often revolves around small actions. Hotels boast about energy-efficient light bulbs, composting programs, or encouraging guests to reuse towels. Travelers are urged to pack reusable water bottles or buy carbon offsets for their flights. These actions are undoubtedly positive, but in the grand scheme of things, they address symptoms rather than the root cause of travel-related emissions.

Let’s not ignore the elephant in the room. Or, more fittingly, the elephant in the cabin. Flying is the single largest contributor to emissions from travel, yet it often escapes the scrutiny it deserves. Why? Because tackling it requires choices that are less marketable and, frankly, more uncomfortable.

Flying: The Unavoidable Reality

Here’s the truth about flying. It accounts for a disproportionate share of carbon emissions in the travel industry. A two person roundtrip flight from New York to Norway, for example, produces more CO2 than it takes to build a small, off-grid cabin. That’s not just a striking fact, it’s a reality check. Believe me, we did the maths.

Offsetting emissions has become a popular solution, but let’s be honest. Offsets often feel like putting a bandage on a deep wound. Research increasingly suggests that many offset programs fail to deliver the promised impact. Trees planted today won’t absorb carbon for decades, and some projects may never materialize or achieve their intended outcomes. In short, offsets are not the magic solution they are often portrayed to be.

The Illusion of Sustainable Travel

Eco-lodges, green certifications, and energy-efficient practices are all steps in the right direction, but they can only go so far. Even the greenest accommodations cannot neutralize the carbon impact of a long-haul flight. Yet, the travel industry continues to focus on these smaller, more tangible changes, perhaps because they are easier to implement and market than addressing the larger issue of travel distances.

The result is a paradox. Travelers fly halfway across the world to stay in an eco-lodge that reduces its plastic waste or uses solar power. While these actions matter, they pale in comparison to the carbon footprint of the journey itself.

A Simpler, More Effective Solution

One example from a side project I’ve been involved in demonstrates this issue clearly. Re-Treats builds small, off-grid cabins using recycled materials. While we focus on sustainability in construction and operations, we’ve realized the emissions from how guests travel to the cabins often outweigh the sustainability gains made on-site.

For instance, if a guest travels from a nearby city by public transport, their carbon footprint is negligible compared to a long-haul flight from another continent. This realization led to an effort to encourage more local guests with reduced price and perks, and also promote longer stays to reduce travel frequency. These strategies are more impactful than focusing solely on the cabin’s eco-friendly features.

Rethinking Travel Choices

This example isn’t unique. It highlights a broader issue in the travel industry. Focusing on sustainability only at the destination ignores the larger picture. The single most effective way to reduce travel emissions is to choose a stay closer to home. A guest traveling a few hours by train or car has a fraction of the carbon footprint of someone flying across the globe.

This shift doesn’t mean sacrificing adventure. Instead, it’s about redefining what meaningful travel looks like. By choosing nearby destinations, travelers can dive deeper into local culture, landscapes, and communities. They trade the novelty of distance for the richness of proximity.

The Elephant in the Cabin

Let’s be clear: the elephant in the eco-cabin isn’t whether you reuse towels or recycle bottles. It’s the emissions from how far you traveled to get there. Addressing this might not be as easy or glamorous as adding a compost bin or a green certification, but it’s the kind of action that truly matters.

This isn’t just a call for individual responsibility. It’s a challenge for the travel industry to rethink how destinations are marketed and for governments to create incentives for more sustainable travel options. It’s about shifting the narrative from “go far to escape” to “go close to connect.”

The future of travel isn’t about flying less or staying closer because we have to. It’s about discovering that some of the best experiences, stories, and connections are waiting just a little closer to home. Sometimes, the biggest impact comes from the simplest changes. And sometimes, the most transformative journeys are the ones that don’t take you very far at all.