Green travel is on the rise – these are the 5 eco-friendly hotel features global travelers care about most

Nearly 50% of travelers agree on environmental protection, with solar-powered accommodations being the top priority for global tourists. (Image/Booking.com)

April 22 is Earth Day. A leading global online accommodation booking platform today released its “Global Sustainable Travel Report,” showing that the willingness of travelers to choose green lodging has more than doubled. Eco-friendly practices by accommodations significantly influence guests' booking decisions. Among the key eco-friendly factors considered when choosing where to stay are solar power and sustainable water systems.

The “Global Sustainable Travel Report” from global online booking platform Booking.com surveyed 1,000 respondents aged 18 and above who had traveled at least once in the past year or this year. The results showed that 65% of travelers want to stay in eco-friendly or green accommodations – a figure that has doubled compared to last year, and the actual number of such bookings may also double. 68% of travelers said eco-friendly accommodations would increase their likelihood of booking, 43% said they would use public transportation, and 42% said they would opt to walk, bike, or otherwise reduce their carbon footprint.

In addition, 94% of travelers are willing to stay in accommodations that use energy-saving light bulbs; 89% would stay in places where air conditioning/heating is only turned on when someone is in the room; 80% are willing to use low-flow showerheads. Sustainable travel also represents a more authentic and local experience – 36% of travelers said that staying in eco-friendly accommodations provides a more locally immersive experience.

Although only 5% of respondents in the survey believe sustainable travel is easy, 46% see themselves as contributing to environmental protection. When choosing accommodations, the top five eco-friendly factors for travelers are solar power, sustainable water systems, low-flow showers or toilets, organic restaurants or food options, and the presence of recycling bins.