# Climate, Community and Choice: Booking.com's 2022 Sustainable Travel Trends

**Publisher:** Booking.com  
**Published:** n/a  
**Category:** Travel tech  
**Type:** Survey  
**Access:** Free PDF  
**Official source:** https://news.booking.com/en/climate-community-and-choice-bookingcom-reveals-the-trends-shaping-sustainable-travel-in-2022  
**Canonical:** https://tourismintel.ai/reports/climate-community-and-choice-booking-com-reveals-the-trends-shaping-sustainable

## At a glance
- 71% of UK travellers say sustainable travel is important; 42% cite climate change news as influencing their choices.
- 33% stayed in sustainable accommodation in the past year; 62% intend to do so in the coming year.
- 26% chose off-peak travel and 19% selected less-popular destinations to avoid overcrowding in the past year.
- 55% want to leave visited places better than they found them; 38% struggle to find appealing uncrowded alternatives.
- Over 100,000 properties globally carry Booking.com's Travel Sustainable badge; only 32% actively seek sustainability info when booking transport.

## What the report covers
Booking.com commissioned independent research among 30,314 travellers across 32 countries in February 2022 to assess attitudes and behaviours towards sustainable travel. The survey measured awareness and uptake of sustainable accommodation, transport choices, destination timing, community engagement, and willingness to modify travel patterns. Findings benchmark against 2021 data and identify gaps between traveller intentions and actual booking behaviour.

## Key findings
Climate awareness is driving stated intent. The survey finds 71% of UK travellers view sustainable travel as important, with 42% reporting climate change news directly influenced their choices. Intent to travel sustainably increased 27% year-on-year from 2021. However, this sentiment does not uniformly translate to action: 62% do not actively seek sustainability information before booking, yet nearly two-thirds would review it if easily accessible.

Sustainable accommodation adoption grows but faces visibility barriers. Among respondents, 33% stayed in sustainable properties in the past year, with 62% intending to do so in the coming year. Yet 27% of non-adopters did not know such options existed (down from 30% in 2021), and 26% did not know how to find them. Environmental impact (31%), local experience (21%), and community welfare (24%) drive selection decisions.

Strong appetite for off-peak and alternative destinations to limit overtourism. The report finds 26% chose off-peak travel and 19% selected less-crowded destinations in the past year to avoid overcrowding. Looking ahead, 31% would travel exclusively outside peak season and 61% would avoid popular attractions. However, 38% struggle to identify appealing uncrowded options, and 40% perceive cities and tourist sites as lacking sustainable alternatives.

Transportation a secondary concern despite environmental anxiety. Although 33% feel ashamed to fly and 23% travelled closer to home to reduce carbon, only 32% actively seek sustainability information when booking transport. Yet even those not prioritising sustainability report it influences satisfaction, suggesting promotional efforts could expand adoption without active consumer search.

## Key numbers
| Metric | Value | Note |
|---|---|---|
| UK travellers viewing sustainable travel as important | 71% | Survey respondents across 32 countries; UK sample n=980 |
| Respondents reporting climate change news influenced their sustainable travel choices | 42% | Global survey finding |
| Year-on-year increase in intent to travel more sustainably (UK) | 27% | 2022 vs 2021 data |
| Travellers who stayed in sustainable accommodation in past year | 33% | Global survey respondents |
| Travellers intending to stay in sustainable accommodation in coming year | 62% | Forward-looking intent |
| Properties globally with Booking.com Travel Sustainable badge | 100,000+ | As of April 2022 |
| Travellers choosing off-peak or less-popular destinations to avoid overcrowding | 26% off-peak, 19% alternative destination | Past 12 months behaviour |
| Non-adopters of sustainable accommodation unaware such options exist | 27% | Down from 30% in 2021; visibility improving |

## Why it matters
**DMOs & destinations** — Strong traveller appetite exists for off-peak and uncrowded alternatives, yet 38–40% cannot identify appealing options. DMOs can position secondary attractions and seasonal experiences as community-positive, culturally authentic alternatives, partnering with platforms to increase visibility and compete on experience rather than peak-season volume.

**Hotels & hospitality** — With 62% intending to book sustainable accommodation but 62% not actively searching, properties must ensure sustainability credentials are prominently visible at booking. Environmental impact (31%), local experience (21%), and community benefit (24%) drive choices. Properties should audit recognised certifications and integrate them clearly into marketing and platform listings.

**Travel tech & distribution** — Platforms face critical opportunity: travellers express intent but lack accessible information. While 29% actively seek sustainability data, 62% would review it if easily accessible. Standardising labels, enabling intuitive filtering, and integrating community-benefit recommendations into search and post-booking flows can capture demand without requiring active consumer effort.

## Methodology and limits
Independent online survey conducted February 2022 among 30,314 respondents across 32 countries (UK: n=980). Respondents aged 18+, travelled in past 12 months, planning 2022 travel, and were primary or co-decision makers. Survey measured self-reported attitudes, past behaviours, and forward intentions. Figures are survey estimates, not transaction data. Some 2021 comparisons provided where stated.

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© Booking.com for the original report. This brief is an original editorial summary by TourismIntel (https://tourismintel.ai). Read the original: https://news.booking.com/en/climate-community-and-choice-bookingcom-reveals-the-trends-shaping-sustainable-travel-in-2022