Travelling Along the SDGs - Exploring a New Kind of Tourism

The UN's 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are a global framework with targets set for 2030 to make the world a better place: such as eradicating poverty, reducing hunger, protecting the climate, achieving gender equality, or ensuring access to clean water.

The SDGs cover all aspects of life – including tourism. Tourism can either be a tool for achieving these goals or a hindrance if not organised responsibly. Conscious travel aims to choose the former.

Although it may not be obvious at first, these goals are closely linked to tourism. When travelling, people make decisions – about where to stay, what to eat, how to get around, and whom to support with their money and attention. All these choices directly impact whether the trip supports or jeopardises these global goals. An “SDG-focused traveller” makes decisions that align with the vision of moving towards a more sustainable world.

An SDG-focused traveller, someone who thinks in terms of the UN's Sustainable Development Goals, approaches travel fundamentally differently from traditional tourists. Their primary concern is that their decisions have a positive impact on people, the environment, and local communities.

For instance, they consciously choose accommodations, restaurants, or activities that support local businesses, thereby reducing economic inequalities (SDG 8 – Decent Work and Economic Growth, SDG 10 – Reduced Inequalities). They also pay close attention to their environmental footprint: avoiding single-use packaging, choosing energy-efficient accommodations, and, where possible, travelling on foot or by public transport (SDG 12 – Responsible Consumption and Production, SDG 13 – Climate Action). They behave in a culturally sensitive manner, showing interest in and respecting local traditions and customs (SDG 11 – Sustainable Cities and Communities, SDG 16 – Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions). They seek experiences that promote social inclusion – for example, visiting places where disadvantaged individuals actively participate in hospitality or lead activities (SDG 5 – Gender Equality, SDG 10).

Such a traveller doesn’t just collect memories but creates real value – their individual choices contribute to building a fairer and more sustainable world.

The essence of SDG-focused travel is that visitors don’t just focus on their own comfort but also consider the social, economic, and environmental impacts of their journey. For example, staying at a rural eco-farm where meals are prepared using local ingredients (SDG 2 – Zero Hunger and SDG 12 – Responsible Consumption and Production), or where equality programmes are in place (SDG 5 – Gender Equality and SDG 10 – Reduced Inequalities) and raising awareness among guests is a priority (SDG 4 – Quality Education), supports the local economy (SDG 8 – Decent Work and Economic Growth), social inclusion (SDG 10), and environmentally friendly lifestyles (SDG 13 – Climate Action) all at once.

This form of travel isn’t about sacrifice but about making choices that positively impact the world – while still enjoying rich and memorable experiences.

SDG-focused tourism benefits not only visitors but also serves as a compass for destinations. The SDGs create a common language: tourism providers, decision-makers, and visitors can all refer to the same principles.

This supports strategic planning, marketing, grant applications, and operational transparency. Providers and regions that integrate into the system can communicate based on a unified set of values – and this is increasingly becoming an expectation from conscious travellers.

Imagine a traveller who values social equality. Their itinerary includes places where people with disabilities are involved in hospitality or craft activities, where a café is run by a social enterprise, and where programmes are offered by communities previously excluded from tourism.

Or think of a climate-conscious family who chooses the train over flying, stays at accommodations with solar heating, and participates in a local tree-planting initiative. Their holiday is not just a memory but a genuine contribution to a more liveable future.

SDG-focused travel is not a campaign or a trend. It’s a mindset that is becoming second nature for more and more people. Amid the world’s complex challenges, an increasing number of travellers seek experiences that are not just for them – but carry meaning.

So the question isn’t whether to travel. It’s: how, where, and why?

The I-DEST platform offers travellers the chance to make decisions not just based on feelings but on concrete data. The system provides SDG-based filtering options, allowing visitors to indicate whether climate protection, supporting local communities, or equality is most important to them – and receive recommendations for programmes, accommodations, or providers accordingly.

This isn’t theoretical: I-DEST bases all recommendations on real, measurable data, recorded by local providers through self-reporting and audited processes. For instance, a hospitality venue that demonstrably uses local ingredients can visibly connect to the “Zero Hunger” (SDG 2) or “Responsible Consumption and Production” (SDG 12) goals.

Travellers can therefore travel knowing that they are genuinely supporting the goals they care about, not just making decisions based on marketing messages.