Refers to modes of mobility that minimize environmental impact by reducing greenhouse gas emissions, air pollution, and noise, while promoting efficient, people-centered movement. Within tourism and hospitality, it encompasses transport choices and systems that support sustainable mobility—such as electric or hybrid vehicles, modern rail networks, shared mobility services, cycling infrastructure, and pedestrian-friendly urban design—thereby aligning visitor travel with broader climate and sustainability goals.
In the context of tourism, its relevance is twofold. Operationally, it influences how visitors move between and within destinations: from choosing low-emission flights, trains, or buses to opting for electric airport transfers, bike-sharing schemes, or walking tours once on the ground. Strategically, it shapes how destinations position themselves, as many now integrate low-carbon transport plans into their destination management strategies, marketing narratives, and certification programs. Cities and regions that prioritise low-emission connectivity—such as high-speed rail links, electric ferry routes, and well-coordinated public transport—are increasingly perceived as forward-looking, responsible places to visit.
For hotels, resorts, and tour operators, adopting such practices can mean offering shuttle services with electric vehicles, partnering with local public transport providers, designing itineraries that rely on trains rather than short-haul flights, or encouraging guests to explore via bicycles and e-scooters. Many properties now highlight access to tram lines, metro stations, or scenic walking routes as part of their guest experience, recognising that the journey is a key element of sustainable travel. Destination management organisations, meanwhile, may invest in wayfinding, integrated ticketing, and car-free zones to make low-emission mobility intuitive and appealing for visitors, while also improving quality of life for residents.
Beyond environmental performance, it carries practical benefits: reduced congestion in popular tourism areas, quieter historic centres, improved air quality at nature destinations, and a more relaxed, immersive pace of travel. As travellers become more conscious of their carbon footprint, it also plays a role in shaping demand, with an increasing number of visitors actively seeking itineraries and providers that minimise reliance on private, fossil-fuel-based vehicles.
Example: “The coastal region has invested heavily in green transport, offering electric shuttle buses and bike-sharing stations so visitors can explore without renting a car.”
Synonyms: sustainable transport, low-emission mobility, eco-friendly transportation, clean transport, sustainable mobility systems.
