Survey: Responsible tourism businesses report strong post-pandemic rebound

• Over 60% of respondents tell Responsible Travel that business post-pandemic has been good or excellent – with 12.6% reporting that 2023 is shaping up to be one of their best years ever.
• Over 90% are on track with repayments of government-backed COVID loans, or have repaid them early.
• Survey comes as Responsible Travel releases its first major impact report, rolls out carbon labelling to its 479 global members, and announces a record-breaking profit year.

Responsible tourism businesses are experiencing a strong post-pandemic rebound, according to a survey by Responsible Travel of its member tourism businesses.*

The holiday company asked its 479 global members to report how business is faring in 2023, and whether they had paid back any government-backed loans taken out during the COVID pandemic.

The results paint a picture of renewed financial stability in responsible tourism. Over 60% of respondents indicated their business was doing well or excellent in 2023, including 12.6% reporting that 2023 will be one of their best years ever. 27.9% reported business being average so far in 2023.

The positive findings mirror Responsible Travel’s own financial success. 2023 will mark its most profitable year to date, and this summer the company paid off its Coronavirus Business Interruption Loans – two to three years ahead of schedule – returning the business to a debt-free entity. In July 2017, the company’s directors bought out its minority private equity investors, and it remains an independent business.

The success comes as Responsible Travel launches its first major impact report and rolls out the option of carbon labelling to its 479 global tour operator and accommodation members.

Co-founder and CEO of Responsible Travel, Justin Francis, said: “Customers are clearly prioritising travel amid the cost-of-living crisis. But these results emphasise they’re increasingly conscious of getting value for money – both in terms of experience and impact – and that the travel companies committed to maximising positive impacts of their business, for communities and nature, are benefitting.”

However, it’s important to remember, he added, that some travel operators are still struggling from the effects of the pandemic, compounded by other global and localised conflicts, crises, and disruptions such as the summer heatwaves – with 9.9% of respondents reporting business in 2023 as poor.

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