A-Z Deep Travel Glossary
The Complete A-Z Glossary and Definitions of Deep Travel and Sustainable Tourism
A
Adventure Travel: Tourism that involves exploration and participation in physically challenging and culturally immersive activities in diverse and often remote or wilderness environments. It emphasises active outdoor engagement, and pursuing unique and unconventional experiences, such as trekking, hiking, mountain biking, rock climbing, wildlife safaris.
Agro-Tourism: Tourism that involves visiting farms or agricultural areas, supporting rural economies and local businesses.
Air Pollution: The Air Quality Index (AQI) measures air quality and provides information on pollutants like particulate matter, ozone, and nitrogen dioxide.
Alternative Tourism: Low-impact travel that avoids mass tourism, often focusing on unique experiences and cultural immersion.
Animal Welfare: Concerns the ethical treatment of animals in tourism, ensuring their well-being and protection of their rights.
Archaeological Tourism: The exploration of historical sites, artefacts, and cultural heritage, providing insights into the past civilizations and their contributions.
Art Tourism: Travel with an emphasis on experiencing art in all its forms.Think museums, galleries, attending live performances like music or theatre, or even street art tours. Art tourism allows you to witness artistic expression, explore different artistic movements, and gain a deep understanding of a place’s cultural heritage through its art.
Authenticity: Refers to genuine and unspoiled experiences, capturing the true essence of a destination without artificial or commercial influences.
B
B-Corp: A certification for businesses that meet rigorous standards of social and environmental performance, accountability, and transparency.
Biodegradable: Materials that break down naturally, reducing environmental impact and waste accumulation.
Biodiversity: The variety of plant and animal life within a particular ecosystem, vital for ecological balance and sustainability.
Biodynamic Farming: An agricultural approach that integrates holistic and sustainable practices, emphasising harmony with nature and lunar cycles.
Biophilic Design: Integrating natural elements into built environments to enhance well-being and sustainability.
Bleisure Travel: Combining business and leisure travel to maximise experiences and work-related activities.
Blue Economy: Focus on sustainable use of ocean resources, including fisheries, tourism, and conservation, for long-term economic and ecological benefits.
Blue Flag: An international eco-label awarded to beaches, marinas, and sustainable boating tourism operators that meet specific criteria related to water quality, environmental management, safety, and services
C
Carbon Emissions: Carbon emissions refer to the release of carbon dioxide (CO2) and other greenhouse gases into the atmosphere.
Carbon Footprint: A carbon footprint measures the total amount of greenhouse gases, especially carbon dioxide, that are directly or indirectly produced by an individual, organisation, event, or product throughout its lifecycle.
Carbon Neutral: Being carbon neutral means balancing the amount of greenhouse gases emitted with an equivalent amount of emissions removed or offset, resulting in a net-zero impact on the environment.
Carbon Negative: Being carbon negative means removing more carbon dioxide from the atmosphere than is being emitted, resulting in a net reduction of greenhouse gases.
Carbon Offset: A carbon offset is a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions, usually achieved through projects or initiatives such as reforestation or renewable energy, to compensate for emissions produced elsewhere.
Carbon Sink: A carbon sink is a natural, for example, the Amazon, or artificial reservoir that absorbs more carbon dioxide from the atmosphere than it releases, helping to mitigate the effects of climate change.
Carbon Capture: Carbon capture involves capturing and storing carbon dioxide emissions from industrial processes or power plants to prevent them from entering the atmosphere and contributing to climate change.
Certifications: Recognised standards and labels such as Green Key, which assess and promote sustainability practices in the tourism industry.
Circular Economy: An economic system that minimises waste and promotes the continual use and recycling of resources.
Climate Change: Refers to long-term changes in temperature, precipitation, and other atmospheric conditions.
Code of Conduct: Guidelines outlining ethical behaviour, often adopted by organisations, businesses, or individuals to ensure responsible practices.
Community-Based Tourism: Engages and benefits local communities by involving them in tourism planning and development, as well as ensuring tourism revenue stays in the community.
Compliance: Adherence to laws, regulations, and standards to ensure ethical and legal operation within the tourism industry.
Conscious tourism: Involves mindful and intentional travel choices that prioritise environmental sustainability, cultural respect, and social responsibility. Travellers engage in informed decision-making to minimise negative impacts on destinations while fostering personal growth and contributing positively to local communities.
Conservation: Efforts to protect and preserve natural and cultural resources for future generations.
Culinary Travel: Involves exploring a destination’s local cuisine and culinary traditions, often promoting local food producers.
Cultural Heritage: The traditions, customs, and artefacts passed down through generations, often a focus of sustainable cultural tourism.
Cultural Landscape: The combined works of nature and humanity that shape a cultural identity and provide a sense of place.
Cultural Tourism: This type of travel immerses you in the local way of life, history, traditions, and customs of a destination. It includes historical sites, museums, festivals, and eating regional cuisine. Cultural tourism develops appreciation and understanding between people.
Cultural Travel: Immersion in the cultural aspects of a destination, including traditions, arts, and local customs.
D
Dark Tourism: Visiting sites associated with tragedy, natural or human-induced, often with a focus on education and preservation.
Deep Travel: A concept emphasising meaningful, immersive, and transformative travel experiences.
Destination: A specific place or location where tourists travel for leisure, business, or other purposes.
Destination Management: The planning, coordination, and sustainable development of tourist destinations.
Destination Marketing Organizations (DMO’s): Organisations responsible for promoting and marketing a destination to attract tourists. Often as tourist boards, tourism authorities or convention and visitors bureaus.
Destination Stewardship: Involves responsible management and preservation of a destination’s resources to ensure long-term sustainability.
Domestic Tourism (Local Tourism): Travelling within one’s own country, promoting local economies, and thus reducing environmental impact
E
Ecolodge: Accommodations designed with environmentally friendly practices, often in natural settings.
Ecosystem: The interconnected network of various elements and components within a destination that collectively contributes to the travel experience. This includes the natural environment, such as landscapes, flora, and fauna, but also cultural, social, and economic aspects.
Ecotourism: Responsible travel to natural areas that conserve the environment, sustain the well-being of local people, and educate visitors.
Environmental Impact Assessment: Evaluation of potential environmental effects of a project or development before it takes place.
ESG: Environmental, Social, and Governance criteria used to assess a company’s impact on sustainability and ethical practices.
Ethical Wildlife Tourism: Interacting with wildlife in a way that respects their natural behaviour and habitats, avoiding harm and exploitation.
Experiential Travel: Emphasises immersive and participatory travel experiences regarding history, people, culture, food and environment, focusing on personal engagement.
F
Fair Trade Tourism: Ensuring fair wages and ethical treatment of workers in the tourism industry.
Farm to Table: Promotes the use of locally sourced, fresh produce in culinary offerings, often between restaurants and farmers.
Food Tourism: Exploring local cuisine and culinary traditions as a central part of the travel experience, supporting local farmers and businesses.
Flygskam (Flight Shame): A movement encouraging alternatives to air travel to reduce carbon emissions.
G
Gastronomy: The art of choosing, cooking, and eating good food, a key element in cultural tourism.
Geotourism: Tourism that puts focus on the geographical character of a place, focusing on its culture, heritage, environment, aesthetics, and the well-being of residents.
Glamping: Glamourous camping combines the luxury with the outdoor experience of camping, often in natural settings. Sustainable Glamping is now a growing trend.
Green Certification: Recognition given to businesses that meet specific sustainability criteria.
Greenhouse Gases: Gases that contribute to the greenhouse effect, leading to global warming, including carbon dioxide and methane.
Greenhushing/Muting: The intentional silence of progress with sustainable practices out of fear of being scrutinised for the smallest infraction.
Green Key: An international eco-label awarded to hotels, hostels, conference centres, campsites, and other accommodations that demonstrate a commitment to sustainable and environmentally friendly practices. The certification focuses on areas such as energy and water conservation, waste management, environmental education, and the promotion of local culture and nature.
Greenwashing: Misleading claims about environmental practices to present a false impression of sustainability.
Grey Water: Wastewater generated from non-sewage sources like baths, sinks, washing machines, and other kitchen appliances, treated and reused for irrigation or other non-potable purposes.
GSTC: Global Sustainable Tourism Council, an organisation that establishes and manages global sustainable tourism standards.
H
Habitat: The natural environment in which a particular species or community of species lives.
Heritage Tourism: Tourism centred on the cultural and historical heritage of a destination. Associated with UNESCO World Heritage sites.
Holistic Tourism: An approach that considers the interconnectedness of environmental, social, and economic aspects in tourism planning and development.
Homestays: Staying with local families in private homes to experience daily life, fostering cultural exchange and supporting local economies.
I
Impact Assessment: Evaluating the positive and negative effects of tourism on a destination’s environment, society, and economy.
Inbound Tour Operator: A company or individual that organises, plans, and manages travel arrangements, services, and activities for tourists visiting a specific destination or country from abroad.
Inclusive Tourism: Ensuring that tourism benefits all community members, including marginalised groups.
Indigenous Community: A group of people with ancestral ties to a specific region, often promoting indigenous tourism.
Indigenous Tourism: Experiencing and respecting the cultures and traditions of indigenous communities, often led by indigenous guides.
Indoor Farming: Cultivating crops in controlled indoor environments, often in vertical fashion, or on building rooftops, promoting urban agriculture
J
Joint Ventures: Collaborative initiatives between tourism businesses and local communities to ensure shared benefits.
Justice (Solidarity) Tourism: Travelling with a focus on social justice issues, aiming to raise awareness and contribute positively to communities
K
Knowledge Exchange: Mutual learning between tourists and locals, fostering cultural understanding.
Kairos (Deep Time): Emphasising the qualitative aspects of travel experiences, focusing on the right or opportune moment, where it feels like time has stopped. For example, a great conversation, or a magnificent sunset with a loved one
L
Labour Rights: Ensuring fair and ethical treatment of workers, including fair wages and safe working conditions.
Landscape Tourism: Exploring and appreciating natural and cultural landscapes, often with an ecological focus.
Leave No Trace: Promoting responsible outdoor recreation and travel, emphasising minimal impact on natural environments.
Light Pollution: Excessive, misdirected, or obtrusive artificial light that disrupts the natural darkness of the night sky.
Living Wage: A living wage is a term used to describe the minimum income necessary for a worker to meet their basic needs and maintain a decent standard of living.
Local Community: The residents and individuals living in a particular area or destination, often impacted by tourism.
Local Sourcing: Purchasing goods and services locally to support the community and reduce the environmental footprint.
Low-Impact Tourism: Minimising the negative effects of tourism on the environment and local communities.
Low-Impact Transport: Transportation methods designed to minimise environmental impact, such as walking, cycling, or the use of electric vehicles.
Luxury Travel: Involves high-end experiences and accommodations that provide exceptional comfort, exclusivity, and personalised service, catering to the discerning preferences and desires of the traveller. It includes luxurious amenities, unique destinations, and meticulous attention to detail, creating a memorable journey. With changing preferences and new generations, the concept has modernised to also take into account sustainability and mindfulness
M
Marine Conservation: Efforts and initiatives to protect and preserve marine ecosystems, including coral reefs, sea life, and coastal areas.
MICE Tourism (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions): A segment of tourism focused on business events.
Microadventures: Small-scale, low-impact adventures, often closer to home and achievable with little planning or cost.
Mindful Travel: Approaching travel with mindfulness, being present in the moment, and cultivating an awareness of the impact on the environment and local cultures.
Multi-Stakeholder Partnerships: Collaborative efforts involving various stakeholders, including local communities, businesses, and government agencies.
N
Natural Assets: The inherent resources and features of a destination, including landscapes, flora, fauna, and geological formations.
Nature-Based Tourism: Tourism activities that focus on natural environments, wildlife, and outdoor experiences, featuring environmental appreciation and conservation.
Net Zero: Achieving a balance between the amount of greenhouse gas emissions produced and the amount removed from the atmosphere.
Niche Tourism: Tailoring experiences to specific interests, such as birdwatching, wellness, or educational tourism.
Noise Pollution: Excessive and harmful noise caused by human activities, affecting both natural environments and local communities.
Nomad: An individual who adopts a lifestyle characterised by constant movement and a lack of a permanent or fixed residence. Travel nomads often explore different locations, either for work or leisure, frequently changing their living environments and embracing a more flexible and mobile way of life. This lifestyle is commonly associated with remote work, freelancing, and a desire for diverse cultural experiences
o
Ocean-Friendly Tourism: Sustainable practices to protect marine environments, such as coral reefs and coastal ecosystems.
Off-season Travel (Low season travel): The period when a destination experiences lower tourist visitation compared to its peak or high season. During this time, fewer travellers visit because of factors such as weather and work, resulting in lower demand for accommodations and attractions.
Off-season travel often offers the opportunity for cost savings, less crowded experiences, and a different perspective on a destination.
Online Travel Agency (OTA): A digital platform or website that enables users to research, plan, and book various travel-related services such as flights, accommodations, car rentals, and activities.
OTAs provide a centralised online marketplace for travellers to access and compare a wide range of travel options and make reservations.
Organic Farming: Agricultural practices that prioritise natural and sustainable methods, avoiding synthetic pesticides and fertilisers.
Over-Tourism: Excessive tourism that negatively impacts a destination’s environment, culture, and quality of life for residents.
Outbound Tour Operator: A company or individual that organises and manages travel arrangements, services, and packages for individuals or groups travelling from their home country to international destinations
p
Peak season (High Season): The period during which a destination experiences the highest level of tourist activity and demand for travel services. Increased visitor numbers, higher prices for accommodations and services, and often optimal weather characterise this timeframe.
Permaculture: Sustainable agricultural practices that can apply to tourism development.
Place Attachment: Emotional bonds formed between tourists and destinations, encouraging repeat visits.
Place Branding: Refers to the strategic process of creating and managing a positive and distinctive image or identity for a specific geographic location, such as a city, region, or country. The branding aims to differentiate the place from others, attract visitors, investors, and residents, and positively influence perceptions about its culture, attractions, and overall appeal.
Plastic Pollution: The environmental impact of plastic waste, often affecting oceans, waterways, and wildlife.
Positive Impact Tourism: A focus on creating positive effects on the environment, society, and economy of a destination.
Purposeful travel: Purposeful travel goes beyond sightseeing and leisure. It’s about using travel experiences to benefit both yourself and the destinations you visit. This can involve volunteering, supporting local communities, and making environmentally conscious choices. It’s about travel that leaves a positive impact.
q
Quality Tourism: A focus on high-quality experiences that benefit both visitors and hosts.
Quarantine Tourism: A trend where travellers seek seclusion and escape from crowds, often in remote or less-visited destinations. Born during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Quiet Tourism: Promoting silent or low-impact activities to minimise disturbances to wildlife and ecosystems
r
Responsible Travel and Tourism: Making ethical choices that minimise the negative impact of travel on the environment and local cultures.
Regenerative Travel and Tourism: An approach to travel that aims not only to minimise negative impacts but also actively contribute to the regeneration of ecosystems and communities.
Religious Tourism: Travelling for spiritual or religious purposes, often involving pilgrimages or visits to sacred sites.
Remote Work: The ability to work from different locations, enabling flexibility and potentially reducing the environmental impact of commuting.
Renewable Energy: Energy derived from naturally replenishing sources, such as sunlight, wind, or water, with minimal environmental impact.
Restoration: Efforts to repair, revitalise, or rehabilitate degraded or damaged ecosystems and cultural heritage sites.
Rural Tourism: Visiting and experiencing life in rural areas, often supporting local agriculture and traditional practices.
s
SAF: Sustainable Aviation Fuel, a type of biofuel designed for use in aviation to reduce the carbon footprint of air travel.
Scope 1,2,3 emissions Categories used to classify greenhouse gas emissions in an organisation’s or project’s carbon footprint.
– Scope 1 emissions represent direct greenhouse gas emissions that originate from sources owned or controlled by the organisation or project, such as on-site fuel combustion and vehicle emissions.
– Scope 2 emissions include indirect emissions associated with the production of purchased electricity, heat, or steam consumed by the organisation or project, providing insights into the environmental impact of the energy sources used.
– Scope 3 emissions encompass all other indirect emissions, including those from the entire value chain, not owned or controlled by the organisation or project, for example, partner and supplier activity.
Slow Food: A movement promoting local and traditional food, highlighting quality, sustainability, and the enjoyment of meals.
Slow living: It is about creating a more meaningful and conscious life, prioritising quality over quantity. You do everything at the right speed, in line with what your values. Instead of constant acceleration, the slow movement focuses on doing things better, decluttering your physical and mental space, and appreciating being in the present. This mindful approach fosters deeper connections, reduces stress, and allows you to live a more intentional and fulfilling life.
Slow Travel: An approach to travel that emphasises the journey, and a slower pace to appreciate the local culture and environment.
Social Impact Assessment: The evaluation of a project’s or activity’s effects on social and cultural aspects, ensuring positive contributions to communities.
Sustainable Development: Balancing economic, social, and environmental considerations for long-term well-being.
Sustainable Development Goals: Seventeen goals outlined by the United Nations to address global challenges and promote sustainable development.
Sustainable Practices: Adopting environmentally and socially responsible behaviours and actions within the tourism industry.
Sustainable Travel and Tourism: Sustainable travel and tourism refer to practices that aim to minimise the negative environmental, social, and cultural impacts associated with travel while maximising the positive contributions to destinations and communities. It involves responsible and ethical decision-making throughout the entire travel process, including considerations for environmental conservation, local community engagement, social equity, and economic well-being. Sustainable travel seeks to ensure that tourism activities benefit the present and future generations by promoting long-term environmental integrity and fostering positive cultural interactions.
T
Transformative Travel: Travel experiences that lead to personal growth, self-discovery, and a changed perspective on life.
Transportation: The movement of people and goods from one place to another, such as air, rail, water, cycling, and walking.
Triple Bottom Line: Evaluating the success of tourism based on economic, social, and environmental factors.
Tourism Carrying Capacity: The maximum number of visitors a destination can sustainably accommodate.
Tourist Impact Management: Strategies to minimise negative impacts and maximise positive contributions of tourism.
u
Under-Tourism: Lower level of tourism flows regarding the potential and existing resources of a destination.
UNESCO: The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, responsible for designating and protecting World Heritage Sites.
Upcycling: Repurposing and transforming discarded materials or products into new items, reducing waste.
Urban Tourism: Sustainable tourism initiatives in cities, focusing on cultural, environmental, and social aspects.
v
Vegan: A diet and lifestyle that excludes the use of animal products, extending to choices in travel and consumption.
Vegetarian: A diet that excludes meat but may include other animal products like dairy and eggs.
Vineyard: An agricultural area where grapes grow for wine production, often visited by wine enthusiasts.
Visitor Management: Planning and controlling the number of visitors to protect sensitive destinations and minimise environmental impact.
Voluntourism (Volunteer Tourism): Combining tourism with volunteer work, often in conservation or community development projects.
W
Walking Tourism: Sustainable travel with walking and trekking as the primary mode of exploration.
Waste Reduction: Implementing strategies to minimise waste generation and encourage recycling in tourism operations.
Wastewater: Used water that contains pollutants, requiring treatment before being released back into the environment.
Water Conservation: Efforts to reduce water usage and promote responsible water management to preserve this vital resource.
Wellness Tourism: Travel focused on promoting health and well-being incorporating spa treatments, fitness activities, and mindfulness.
Wildlife Conservation Tourism: Tourism involving observing and appreciating wildlife in their natural habitats, through initiatives dedicated to protecting and preserving animals.
Winery: A facility for wine production, often open for tours and tastings, contributing to culinary and cultural tourism.
Wine Tourism: Tourism activities relating to the exploration of wine regions, vineyards, and wineries.
Workation: A blend of work and vacation, allowing individuals to work remotely while enjoying a destination’s amenities and experiences.
X
Xeriscaping: Landscaping practices that reduce or eliminate the need for water, promoting sustainability in tourist destinations.
Xenia: The ancient Greek concept of hospitality, emphasising kindness and generosity towards guests.
y
Youth Engagement: Involving young people in sustainable tourism practices and decision-making.
Yield Management: Strategic pricing and inventory control to optimise revenue while minimising negative impacts on destinations.
Z
Zero-Waste Tourism: Minimising waste generated by tourism activities, with a focus on recycling and waste reduction.
Zen Tourism: Travel experiences that focus on tranquillity, mindfulness, and connecting with nature.
Zoning: Areas suffering from the pressures of tourism are divided into zones to limit the number of people allowed in.
This A-Z glossary covers a range of terms associated with deep travel and sustainable tourism, providing a deeper understanding of the diverse aspects shaping the industry. Have we missed any? Contact us and help expand the glossary!
