"Anti-fly campaign by Milieu Centraal and Natuur & Milieu falls short. Sustainable travel requires broader vision."

The recent campaign by Milieu Centraal and Natuur & Milieu emphasises flying less as the solution for sustainable tourism. According to Voja Travel founder Joshua van Eijndhoven, this approach is too limited. "With flying, you spread wealth around the world. Flying less, the figures show, is not the only factor. Making a positive impact on the destination itself is at least as important."

Sustainable tourism = more than flying less

At Voja Travel, a broader view of sustainability is central. Thus, the company invests in concrete initiatives in destinations such as Cape Verde. The Voja Clean Transport project, replacing diesel vehicles with electric cars and installing solar-powered charging stations, is a prime example. In addition, solar energy projects help save thousands of tonnes of CO₂ emissions.

"Sustainable travel is not just about how you travel, but mainly about what you contribute at your destination," said Van Eijndhoven. "The impact of tourism can do a lot of good locally - if done right."

Making conscious choices

The idea that sustainable travel is only about flying less does not hold water. "It's about making conscious choices both before and during the trip. Our initiatives in Cape Verde - from sustainable energy solutions to investing in local communities - show that you can turn a holiday into a force for positive change. This not only helps the environment, but also strengthens the economic and social structures in the regions where we operate."

A call for collaboration

Voja Travel calls on travellers and policymakers alike to take a holistic approach to sustainability. Creating destination impact not only provides opportunities for a better world, but also highlights how tourism can actually contribute to local prosperity and development.