Why This Matters.

Travel has the power to uplift or exploit. While it connects cultures and supports livelihoods, it can also strain natural resources, deepen inequality, and leave local communities behind. You might be surprised to learn:

• Women make up more than half of the global tourism workforce, yet fewer than 7% of CEOs in the leisure travel industry are women.
• On average, in developing countries, only $5 of every $100 spent by tourists stays in the destination, sometimes it’s even less. Learn more about this on the Veggies Abroad Vegan Travel podcast.
• In some regions, tourists use 8x more water per person than local residents, exacerbating water scarcity that already affects over 40% of the global population.
• And the cruise industry? It generates 24% of ship-based ocean waste, and a single vessel can emit as much CO₂ as a million cars.

But here’s the thing: it doesn’t have to be this way.

Tourism can be a powerful driver of sustainable development, supporting goals like ocean conservation, inclusive economic growth, and climate action. In 2024 alone, the travel industry contributed over $10.9 trillion to the global economy and supported 357 million jobs—about 1 in 10 worldwide. That means travelers have the power to direct that influence toward good.

At Veggies Abroad, we believe in using that power wisely. By being transparent about what we support, and what we don’t, we aim to help more travelers make informed, values-aligned choices. This isn’t about being perfect. It’s about making progress and building a kinder, more equitable world, one trip at a time.