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We’ve officially opened RSVPs for the AST Forum in Ha Noi, happening on June 5, 2025. Please scroll down to check out the agenda and secure your spot. Seats are very limited, with just 15 early-bird passes available on a first-come, first-served basis.

In this week’s Feature Story, we take a closer look at the evolving mindset around low-impact (or low-carbon) travel, and why a more practical, on-the-ground approach is gaining traction.

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Low-Impact Travel in Asia: What Does It Mean, and Who Stands to Gain?

Once a niche concept, low-impact travel has recently become a rallying cry among sustainability advocates in the tourism industry. 

At its core, the movement has long championed reducing emissions through low-carbon mobility, which is a valid starting point, given that transport-related CO2 emissions of the tourism sector account for 22% of all emissions from transport, according to the UNWTO. 

However, the definition of low-carbon or low-impact travel is evolving. In today’s climate-conscious landscape, low-impact travel can no longer rely solely on swapping flights for trains or diesel vans for EVs — especially in a vast continent like Asia, where building the cross-border infrastructure for rail and electric mobility requires large-scale, long-term inter-government investment.

In response to the escalating climate crisis, the movement now increasingly calls for a more practical and hands-on approach: one that accounts for not just how we move but also how we stay, eat, and engage — identifying opportunities across the entire travel journey to lower emissions. 

This systems-level mindset reflects a growing consensus across the sector, including from speakers at the recent The “Better” Choice: Making Low-Carbon Travel the Easy Option webinar hosted by Sustainable Travel International.

As Paloma Zapata, CEO of Sustainable Travel International, aptly noted, “[travelers] aren’t going to buy spreadsheets [showing their carbon emissions],  they’re going to buy experiences.” In other words, designing low-carbon itineraries isn’t enough. The real challenge and opportunity lie in curating experiences that are both climate-smart and emotionally compelling.

Rethinking Low-Impact Accommodation: Beyond Solar Panels and Glamping Tropes

Low-impact accommodation has come a long way from its rustic, back-to-basics origins. While renewable energy transition and sustainable design remain foundational pillars, the most forward-thinking properties in Asia are showing that low-carbon hospitality can also be deeply enriching — not just for the planet, but for the guest experience.

In recent years, the glamping renaissance has offered a compelling case in point. Award-winning tented retreats like Cardamom Tented Camp and the Bill Bensley-designed Shina Mani Wild are redefining luxury through a lens of light-touch design and deep nature immersion. Both properties minimize environmental disruption while delivering high-end, story-rich stays in remote jungle settings.

Though low-impact accommodations may appear simple on the surface, they are, in fact, built on specialized expertise. Creating comfort in off-grid, natural environments requires advanced design thinking, engineering precision, and long-term environmental planning.

Asia Pacific Outdoor Lodging Association (APOLA), along with innovators like Escape Nomade, LB Aresia, and Cloud Collective, are championing the evolution of sustainable outdoor accommodations, from mobile tents to semi-permanent eco-structures that blend with the landscape.

Treehouses, once a novelty, have also matured into a category of their own within low-impact lodging.

Properties such as Keemala in Phuket, Bambu Indah in Bali, Grun Resorts in Indonesia, and The Machan in India offer whimsical, elevated stays that connect guests to their surroundings while drastically lowering the built footprint. 

These properties show that sustainability can inspire creativity rather than limit it.

Low-Impact Travel Unlocks Elevated, Immersive Experiences

Low-impact travel isn’t about cutting corners; it’s about deepening the journey. 

Michele Harvey highlighted in the webinar that Butterfield & Robinson’s Japan Walking and Biking Tours along with other foot-powered tours are a case in point. These small-group tours allow travelers to experience Japan’s countryside and spiritual sites without the footprint of motorized transport. It combines luxury with low-impact design, offering local ryokan stays, regional cuisine, and train-based transfers.

In Bali, the Fireflies Night Safari experience by Seek Sophie offers a quiet counterpoint to the island’s busy nightlife by connecting travelers with local conservationists, making the experience as educational as it is enchanting.

Astungkara Trails gives nature-loving travelers a chance to escape the tourist crowds and immerse in the authentic essence of the islands of the Gods with tailored walking getaways in northern Bali. Revenues finance local initiatives such as food forests, youth farming programs, and the preservation of Bali’s cultural and culinary heritage.

The Broader Value Proposition: Who Truly Benefits in Addition to the Environment?

The benefits of low-impact travel are multidimensional and go far beyond carbon reduction.

Local communities gain direct economic value as traveler spending goes to family-run homestays, local guides, and small-scale food producers. In Indonesia, more than 1,200 villages have joined the Desa Wisata program, offering cultural and nature-based experiences that generate grassroots income and ease overcrowding in mainstream tourism hotspots.

→ Read more about who else stands to benefit from low-impact travel

The Business Case for Scaling Up 

As regulatory frameworks tighten — from Singapore’s Green Plan 2030 to the EU’s Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive — those who proactively decarbonize and localize their value chains will stay ahead of the curve.

In many Asian destinations, where tourism remains a pillar of the economy, the risks of inaction are rising just as fast as the sea levels. Low-impact travel provides a roadmap and economic lifeline.

If you’re in Ha Noi, join us at AST Forum

🗓️ Date: June 5, 2025
🕑 Time: 14:00–17:00
📍 Venue: Hotel de Lagom, Ha Noi (Map link)
🎟️ Secure your seat now

We’re thrilled to invite you to the next AST Forum — happening in Ha Noi on June 5, 2025, in celebration of World Environment Day. This year’s theme, #BeatPlasticPollution, makes it the perfect platform to discuss pressing challenges and real solutions.

→ From Plastic Pollution to Solution: The Pivotal Role of Hospitality

Plastic waste is threatening Vietnam’s natural beauty.

But businesses going plastic-free are showing it’s not just good for the planet; it’s great for profits, guest satisfaction, and brand loyalty.

This session will focus on actionable strategies to transform plastic challenges into opportunities.

→ Sustainability: A Revenue-Generating Strategy or A Cost Center?

Is sustainability an expense or an advantage?

In this session, we’ll discuss how responsible practices can drive revenue, save money, and build customer loyalty.

You’ll walk away with actionable strategies to turn sustainability into a long-term competitive advantage.

Beyond the conversations, your participation will drive impact.

↳ 5% of ticket sales will support Saigon Xanh in cleaning Vietnam’s waterways.
↳Three trees per attendee will be planted in climate-vulnerable communities through OneSeed.

This is your chance to help shape a tourism future that is responsible, meaningful, and impactful.

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