Third International Conference on Tourism & Leisure Studies

Abstract

Contemporary research on the environmental impacts of tourism tends to focus on the carbon footprint of air travel and waste management issues stemmed from tourism development. However, little attention has been geared towards the environmental implications of the mass consumption of the types of food that account for profoundly significant impacts on the planet. The United Nations (2006) identified animal agriculture as a critically noteworthy sector originating vast quantities of CO2 that contribute to climate change. This poses a substantial challenge as food consumption is widely regarded as a pivotal element of a tourist’s perception and experience of local cultures and meat, dairy and other animal-derived products are often central ingredients that grant local cuisines with distinctive staples of authenticity. From the ethical perspective, the animal welfare debate also contributes to the complexity of this subject area given the different aspects and approaches involved in using animals to feed a growing human population. In terms of nutrition, both the American and British Dietetic Associations (2017) concluded that diets free from animal products can be adequate to address the nutritional needs of humans and can be used in the treatment or prevention of a range of health conditions. Given this framework (environment/ethics/health), this exploratory paper discusses the challenges of conducting research applied to understanding a tourist’s willingness to shift towards plant based diets and the impact that this change may pose on their perception and experience of the destinations they visit.