Dual Perspectives on the Impact of Tourism Are Encouraging

“Take only memories, leave nothing but footprints” remains a valuable mantra for anyone visiting a destination. It acknowledges the risk of leaving a negative mark and reminds travellers to respect the environments they encounter, preserving them for others to enjoy. While this phrase is often applied to our environmental impact on places of natural beauty, it is equally relevant to the social and cultural footprints we leave behind in the communities we visit.

Doing no harm is a start, but doing some good is even better. According to the 2025 Booking.com Travel and Sustainability report, most travellers genuinely want to make a positive impression: 73% of respondents to the survey saying that they want their spending to go back into the local community. Moreover, 77% said they actively seek out cultural experiences while travelling, aiming to bring home more than photographs.

Genuine efforts to be considerate rarely go unnoticed. Just over half of residents surveyed said tourists are often or always respectful of local culture, and a similar share believe visitors make an effort to support local businesses. These findings suggest that travellers’ and locals’ interests are closely aligned – and that the “arrogant tourist” is more of an exception than the rule.

This text is an exerpt from the October 2025 edition of Statista and Booking.com's Travel and Tourism Insights newsletter. Sign up here for more tourism industry data insights - straight to your inbox.