Trip.com Group’s Country Retreats initiative was cited in the United Nations Global Compact (UNGC)’s latest ESG 20 Report.

The initiative highlighted the alignment of Trip.com Group with the UNGC’s sustainability principles, showcasing a positive correlation between the online travel platform’s Local Focus, Global Vision strategy and its commitment to sustainable travel practices.

Launched in 2021, Country Retreats is an initiative that aims to create a model of villages and homestays for rural revitalisation. 

It has created enormous employment and economic benefits for local regions, such as creating jobs and supporting local industries across the value chain.

A great plus for communities and the environment

Currently, 30 of these retreats are in operation resulting in a 122 percent surge in local bed-and-breakfast revenue. 

Additionally, locals employed by these retreats have gained an average annual income boost of over US$5,500. 

The retreats have also achieved a 30.8 percent annual reduction in carbon emissions, approximately 80,000 kilograms, through the implementation of energy-saving changes, such as utilising a wastewater recycling system and installing photovoltaic panels.

This approach aligns with the UNGC Principles in committing to responsible business practices. It also contributes to many of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), such as ending poverty (SDG1), fostering affordable and clean energy (SDG7), promoting decent work and economic growth (SDG 8), building sustainable cities and communities (SDG11) and so on.

The initiative likewise exemplifies Trip.com’s Local Focus, Global Vision strategy, which combines local expertise with global operations, allowing the company to meet customer needs through local initiatives, while maintaining a clear, global perspective for sustainable growth and partnerships.

Focused on sustainability

The success of the Country Retreats comes amid travellers’ increasing appetite for trips that prioritise local economies, preserve cultural authenticity and enhance environmental protection.

This observation is reflected in Trip.com Group’s latest Sustainable Travel Consumer Report. Among the most-cited motivations for practising sustainable travel, environmental protection ranked first, followed by cultural heritage preservation, positive economic impact, and societal factors. 

This highlights a broader trend where travellers not only aim to reduce their environmental footprint but also actively seek to benefit the communities they visit, ensuring that tourism’s positive effects are felt locally.

Guided by its sustainability ethos, Trip.com Group aims to create a transformative sustainable travel ecosystem that not only preserves the planet, but also empowers communities worldwide.