6.6 Sustainability and Innovation in Transportation

According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), transportation emits the most greenhouse gases of any sector in the tourism industry. As a result, the transportation industry has been focusing on improving sustainability and finding innovative solutions to decrease emissions.

[Figure 6.13: Emissions by Sector]

Greenhouse gases contain carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, and water vapor, particularly from the burning of fossil fuels that enter the atmosphere and absorb and reflect heat back to Earth. The increase in temperature contributes to global warming. Decreasing greenhouse gas emissions is a top priority for many transportation regulatory bodies. To achieve this goal, they have implemented some innovative technologies as well as promoted the use of ride-sharing platforms like buses and metros that can carry more passengers per gallon of fuel. The production and usage of electric vehicles and renewable fuels has begun showing an impact. Electric vehicles, during usage, do not burn fossil fuels and thus do not contribute to the greenhouse effect. Renewable fuels can be derived from plant sources and created from waste products like used cooking oil.

A rise in consumer consciousness, both for environmental and health reasons, has impacted choice of micromobility transportation options. Micromobility denotes the use of small, environmentally friendly transportation options such as bikes, e-bikes, e-scooters, and segways. These manual or electric options give guests a fun alternative to seeing a city. Some cities have bike-sharing programs, and some hotels have free bike or scooter rentals. According to Maria Perez, a travel blogger, “Cities like Copenhagen have invested in cycling infrastructure, resulting in 62% of residents using bicycles as their daily mode of transport. This strategy not only improves air quality but also makes the city an attractive destination for ecotourism” (Perez, 2024). Major companies have also seen a reduction in emission after implementing AI and other smart technologies. Bus companies, for example, can use AI to help predict low rider times to reduce the number of buses on the road. They can also use AI to create better routes, reducing wait times at intersections and finding the shortest routes possible so that they are burning less fuel per trip. By combining environmentally conscious business decisions with innovative technologies, the transportation industry significantly reduces its negative environmental impact.

Challenges in Transportation Services

Like all sectors of the hospitality industry, transportation faces many challenges that derive from cost, infrastructure, regulations, and safety. Rising fuel costs impact all sectors of the transportation industry. Switching to electric vehicles means large startup costs as well as increased costs in creating new charging infrastructure. Road maintenance, the creation of new or larger airports, and rail and bus hubs are also large infrastructure costs. As the population rises and travel becomes more accessible, congestion becomes a real and present issue. According to the UNWTO, 78% of global tourist destinations consider congestion to be one of their primary concerns (Perez, 2024). Regulatory and safety concerns also provide challenges, as regulations change often and are implemented by a variety of entities, including Federal, state, and local governments. Companies must navigate and comply with an ever-changing legal landscape.

Safety must always remain paramount. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), “motor vehicle crashes are a leading cause of death in the United States” (2024, Highlights section). In 2022, approximately 44,000 people died in motor vehicle accidents, and over 2.6 million emergency visits were due to crashes (CDC, 2024). In addition to auto crashes, water, and, and rail accidents contribute to the challenges faced by the transportation industry. Improved regulations and training as well as the use of new technologies can decrease injuries and fatalities.

Future Trends in Transportation and Hospitality

What is next for the transportation industry in hospitality? New technologies are being designed and tested on an ongoing basis. AI and automation will continue to play an ever larger role in transportation. New technologies on the verge of entering the market include hyperloops and autonomous vehicles. Hyperloops consist of high-speed transportation systems that use low-pressure tubes and magnetic levitation to propel specially designed passenger pods at speeds exceeding 600 mph. These single-track systems have the potential to greatly reduce travel time between locations and are currently being tested in countries like Brazil and the United States. The Boring Company in the United States promises that their hyperloop design could reduce the travel time between DC to New York to less than 30 minutes. To learn the latest advancement in US hyperloop technology, see the Boring Company’s webpage on hyperloops.

Autonomous vehicles are further along in development than hyperloops. They consist of robotic vehicles that drive themselves using an array of sensors and cameras to navigate safely. Routes are entered into the computer, and then the vehicle moves without human assistance. A simple and common version of this technology includes robot vacuum cleaners. Once the parameters of a room are entered, the vacuum can drive itself around the carpet for cleaning by using sensors to navigate obstacles. Autonomous vehicles have begun driving routine freight, deliveries, and passengers along pre-designed routes. Although still in the early stages of release, autonomous vehicles have the potential to increase traffic safety. Garrulous travelers might prefer interacting with a real person or having flexibility to alter travel plans along a route. Despite setbacks, this technology has been advancing steadily.

Whether on a hyperloop of the future or a historic train car, how guests experience travel plays a large part in the success of the hospitality industry.

Attributions

1. Figure 6.13