<\/p>\n While working on a research paper on climate adaptation in tourism, I had an eye-opening consultation with a Kerala-based social enterprise. <\/p>\n Over a decade of working in local villages, they developed a strong community tourism model that embeds tourism into the existing agrarian routine of farmers, and allows travellers to authentically engage with the community. Since inception, their primary audience has been conscious travellers from Europe, seeking slow travel and meaningful experiences that bring economic and social prosperity to regions of Kerala off the typical tourist trail.<\/p>\n Flying guilt \u2013 or flygskam \u2013 though, has had unintended consequences. The same conscious travellers, ridden by flying guilt in recent years, have repeatedly cancelled their trips to the region. Their decision to pursue lower footprint travel that doesn\u2019t involve flying has directly impacted community tourism in these parts of Kerala, where tourism revenue beautifully supplemented increasingly unpredictable agricultural incomes.<\/p>\n As someone who often finds herself struck by flying guilt, I\u2019m learning that the idea of flying \u2013 or not flying \u2013 is a lot more complex.<\/p>\n Also read: What You Should Know About Sustainable Aviation and the Impact of Flying<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n Flygskam, a Swedish term that translates to flying shame or flying guilt, acknowledges the environmental impact of flying. It refers to the increasingly common feelings of shame or guilt while taking a flight.<\/p>\n It started as a social movement in Sweden, led by climate activist Greta Thunberg, and quickly became a worldwide flight shaming movement. The goal is to encourage people to think about their flying footprint, and reduce it as much as possible.<\/p>\n Also read: Is it Possible to Fly Responsibly?<\/a><\/em><\/em><\/p>\n When I first wrapped my head around my personal flying footprint, I thought this guilt will keep me in check \u2013 and it does. Instead of jumping on cheap airfares or impulse flight buying, I now think long and hard about the impact of every flight I take.<\/p>\n I ask myself questions like: Is it really worth flying there? Can I use an alternate mode of transport \u2013 like a bus or train \u2013 if my budget and time allow it? Can I stay longer to make the most of flying there? Can I ensure that the money I spend socially benefits local communities and supports environmental conservation? Can I tell impactful stories that further inspire responsible travel?<\/p>\n On the one hand, flying guilt can push us to examine our travel choices by choosing land-based travel over short flights, and slowing down in places rather than destination hopping on cheap flights. As with any choices, an individual choosing one flight less may not matter much, but when that action is taken by many individuals, it can have collective impact. The hope is that short distance flights will eventually be entirely replaced by efficient and affordable land transport everywhere!<\/p>\n On the other hand however, flying guilt can have an adverse impact on local communities and conservation efforts. Here\u2019s why:<\/p>\n Even though tourism has had adverse impacts on local ecologies around the world, wildlife conservation models around the world are often linked to tourism. <\/p>\n In Uganda for instance, I was surprised to learn that Bwindi National Park is home to lucrative gold deposits, but the forests and mountain gorillas retain their habitat only because gorilla tourism yields more money. Gorilla permits cost a whopping 800$ per person!<\/p>\n In India too, national parks across Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and Karnataka remain protected not for the majestic tigers but the tourism revenue linked to them.<\/p>\n When travellers abandon places out of flying guilt, the consequences have to be borne by natural habitats, forests, wild species and the people whose livelihoods are linked to them. That\u2019s the reality of the capitalist world we\u2019ve built.<\/p>\n Also read: I Measured My Flying Footprint in 2022, and This is What I Learnt<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n The greatest pushback against the flying shame movement comes from Small Island Developing States (SIDS), which includes islands like the Maldives, Mauritius and Seychelles, whose economies are heavily reliant on tourism. The only way for travellers to reach them is by long distance flying.<\/p>\n These island nations have a considerably low footprint, yet they are the most vulnerable to climate change impacts like sea level rise and extreme weather events. What happens if we stop flying to these islands for tourism altogether? Their economies, local livelihoods, ocean conservation initiatives, everything is at stake.<\/p>\n One can argue that tourism leakage is rampant in their island tourism models. A large proportion of the tourism money spent on these islands actually doesn\u2019t remain on the island \u2013 channeled out through foreign investors who have set up accommodations and tourism services on the island. Even so, tourism still tends to account for the majority of local employment and pays local taxes.<\/p>\n Also read:\u00a0Everything You Need to Know About Community-Based\u00a0Tourism<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n The Airbus Summit<\/a> I recently attended in France came as a reality check that we are FAR from achieving global sustainable aviation goals. SAF (sustainable aviation fuel) is projected to contribute only 4-5% of total jet fuel consumption by 2030, which will likely be offset by air travel growth. Electric and hydrogen powered planes \u2013 though promising \u2013 are still in their initial R&D phase, with much to be done to get the entire ecosystem technologically and financially ready for take off.<\/p>\n That means air travel shaming \u2013 and the decisions born out of it \u2013 are not short term. They are likely to have long term consequences.<\/p>\n Also read: The Epic Land Journey from Thailand to India via Myanmar<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n My partner and I are currently on a slow land journey through East Africa. We\u2019ve taken long buses, boda bodas (motorycle taxis), cabs and have a train on the agenda.<\/p>\n Although we each had to fly in to Kigali, we\u2019re spending the duration of our East Africa visa (3 months) in the region. We\u2019re travelling overland across Rwanda, Uganda and Kenya. We\u2019re actively seeking out community tourism enterprises, eco-lodges, conscious budget stays, RE startups and conservation initiatives. We\u2019ve had long chats with social entrepreneurs and grassroots environmental leaders, exchanging knowledge and ideas. <\/p>\n The thing about flying guilt is that it only addresses one part of a large intersecting spectrum. Here are some approaches that can be more productive:<\/p>\n Work towards just transition in the energy sector has gained momentum over the years. It means achieving the energy transition and moving to a low carbon future, while protecting local livelihoods.<\/p>\n The idea applies just as much to other sectors. In my Master\u2019s program, I did research around the possibility of a just transition in fashion, enabling local communities to switch from growing water-intensive, chemical-laden cotton to organic and regenerative cotton.<\/p>\n In tourism too, we need to start working towards just transition within the sector. Tourism currently accounts for 1 in 10 formal jobs worldwide, and many more informally. Can our economies be redesigned to create alternate livelihoods, that don\u2019t rely on the long distance movement of people for leisure, business and other purposes? What can take the place of protecting living cultures and enabling deep cultural exchange?<\/p>\n Also read:\u00a0The Swiss Alps on an E-bike: 385 Km, 7 Alpine Passes, 6 Days!<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n Conde Nast Traveler\u2019s Sustainability Editor Juliet Kinsman often uses the term ROE (Return on Emissions) to think about the impact of her flights. The direct carbon emissions is one aspect, but ROE also considers what impact we\u2019ve had while in the place \u2013 from where we\u2019ve spent our money, to decisions we\u2019ve impacted, to stories we\u2019ve told.<\/p>\n I know it sounds like a cop-out at first glimpse (much like carbon offsets leading to carbon neutral travel), but given the interconnected nature of the travel ecosystem, it has value. Flying guilt, or refusing to fly, addresses the carbon footprint of flying, which is great. But when viewed in isolation, it can also have negative consequences for places and people who rely economically, socially and environmentally on tourism. Sometimes this can have a higher footprint than not taking those flights in the first place!<\/p>\nWhat is flygskam anyway, and how did it start?<\/h2>\n
![\"lofoten](\"https:\/\/the-shooting-star.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/img_4487-1-1-1024x768.jpg\"\/)
![\"lofoten](\"https:\/\/the-shooting-star.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/img_4487-1-1-1024x768.jpg\")
<\/a>Is Flying Guilt Productive?<\/h2>\n
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![\"Is](\"https:\/\/the-shooting-star.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/img_0317-1024x768.jpg\")
<\/a>Tourism is linked to vital wildlife conservation efforts<\/h3>\n
Some island nations depend entirely on tourism \u2013 and flying! <\/h3>\n
Sustainable aviation remains a distant dream<\/h3>\n
What can be more productive than flying guilt?<\/h2>\n
![\"Flying](\"https:\/\/the-shooting-star.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/img_5509-1-1024x768.jpg\"\/)
![\"Flying](\"https:\/\/the-shooting-star.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/img_5509-1-1024x768.jpg\")
<\/a>Enabling just transition in tourism<\/h3>\n
Thinking about Return on Emissions (ROE)<\/h3>\n
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![\"Shivya](\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/263e64ccc92973c583e6f07df9e65e64?s=100\")
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