Vegan tourism: what exactly is it?
Heard of vegan tourism? No? Then this article is for you!
We already knew about sustainable and eco-friendly tourism, but lately it is vegan tourism that everyone is talking about! Far from being the preserve of a handful of people, it is a request that more and more guests are making!
What is vegan tourism?
Granted, vegan tourism is closely linked to sustainable tourism. The difference lies mainly in the food, for example: food tours with no animal products to taste, or fine-dining menus made up entirely of vegan dishes.
A quick reminder of what vegan means: "a person who excludes every product of animal origin from their diet and from their daily life".
What is in it for me?
In practical terms, offering a vegan experience takes very little effort. All you need to do is pay attention to the materials used in your property and to the products you leave out for your guests (no milk, no honey, and so on).
You could put together a list of places to eat, or share a local recipe of yours reworked especially for them.
Bear in mind that this new offer can bring you extra bookings. And since there is not much choice out there yet, offering this kind of stay puts you firmly in the good books of the "végageurs" (a French blend of "végane" and "voyageur": the vegan guest).
If you needed proof that it is worth getting involved, here are a few sites created by vegan guests themselves: Vegantravel, the Veggie Hotels network and Veganfoodtours, which runs 100% vegan tours giving a whole new perspective on French cities. So, won over by vegan tourism? Why not give it a go yourself, for instance by adding a few local recommendations for vegan restaurants to your StyQR?
Here's what you can concretely implement to welcome vegan travellers, without overhauling your offer.
| Element to adapt | What the article suggests |
|---|---|
| Property materials | Check that no materials come from animals |
| Welcome basket | Exclude milk, honey and animal products |
| Practical information | Provide a list of vegan restaurants nearby |
| Personal culinary offer | Adapt a local recipe for vegans |
| Visibility among vegans | List on sites like Vegantravel, Veggie Hotels or Veganfoodtours |
Frequently asked questions
What exactly is vegan tourism? It is a form of tourism close to sustainable tourism, with the main difference playing out at mealtimes. Think food tours with no animal products at all, or fine dining menus made up solely of vegan dishes. As a reminder, a vegan is someone who excludes every animal product from their diet and their daily life.
Do I have to change everything in my property to welcome vegan travellers? No, there is very little to do. Just pay attention to the materials used in your property and to the products you leave at your guests’ disposal. In practice, that means dropping the milk, the honey and any other animal product from the welcome basket.
What can I actually offer a vegan traveller? A list of places to eat around your property already does the job. You can also rework one of your local recipes for them. Two gestures that cost nothing and get noticed.
Can this really bring me extra bookings? Offering it can bring you additional guests, and the supply is still fairly thin. That is exactly what makes the move worthwhile right now: you get into vegan travellers’ good books before everyone else.
Where do vegan travellers look for their accommodation? They have built their own tools. Vegantravel, the Veggie Hotels network and Veganfoodtours are among them, the last one offering 100% vegan routes to see French cities from a different angle. The very existence of these sites is good proof that the demand is there.
How is it different from the sustainable tourism I already practise? Vegan tourism is linked to sustainable tourism and the two largely overlap. The difference mainly plays out around food, and more broadly around the animal products present in the property. If you are already committed to sustainability, the step is a short one.
On the same topic
