Implementing sustainable tourism measures to manage crowds and preserve destinations
Tourism Industry
UI/UX Design, Interaction Design, Art Direction
Figma, Protopie, After Effects
3 months
Solo Project, Student Senior Capstone Project
Airbnb's Green Getaway initiative aims to combat over-tourism, with crowd control features that enable hosts to manage their listings based on real-time and historical crowd levels, while also allowing guests to make informed decisions on when to visit. These measures aim to create a more responsible and mindful tourism industry.
The rapid increase in international tourist arrivals, which reached 1.4 billion in 2018 and is expected to grow further, has led to significant overcrowding in popular destinations. This surge has resulted in adverse effects on the environment and local communities, including environmental degradation and strain on local resources.
We are introducing a crowd control feature on Airbnb that offers real-time and historical data on crowd levels. This enables guests to plan visits during off-peak times and allows hosts to manage their listings with tools for pricing adjustments and stay requirements. The feature aims to enhance guest experiences, promote sustainable tourism, and alleviate the negative impacts of overcrowding.
These competitors are addressing sustainability and crowd management through guidelines, seasonal pricing, and eco-friendly options, but there is room for more dynamic crowd control and real-time data solutions.
VRBO’s "Responsible Hosting" Provides guidelines for hosts to promote sustainable tourism practices, focusing on responsible management of properties.
Encourages off-season travel and offers tools for hosts to set seasonal pricing, helping to distribute tourist traffic more evenly
Highlights eco-friendly accommodations and promotes sustainable travel options to environmentally-conscious travelers.
During our empathy interviews, we discovered that travelers would greatly benefit from having access to more information and tools that can assist them in making informed decisions about their travel plans.
Some travelers expressed a desire for more information about crowd levels at popular destinations, so they can plan their visits accordingly.
Many travelers are frustrated by the crowds at popular tourist attractions and feel that they detract from the overall experience.
Some travelers are hesitant to visit certain destinations because they fear the crowds will be overwhelming and detract from their ability to fully enjoy the location.
Many travelers are open to the idea of visiting less popular destinations or traveling during off-peak seasons in order to avoid crowds.
Overcrowding in popular tourist destinations can lead to a sense of anxiety, stress, and discomfort among travelers. They may feel overwhelmed by the crowds, leading to a negative travel experience.
Overcrowding can lead to negative environmental and cultural impacts, such as overcrowded attractions and degradation of natural and cultural resources. Travelers are increasingly aware of these impacts and are seeking more sustainable travel options.
Travelers are seeking more information and tools to help them make informed decisions about their travel plans. This includes real-time information on crowd levels, alternative travel options, and recommendations for off-peak travel times and destinations.
Take control of your travels, anytime, anywhere
A crowd control feature for Airbnb that empowers hosts and guests to "Take Control of Your Travels, Anytime, Anywhere" by:
With this feature, Airbnb users can enjoy their travels while minimizing the impact of over-tourism on local communities. After all, we don't want to discourage traveling, rather just offe
These questions were based on the insights we gathered from our Empathy Map, which helped us understand the needs and concerns of Venmo users. With these HMW questions, we were able to focus our ideation and generate creative solutions that put the user's needs first.
How might we encourage travelers to visit destinations during off-peak seasons to help reduce overcrowding?
Highlight the unexpected benefits of off-peak travel
How might we use technology to give hosts and guests real-time information about crowd levels in a given location?
Using real-time crowd data to inform hosts and guests about crowd levels in a given location
How might we empower hosts to implement crowd control measures in their listings to promote sustainable travel choices and reduce overcrowding?
Crowd control feature within the Airbnb platform that allows hosts to implement specific settings to bring control to guests visiting the area
