9:12am Wednesday 1st July 2009
By Helen Mead
A decade ago, few people had heard of eco-tourism, let along considered it for themselves.
Back then, most people’s idea of a ‘green’ holiday was a couple of nights under canvas at a festival, wearing organic cotton T-shirts and eating veggie burgers.
Now green travel – also known as responsible or sustainable tourism – is very much part of mainstream holidaymaking.
High street names in the travel industry are taking seriously the benefits to our planet that come with being green.
“We are very much aware of the importance of ethical tourism,” says Michelle Crabtree, branch manager at Co-operative Travel in Kirkgate, Bradford, “It is a vital part of what we do, and more of our customers are starting to ask about it.”
Over the past few years, the company has introduced a scheme which collects £1 per passenger on behalf of the Travel Foundation, a UK-based charity in partnership with British travel firms to make tourism a force for good – minimising any negative effects on the environment and using income from tourism to help protect precious natural resources, traditions and culture. It also improves the well-being of destination communities, ensuring that local people benefit from tourism and are happy to give visitors a warm welcome.
“They are ploughing money back into the communities,” says Michelle. “It is a voluntary donation – we give people the details and they can decide whether they want to contribute.”
“It means that sustainable travel isn’t just about specialist holidays – every person can help to make a difference,” she adds.
Combating climate change is high on the list of priorities at Co-operative Travel – it was the first high street travel agent to go carbon-neutral and offer customers the opportunity to offset carbon emissions.
The firm has teamed up with Climate Care, an organisation which helps to lower emissions for individuals and businesses through carefully-sourced carbon reduction projects.
To counteract the impact of flights, passengers booking with the Co-operative can make a small, voluntary payment which Climate Care uses to invest in suitable offsetting projects in the developing world.
They estimate the amount of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases a holiday flight produces, then work out how much it costs to fund projects that absorb or avoid the equivalent amount of gases entering the atmosphere. Money is then invested in these, including re-planting rainforests and improving energy efficiency and renewable energy in the developing world.
Offsetting a return flight to Spain costs £3, and £50 will offset a trip to Australia or New Zealand.
It helps in the creation of local jobs, and ensures that, where possible, food is locally sourced.
“We have been making people more aware of this and they are very interested,” says Michelle.
The company’s Make Travel Greener training scheme educates staff as to how ethical tourism works and how to implement it. Michelle has joined staff from across the country for the specialist training. “I’ve been made more aware of what we can do to help communities through tourism, both in the UK and overseas.
Customers are enthusiastic about the firm’s ethical strategy. “Many seem quite impressed by the things we are doing,” says Michelle. “The more people learn about ethical tourism, the more they want to know.”
A holiday does not have to involve flying, and Co-operative travel makes people aware that, if they are interested, there are alternatives. “We let them know that there are other options to travelling, such as going overland,” says Michelle. “We have led the way in offering people an alternative to flying.”
The firms draws upon initiatives such as Overland Heaven, created by the charity Forum For The Future, to promote low-carbon, overland travel between the UK and Europe.
The firm practises what it preaches – when staff are sent on work-related trips, buses or trains are used wherever possible.
“This summer, some staff from the West Yorkshire region are going on a cruise and are travelling to Southampton by bus rather than flying,” says Michelle.
And staff take on board tips for a greener holiday when they take a break themselves.
Says Michelle: “I take showers rather than baths and re-use towels – many hotels now give visitors that option.”
Within the Kirkgate shop, out-of-date brochures are collected and recycled.
“This happens in all our outlets, which are also lit and heated by renewable energy,” adds Michelle: “Our ethical policy is not only for people as they travel, it starts in the branch itself.”
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