“SCREAM IF YOU’RE GREEN”
This is the name of a campaign from the publication Travel Trade Gazette which highlights initiatives by travel firms to reduce their carbon footprint.
The magazine’s website features a “Scream if you’re green” database with over 160 entries. Each firm has made five pledges ranging from corporate to “housekeeping” and individual activities, making it possible to compare their eco-friendly claims in one place.
This is a great idea but we think it deserves a much wider public than travel industry professionals because it could become very useful to the green consumer.
Among the firms is Tui – better known as Thomson, which dominates the UK package holiday market and operates the country’s third largest airline - says it will work with Boeing to improve the efficiency of its air fleet.
A smaller company Upland Escapes which specializes in walking holidays in Europe and encourages its clients to travel by train.
To read our longer article about the campaign click here.
AWARD WINNERS
The Virgin Holidays Responsible Tourism Awards are widely acclaimed and held annually.
The winners are announced each November. In 2006 in the tour operator category the award went to Intrepid Travel.
The company has over 300 different small group adventure trips in over 50 different destinations in Europe, Asia, Africa, Latin America, North America, The Middle East, Antarctica and Australasia, and many different styles of travel. Their aim is that travellers become a part of country and not just tourists looking in. As their website says, “It is through travel we breakdown prejudice, build understanding and create a better and more caring world. And we can have the time of our lives doing it!”
Intrepid’s HQ is in Australia. At its shop in London they occasionally run information sessions. According to the judges, “Intrepid stood out … by establishing local businesses in its destinations, using and training local operators…. Intrepid facilitates interaction between tourists and the host community, providing extensive guidelines to their travellers on how to travel responsibly both prior to and during travel. Intrepid was also notable for submitting itself to a rigorous external audit, and for thoroughly thinking through the work of its foundation, The Intrepid Foundation, over and above what others have done, creating an endowment to help the local people through a disaster on the scale of the recent tsunami. Intrepid Travel have set the bar very high this year.”
Incidentally ecofriendlytourist.com have our own direct and highly positive feedback about Intrepid.
Also, Wilderness Scotland was highly commended at the Responsible Tourism Awards. This firm runs guided walking, sailing and adventure holidays throughout the highlands and islands of Scotland. Its website features detailed descriptions of its responsible tourism policy and how it puts this into practice.
The awards’ original founder and now one the sponsors, Responsible Travel, is itself a renowned online travel directory. Its website offers thousands of adventure and family holidays, ecotourism and responsible travel from 270 tour operators and over 400 accommodations which it has screened to meet its environmental, social and economic criteria and explains how each holiday actually makes a difference. The firm says it has arranged travel for 25,000 clients since 2001. You can’t book directly online: you have to send your trip enquiry using their online form and the tour operator calls you back.
AITO
Another source for potential eco-friendly operators is through a trade body AITO (The Association of Independent Tour Operators) which lists on its website members saying they practice responsible tourism and a star rating system.
AITO declared KE Adventure Travel the winner of its own Responsible Tourism Company of the Year award in January 2007. It specialises in trekking and climbing holidays and stresses its good treatment of local staff, respect for indigenous cultures and aim to make a positive contribution wherever it goes. It offers exciting experiences in mountain ranges in over 40 countries.
The winner in 2006 was Dragoman Overland which runs truck-based adventure travel trips with exotic destinations and authentic experiences throughout the world. It has a responsible tourism policy and a strong commitment to local community projects and says at least 55% of passengers’ money stays in the destination country to benefit its hosts.
ETHICAL TOUR OPERATORS GROUP
The campaigning organisation Tourism Concern has set up its Ethical Tour Operators Group. These member companies are UK based and undertake to support socially responsible tourism:
Adventure Alternative
Offers trekking, teaching and medical electives, mountaineering expeditions and safaris, to various countries. “We emphasize pro-poor tourism, putting profits back into local communities and promoting long- term employment in developing countries.” The company has offices in Belfast (HQ), Nairobi, Moshi, Moscow and Kathmandu and is linked to and supports the registered charity and NGO Moving Mountains which works in Nepal, Niger and Kenya.
Baobab Travel
BAOBAB is a specialist eco-tour operator offering trips mainly to Africa. Destinations include Malawi, Mozambique, South Africa, Tanzania and Zambia as well as Egypt/Sinai and Jordan. They can provide themed trips from scuba-diving to wildlife safaris and yoga retreats.
Cazenove & Lloyd
Based in London this firm describes itself as “destination experts” and focuses on the luxury end of the market with tailor made trips to Latin America, Africa, and Indian Ocean and India.
Expert Africa
Formerly called Sunvil Africa this company offers safaris and trips to the southern part of the continent. Its staff are experts who spend at least a month there every year. The website includes details of its commitment to responsible travel.
Explore Worldwide
Part of the international HolidayBreak group, this Hampshire based adventure travel firm was founded in 1981 and now operates over 300 trips ranging from walking and trekking to cycling, family holidays and short breaks. Travelmole (the online community for the travel and tourism industry) named Explore the best responsible tourism website in 2006.
Gane & Marshall
This small specialist London company with a strong interest in ethical and environmental issues provides tailor made itineraries to southern and eastern Africa, South America, and the Indian Ocean ranging from safaris to beach holidays and honeymoons.
Rainbow Tours
Rainbow Tours is a specialist travel company based in London providing tailor-made holidays to Africa and the Indian Ocean. It creates individual safaris, honeymoons, bush and beach holidays, preferring owner-run accommodation in unusual and interesting destinations. It includes lodges certified by FTTSA, the South African fair trade in tourism body, and says it aims “to turn the rhetoric of ecotourism into reality” through its code of practice.
Simply Tanzania
The company provides holiday experiences taking in the wildlife and scenic delights of this East African country away from the regular tourist routes as well as giving visitors the chance to meet local people and to gain some understanding of the culture and development issues. Its website says it supports sustainable tourism where possible using locally owned and run tour companies, hotels and lodges.
Tribes Travel
Describing itself as “the Fair Trade Travel company”, it offers high quality tailor made holidays which benefit local people, wildlife and the environment. It offers holidays in 14 countries worldwide and activities including bird watching, safaris, trekking, cultural or just lazing on a beach. Tribes is based in Suffolk and was the First Choice Responsible Tourism Awards winner in 2005.
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