InteleTravel’s co-founder and president, James Ferrara, highlighted initiatives as varied as Bhutan’s daily Sustainable Development Fee of $200, and a charity that uses plastic bottles and rubbish to create bricks to build schools in underdeveloped regions.Īndy Harmer, Clia UK managing director, updated delegates about sustainable initiatives in the cruise sector, and how cruises can boost local economies in destinations around the world.
“Slow travel helps to spread the benefits throughout Spain and offer a more authentic experience.” “Spain is one of the most biodiverse places in Europe – it has 53 biosphere reserves and 15 Unesco global geoparks,” he said. Jesus Ruiz Martinez, representing the Spanish Tourist Board, told delegates how the country is highlighting its natural attractions and encouraging ‘slow tourism’ to woo travellers away from traditional hotspots. He said coaches are more environmentally friendly way to travel, and Globus brands take clients off the beaten track and to destinations in quieter times of the year. “Carbon offsetting is not the climate solution but an interim solution until we get planes and ships running on renewables.
Touring and adventure holidays can help to spread the money around. “Looking at the type of travel is important it can spread the tourism dollar. “But if we take you to a hotel run by local people and offer local tours and activities, then more money stays in the local community,” he said. Hawke – who was also representing the Association of Touring and Adventure Suppliers (Atas) – highlighted how tourists’ money tends to just stay in one place when clients visit all-inclusive resorts. There are whole countries whose GDP depends on tourism and we have to talk about the good that tourism does in destinations.” Giles Hawke, chief executive at Cosmos and Avalon Waterways UK – part of Globus, said: “People expect travel companies to be sustainable they expect it to be included.”Ĭommenting on the fact that holidaymakers fly to most destinations, creating a carbon footprint, he said: “It is a very small part of sustainability. Panellists taking part in a sustainability session at the homeworking agency conference in Belfast heard how different sectors and destinations are tackling carbon emissions and supporting local communities.
Agents at the InteleTravel conference were urged to talk to their customers about sustainability initiatives, as holidaymakers now expect the trade to have responsible tourism policies.
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