Why not Go Green next trip?
Are you concerned about your carbon footprint every time you go on holiday? Do you feel you can do more to ensure you leave a positive impact on the people and places you visit?
I’m sure I’m not alone in wanting to do more for our planet from both a personal perspective and my business. Climate change is everyone's business and I feel very passionate about helping you ensure you’ve done everything to make your holiday sustainable. Tourism is a growing and complex business and we will all continue to holiday. The world’s most treasured places are precious, and we have a responsibility to help make sure they stay that way. Our whole world is under threat, our natural environment, the way we live and holiday. The Maldives, The Caribbean will all be under threat if sea levels continue to rise. And the issue of the plastic in our oceans has only just begun to be addressed.
Travel Counsellors are taking sustainability very seriously and I’m so pleased to have passed their newly developed Go Green Certificate. I’m also excited that they have partnered with The Travel Foundation. The Travel Foundation mission is to ensure that tourism brings maximum benefits for destinations. My goal is to continually keep up to date with best industry practice alongside making sure my business is run with sustainability in mind and working from home certainly makes this easier.
Sustainable travel means more authentic travel experiences, visiting unspoilt places and immersing in local culture which also makes for an amazing holiday and the best memories. Plus, if managed correctly, this kind of travel can have a positive effect on the country, wildlife and the communities. We should always be mindful to ensure that we are sensitive to the local culture and customs of the people and places we visit. We should do our utmost to ensure that our travel ‘footprint’ is as light as possible.
So, what do we do as an organisation? We ensure that all our suppliers from hotels to tours have sustainability policies in place which means you have the peace of mind knowing that the activities suggested meet acceptable animal welfare standards, that the impact on the environment is minimised and that local people benefit from their participation in tourism activities. See how the Travel Foundation supported a Rastafari Indigenous Village - https://www.thetravelfoundation.org.uk/casestudy/rastafari-indigenous-village/
In the meantime, here are some tips to bear in mind when planning your next holiday:
Reduce your carbon footprint and participate in activities like biking or walking on marked trails
Take public transport which is a great way to get to know the area and the locals
Take reusable bottles for your water
Take non-stop flights. Aviation is responsible for 12% of CO2 emissions globally, compared to 74% from road transport
Buy local. From food and drink to souvenirs
Try a stay on a working farm
Take the train. London to the Alps – kids love it
Rent hybrid cars