Sustainable Travel - how we can help

I’ve recently completed training with the Travel Foundation – an organisation determined to put sustainable tourism at the top of every country’s agenda. This is about more than single-use plastic; although that is a great place to start, this encompasses the impacts of the travel industry on the local economy, communities and the environment, to ensure it contributes positively.

The Travel Foundation works with countries and the tourist industry to bring stakeholders together, identifying opportunities to improve knowledge and skills and support best practice. Recent examples include working with local suppliers to provide hotels with local produce in the Mayan Riviera, Mexico and Fethiye in Turkey; training local stallholders how to sell more effectively in Montego Bay, Jamaica, training local tourist guides in Sal, Cape Verde to implement best practices – all of these projects increase the tourist spend going directly into the local economy and improve the perception local communities may have of tourists. Other projects focus on environmental impact – training local hoteliers to reduce plastic and waste which in turn can reduce their overall costs.

For my part, I always enjoy those holidays where you can interact with the local communities and I encourage my clients to have these experiences wherever possible. Buying local products, taking excursions provided by local guides (providing they are licensed!) and treating the local environment with respect are all things we can do to play our part. Simple things such as taking showers rather than baths, carrying a reusable water bottle and taking a bag-for-life out shopping with you will all help minimise your footprint.

Travelling should be an enriching experience – not just for the traveller but also for the local community.

If you’d like to find out more about the work of The Travel Foundation visit their website: www.thetravelfoundation.org.uk