Green Tourism

Specialist Reports Special Interest Holidays Green Tourism Travel Trade Initiatives 

Holidays sells very largely on price and the travel trade is very reluctant to do anything which might cause an increase in price, even if it will cause a long-term deterioration in what they are selling. Rather short-sightedly the reasoning is that there are always new destinations.

In point of fact, if the rapidly expanding industry doesn't start soon, everyone will be left with nothing but damaged goods to sell. For the moment the logic goes that old and tatty destinations can be dropped unless governments pick up the tab for putting things right. When governments attempt to pass on some of the cost to the tourists, there are howls of protest.

“The mass tourism operators have learnt the language of sustainable tourism,” says Patricia Barnett of Tourism Concern. “But little has really changed.” She points to the industry's reaction to the Balearic islands' decision to implement an eco-tax of 62p per visitor per day to fund environmental improvements following the depressing effects of shoddy development.

Even ABTA lobbied against this, saying that it would damage business. ‘This flies in the face of ABTA's own research, which revealed that 64% of people indicated they were prepared to pay an extra £10 to £25 for their holiday if it went towards environmental or social improvements' commented Tourism Concern.

Initiatives which attempt to change this are:

The International Fair Trade in Tourism Network

tourismconcern
Founded by Tourism Concern, brings together tourism operators, NGOs working in tourism and communities in destination areas, to exchange views and information on socially and environmentally-sound tourism. Among other things it seeks to encourage the adoption of a Fair Trade definition, introduce core minimum criteria on labour rights, assist regional/ local organisations/entrepreneurs in setting up networks/associations, facilitate visits among community-based tourism initiatives and placements for businesses in tourism to establish partnerships and increase understanding and knowledge.

Tour Operators' Initiative for Sustainable Tourism

toinitiative
British tour operators and the British government have come together with British NGOs to develop a ‘Sustainable Tourism Initiative'. This is a strategy for the entire tourism industry, not just those involved in ecotourism. Much of this is focused on the WSSD (World Summit on Social Development - Earth Summit Plus 10) in September 2002. The mission of the Initiative is to advance the sustainable development and management of tourism; to encourage tour operators to make a corporate commitment to sustainable development. The organisation is based on the theory that most tour operators recognise that a clean and safe environment is critical to their success but lack the management tools or experience to design tours which minimise negative impact on the environment. The initiative is designed to help with that. Members must pledge to anticipate and prevent the negative impact tourism can have on a community and take account of these considerations in their working practices. Issues considered are the social, economic and cultural impact of tourism (for example sex tourism), and they are expected to have local employment policies. Members are set targets and membership revoked if these are not met.

Launched in late 2000, its 20 members included Preussag, owners of Thomson, British Airways, and Accor Tours. Members carry a total of 27 million passengers a year. Payment varies from US$500- US$5,000 depending on their size. The Initiative is voluntary, non-profit, and open to all tour operators, regardless of their size and geographical location.

World Tourism Organisation

Capit?n Haya 42 ? 28020 Madrid, Spain+ (34) 91 567 81 00world-tourismDescribing itself as the leading international organization in the field of travel and tourism, a global forum for tourism policy issues. Membership includes 139 countries and territories and more than 350 Affiliate Members representing local government, tourism associations and private sector companies such as airlines, hotel groups and tour operators.

AITO (Association of Independent Tour Operators)

(020) 8744 9280
aito
Requires all members to acknowledge the importance of the organisation's Responsible Tourism guidelines which recognise the social, economic and environmental responsibilities of tour operating. Members demonstrating achievements beyond pure acceptance of the principles are recognised by the aware of two or three-star status with annual awards for the best project of the year.