Green Destinations: Why Not do What you do at Home

Its  a load of rubbish says Thomas Cook Sustainable Destinations Manager
 

From recycling bottles to switching off the lights, record numbers of families are doing their bit to help the environment at home – but new research highlights that almost half of Britons admit their green habits are forgotten the minute they arrive on holiday.

Almost 90 per cent of people say that they regularly recycle bottles, cans and paper in their day-to-day life, but less than half keep up the good work when they go away.
One in five holidaymakers admit that they switch off completely when they’re on a beach break and don’t ever consider the environment.

The findings are part of part of the first “make holidays greener” week from 26 June -3 July, a national campaign from The Travel Foundation which urges people to do three things on their summer break this year to make a difference to the place they are visiting and the people that live there.

The campaign is being supported by travel firms including ABTA, The Co-operative Travel, Thomson, First Choice, Thomas Cook, Teletext Holidays, Holiday Extras, Virgin Atlantic and Virgin Holidays.     

Shopping for souvenirs in local markets, taking short showers rather than baths, not having towels laundered on a daily basis, turning off air-conditioning when it’s not needed are examples of some of the things that people are being urged to do.

 
Sue Hurdle from The Travel Foundation said:  “Make Holidays Greener Week marks the first time the industry has come together to promote greener holidays and what holidaymakers can do themselves to put something back into the destinations they love. We want everyone who travels this summer to be conscious about the simple things they can do to make a difference.

“From a very early age children are learning about the environment in school and how to be greener and they are often the ones who are nagging their mums and dads to turn off the lights when they’re not needed or to turn off the tap whilst they’re brushing their teeth.  We now want them to replicate their green habits when they go on holiday.”

The survey found few people understand what’s meant by “green” or “sustainable” travel.  More than a third said holiday accommodation, whether it’s a hotel or villa, doesn’t provide enough facilities or advice about how they can protect the environment while they are away.”

Nikki White, Head of Destinations & Sustainability at ABTA said:   “Nearly 40 million of us travelled abroad on holiday last year, and when we are in our holiday destination there are also some very simple things every one of us can do to protect scarce water supplies, reduce the amount of plastic waste that goes into landfill and support local people who depend on tourism to make a living.”

For more visit www.makeholidaysgreener.org.uk .

Valere Tjolle
  Valere Tjolle is editor of the Sustainable Tourism Report Suite, special offer at: www.travelmole.com/stories/1142003.php