New turtle protection tool for tourism businesses

Free tool launched for World Turtle Day

The Travel Foundation has launched a new training tool to help hotels, tour operators, excursion providers and other tourism businesses become more "turtle friendly" by applying best practice standards.

The free online tool is packed with information and resources about beach management, excursion planning, staff training and customer communications. You’ll find downloadable posters, videos, checklists, training presentations, kids’ activity sheets and more.

Salli Felton, the Travel Foundation’s Acting Chief Executive, said, "Tourism is often seen as a problem for endangered turtles, but when done well it can be a major part of the solution, providing the incentive and means for conservation. The simple steps outlined in the tool will help to engage staff, and enable visitors to understand the unique environment in which they have chosen to spend their holiday."

The information in the tool was shaped by findings from a pilot scheme in Mexico. Four Karisma hotels worked with the Travel Foundation and local conservation charity Flora, Fauna y Cultura de Mexico to achieve turtle friendly certification. The Travel Foundation has also run turtle protection projects in Turkey and Tobago  . Tourism businesses wishing to launch similar schemes can use the new turtle protection tool as a guide or contact the Travel Foundation for advice.

Turtles are an ancient group of reptiles – the earliest marine turtle fossils are about 110 million years old. But now turtle populations across the world are being threatened by our activities. The seven species of marine turtle that swim in our oceans are all included on the International Union for the Conservation of Nature’s Red List of Threatened Species.

Being turtle friendly simply means understanding turtle conservation issues, and taking steps to minimise activities that harm this endangered species, plus actively promoting turtle protection to staff and customers.

The new tool was developed by the Travel Foundation in partnership with the Marine Conservation Society, TUI Travel PLC and TUI Travel AG.

Dr Peter Richardson, Biodiversity Programme Manager at the Marine Conservation Society, said, "I am delighted the MCS and Travel Foundation collaboration that produced the Turtles in Trouble animation has evolved into this excellent Green Business Tool. This valuable web resource should help make UK tourism far more friendly to threatened turtle populations around the world."

Jane Ashton, Group Director of Sustainable Development at TUI Travel PLC, said, "Sea turtles nest on beaches in several of our destinations and we’ve previously supported protection projects in Turkey, Greece and Mexico. We were delighted to collaborate with the Travel Foundation on the development of their new Turtle Protection Tool and share our experience with the wider industry. Hotels, resort teams and customers can all play a role in ensuring that sea turtles continue to thrive in the future."

To explore the turtle protection tool go to: http://www.thetravelfoundation.org.uk/green_business_tools/turtle_protection

Valere Tjolle

Want to find out more about sustainable tourism? Special offers here: This week’s FREE Vision special sustainable tourism report offer HERE  Sustainable Tourism Masterclass London & Berlin HERE Tell your story to our massive green travel trade audience HERE