Setting the Scene for 2007 – TravelMole guest comment by Sue Hurdle, chief executive of The Travel Foundation

2006 was without doubt the year when awareness of climate change exploded into the mainstream. 

Travel sustainability was in the news daily – almost always focusing on carbon emissions by aircraft. 

Although the contribution of our industry to climate change is clearly of vital importance, it is only part of the issue. Beyond the immediate priority of identifying what we can do to reduce the carbon footprint of travel and tourism, we must not forget the other footprints we leave – economic, social and environmental. 

The subject of the January 18 TravelMole Travel Industry Question Time is  ‘How Green is the Industry’. 

That this event is happening – and the fact that there is such interest from the trade in participating in it – is great news. It is a clear demonstration of how seriously the industry is taking these matters. Let’s hope that the debate will include the wider issues of sustainability as well as CO2.

Part of “widening the debate” is celebrating the benefits of travel – not only in promoting cultural understanding (needed as much in 2007 as ever!), but also in hard economics. 

WTTC calculates that the travel industry worldwide generates over 10% of global GDP and more than 230 million jobs or 8.7% of total employment. In most holiday destinations these figures are much higher – e.g. 19% of jobs in Spain, 30% in Cyprus, and 95% of jobs in Caribbean islands like Antigua.  

Travel is often the biggest economic benefit to developing countries, and the main or sole source of funding for conservation of their wildlife. The important issue is not to curb travel, but to make every aspect of it as sustainable as possible.  

It is particularly important for travellers to be more aware of what they can each do individually. The temptation is to think that as this is a vast global problem, so solutions must be vast and global – forgetting that the actions of millions of individuals add up to have global effects. 

The industry is exceptionally well placed to lead the way in communicating what customers can do and I would urge all companies to consider this as a first step.

The “CO2” issue is now a hot political topic. We must try to see this as an opportunity rather than a threat. The travel industry must continue to set an example to other sectors by its actions. Industry leaders can work to inform and influence Government thinking to ensure that policy moves in the direction of promoting sustainable tourism as the mainstream product of a mature and responsible industry securing its long-term prosperity. 

The Travel Foundation will, of course, continue to assist the industry in its efforts to secure this sustainable and successful future.

*See how you can play your part via the Travel Foundation’s latest “Insider Guides” for travel agents and on climate change and tourism at:

http://www.thetravelfoundation.org.uk/who_we_are.asp