World biggest tour operator gets more sustainable – report unveiled

Mid way point in Better Holidays Better World strategy

In its latest sustainability report TUI has unveiled its 2017 progress towards their strategy. It says that its airlines are now 24% more efficient than the six largest European airlines; that 7.3 million euros was raised in 2017 to enhance the positive effects of tourism and that TUI delivered over 20 million ‘greener and fairer’ holidays over the last three years.

Over all the report identified progress against the TUI Better Holidays, Better World strategy. The ambitious 2020 strategy is built around four core pillars where the company aims to create change at scale to advance sustainable tourism – in its own operations, through its value chain, customers and employees, across the wider industry and beyond. With 2017 marking the mid-way point in the strategy, significant progress has already been made in the first three years.

In the report, TUI maps key initiatives to the UN Sustainable Development Goals. As well as managing the company’s impacts on the economy, society and environment, the Better Holidays, Better World strategy aims to share the benefits of tourism with local communities in the form of jobs and educational opportunities, while protecting human rights throughout the value chain. The TUI Care Foundation was established in 2016 as the central platform to enhance positive impacts of tourism in destinations.

In their Lead the way programme – TUI pioneeri sustainable tourism across the world. TUI will invest 10 million Euros per year by 2020 to enhance the positive impacts of tourism, using the TUI Care Foundation to support this work.

 Thomas Ellerbeck, Member of the Group Executive Committee and responsible for sustainability: "Social and environmental sustainability are two sides of the same coin when it comes to our social responsibility. From the introduction of extremely carbon-efficient aircraft to hotels with recognised high environmental standards, from excursions characterised by their sustainability criteria to projects which facilitate vocational training for local youth in the growing tourism sector. TUI’s sustainability strategy ‘Better Holidays, Better World’ stands for a holistic approach to the challenges of more sustainable tourism, across the entire value chain of a holiday".

In their Make a difference programme TUI seek to create positive change for people and communities. TUI aims to deliver 10 million ‘greener and fairer’ holidays per year by 2020, enabling more local people to share in the benefits of tourism.

Jane Ashton, Director Sustainable Development at TUI Group: "As the world’s leading tourism business, TUI Group has a responsibility to advance sustainable tourism. Three years into our six year strategy, our goals remain challenging. But with the efforts of our colleagues and suppliers, and the fruitful collaborations we have embarked upon with destination partners and other experts, we are optimistic that we are on the right track to deliver better holidays for a better world".

In their Step lightly programme TUI aim to reduce environmental impact of holidays. TUI aims to operate Europe’s most carbon efficient airlines and reduce the carbon intensity of its operations by 10% by 2020.

Andrew Flintham, Managing Director TUI UK & Ireland: "We are absolutely committed to delivering our Better Holidays, Better World strategy in the UK and we are delighted our airline is ranked as the most carbon-efficient in the world.  With over 80% of our carbon footprint coming from our aircraft, investing in more efficient planes is key. The delivery of 16 new Boeing 737 MAX by end of 2020 in the UK will support the delivery of our commitment to further reduce the carbon intensity of our operations offering up to 14% less carbon emissions than our previous comparable aircraft Boeing 737-800".

In their Care more programme -TUI say they are building the best place the work. TUI aims to achieve a colleague engagement score of over 80 – aligning us with the top 25 global companies – by 2020.

Download the TUI Sustainability Report HERE 

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