Tourism industry 'getting more eco-friendly'

More travel companies are becoming more eco-friendly in their offerings, according to one expert.

Sean Tipton, spokesperson for the Association of British Travel Agents, said that while it is likely Britons will pick price over environmental concerns when choosing a holiday, the travel sector is now doing more than ever before to promote sustainable tourism.

He cited initiatives such as using local products and services wherever possible as part of the tourism industry's drive to be more environmentally-friendly.

"The [tourism] industry is very concerned about the damage it does to the environment ... if you look at the kind of places customers are sent to there's a very simple reason they became popular in the first place - they are very beautiful places," Mr Tipton explained.

"It is very counter-productive for us to develop a beautiful place and ruin it."

A survey carried out by TNS last year found that 65 per cent of Britons would be unwilling to make changes to their travel plans in order to make their holidays more eco-friendly.

Meanwhile, VisitBritain and England Marketing and Quality have suggested that sustainable tourism will become more important in the UK in future.

Posted by Andrew, 04 March 2008 11:28

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