Travel PR cares about the environment
Climate change is emerging as one of the greatest challenges for modern society.
At Travel PR, we are highly aware of the need for the travel industry to act responsibly. We strongly encourage Responsible Tourism among clients, both in terms of carbon management and impact on local environments and economies.
AITO - the Association of Independent Tour Operators - for example, takes its responsibilities to the environment, to local cultures and to sustainability very seriously. Sue Ockwell has been involved with environmental issues on behalf of AITO for 20 years. AITO is the first tourism industry to incorporate a commitment to Responsible Tourism into its business charter. Its member guidelines are based on five key objectives:
- To protect the environment - its flora, fauna and landscapes
- To respect local cultures - traditions, religions and built heritage
- To benefit local communities - both economically and socially
- To conserve natural resources - from office to destination
- To minimise pollution - through noise, waste disposal and congestion
Always one of travel's most determinedly green companies, Explore supports around 20 charities. Furthermore, it has always operated small groups to try and minimise environmental and social impact on the destinations frequented. Since January 2008, all customer and staff flights have been carbon-offset, with the costs incorporated into the tour price and the proceeds put towards carefully-chosen projects.
The first major tour operator to make this move, Explore also has the maximum five stars from AITO for its Responsible Tourism efforts. Other sustainable tourism acclaim for Explore's efforts includes Best Tour Operator in the 2008 Virgin Holidays Responsible Tourism Awards and Best Transport or Travel Business at the 2009 Green Business Awards. Explore was also the highest placed tourism-sector company in the Sunday Times' 2009 Green Business Companies.
Sunvil Holidays was the first tour operator of any size (25,000 passengers per annum) to implement a carbon offset opt-out policy; it automatically includes the appropriate amount to carbon offset its customers’ flights on all invoices. Customers who don’t wish to carbon offset therefore have to deduct the amount from the invoice. In 2007, over 50% of Sunvil’s clients opted to offset their flights. Sunvil Holidays and its clients have been successful in raising a total of £21,231.87 for various verified offset projects so far.
At Travel PR, we practise what we preach by carbon-neutralising all staff flights, recycling and taking energy-saving measures in our offices. We also recycle any old PCs and office equipment.