CUSTOMERS will actively discriminate against mainstream tour operators not doing enough for the environment in 10 years’ time.
Sustainable development organisation Forum for the Future deputy director Stephanie Draper said consumers are becoming increasingly environmentally conscious in their buying habits.
Speaking at the Travel Foundation’s “Should we all stop travelling now?” debate in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, Draper said environment issues will soon begin to influence holiday purchases, with customers prepared to boycott operators with poor green records.
She said: “In the next five years mainstream operators that recognise the importance of caring for the environment will definitely see more business. In 10 years’ time it’ll be something that if you don’t make an issue of, customers won’t want to know you.”
She admitted while some niche operators are making a selling point of their green credentials, they are not big enough to effect change.
Of the big four, Draper said First Choice is leading the way, following its publication of the People and the Environment report last year, although she claimed the other three will soon follow.
Green online travel agent Responsibletravel.com managing director Justin Francis added while there is room for improvement on green issues, the trade should recognise it is already having a positive effect by sending holidaymakers to areas that might otherwise have been overlooked and used for farming, for example.
He said the natural beauty of many developing countries has been preserved by locals who realise it has value to tourists, while tourism is also a major revenue earner for some of the world’s poorest countries.