ABTA and Travel Weekly have joined forces to organise industry’s first green travel summit, in a week in which the travel industry has come under renewed attacks for the damage it causes to the planet.
The meeting, to be held at Newman Street on September 20, will gather together many of the most influential people in travel to agree an industry-wide position and strategy to respond to increasing pressure from lobby groups, the media and Government.
ABTA chief executive Mark Tanzer said: “Our aim is to agree a common position for our sector and an action plan for the future.
“One thing we are not looking to do is replace what individual organisations are already doing but to learn, share and bring practical focus to a complex issue.”
This week, pressure group Tourism Concern blasted the travel industry for paying lip service to its responsibilities while it destroys local communities and eco-systems, and the Bishop of London, the Right Reverend Richard Chartres, branded flying on holiday sinful.
Addressing a conference in Singapore on corporate social responsibility, Tourism Concern chief executive Tricia Barnett accused travel firms of developing CSR policies purely to convince the public and shareholders of their environmentally-friendly and ethical credentials.
She singled out two Hilton International hotel developments – the Hilton Maldives Resort and Spa and the Bimini Bay Resort in the Bahamas – as examples of how local eco-systems and communities can be damaged by tourism but said these are likely to be the tip of the iceberg.
Hilton angrily rejected the allegations. Chief executive Ian Carter said: “Hilton International is very proud of its record and achievements in CSR and this is an area we take very seriously throughout the business.”
However, Tourism Concern project manager Guyonne James said Hilton is unlikely to be the worst offender. She said: “The whole industry, whether it’s mass tourism or small eco-lodges, needs to look at its impact otherwise you just impoverish the local community because you soak up its resources.
“These issues are not discussed in tourism. Firms put fantastic social responsibility policies on their websites but this is not what’s happening on the ground.”
The industry defended itself saying the sector is developing policies that will mitigate the social and environmental impact of tourism, although it has admitted there is still a lot more to do.
Federation of Tour Operators director-general Andy Cooper said: “CSR is something that has appeared on the radar in the last couple of years.
“Operators are not there yet but they are certainly moving down the road quite rapidly. Each of the big four operators have individuals whose sole responsibility is CSR, it has to be something that’s embedded in their businesses.”
Tanzer said: “It’s a difficult balancing act with environmental, social and economic impacts often in conflict. These have to be understood and policies, practices and tools developed to maximise the good and minimise the bad.”
New industry body the Responsible Travel Alliance, involving ABTA, the FTO and Association of Independent Tour Operators, met for the first time last week to discuss strategy.
Cooper said it was possible there will be a launch event but said “more likely the alliance will emerge gradually by osmosis”.
He revealed he will write to the Bishop of London to “help him understand the issues”.