The new head of the Travel Foundation aims to raise the charity’s profile and persuade more of the industry to contribute to its sustainable tourism projects.
Roger Heape, who took over as chairman in January, said: “It takes time to build up funding and you have to demonstrate what you can do. Now we aim to get more companies into the Travel Foundation.”
The Foundation raised just over £1 million last year – a 30% increase on the previous year, having been set up in 2003.
Heape hopes to raise more than £1.2 million this year.
TUI Travel and Thomas Cook are already signed up, with 75% to 80% of the Foundation’s income coming from customer donations added to the cost of a holiday.
“Consumer donation schemes take a long time to put in place, but cost little for companies.”
Heape added: “We would like to broaden our reach, not just with tour operators but with the cruise industry, airlines and online retailers.”
The Travel Foundation undertakes sustainability audits for hotel and resorts, runs community projects in Kenya, the Gambia, Sri Lanka, Jamaica, Tobago, Thailand, Brazil and Cyprus, and offers training.