Tui Group director of corporate and external affairs Thomas Ellerbeck outlines the ethos of the Tui Care Foundation and the projects it supports. He spoke to Ian Taylor
Tui will complete its group rebranding this autumn, with Thomson becoming Tui and a group-wide switch of resources for sustainability projects to the Tui Care Foundation.
The foundation, based in the Netherlands, will become the group-wide vehicle for engagement with local communities. UK staff training on the Tui Care Foundation will begin this month so agents can explain it to customers.
Donations at the point of booking, made by 50% of Thomson and First Choice customers in shops, will switch to the Tui foundation. They currently go to the World Care Fund.
Tui Care Foundation
The chairman of the Tui Care Foundation, Thomas Ellerbeck, says: “Socially, economically and ecologically intact regions appeal to tourists and have a better chance of success long term.
“From now on, the Tui Care Foundation will act as the umbrella for the group’s engagement in this field. It will be our centre of expertise for sustainability projects.”
He explains: “We’ve already achieved a great deal. Group companies have developed many valuable projects. But these have been standalone. It hasn’t been possible to exploit their combined potential. We want to go further, to bring long-term change and extend the influence beyond our company and beyond our sector.
“The articles of association of the foundation allow us to be independent and operate in this wider context. We can gather expertise and transfer the best concepts between countries.”
The Tui Care Foundation will have “three main fields of engagement”. Ellerbeck says: “The first is supporting children and young people by developing education and training opportunities. Second, we’re committed to sustaining the natural environment. Third, we want to invest in innovative projects to improve people’s lives and support the long-term success of the local tourism sector.
“The idea is that people who live in a destination should see a greater benefit from tourism.”
The foundation will be launched to UK customers “in the next months”. This is the foundation’s first year as an international organisation, but Ellerbeck says: “The feedback so far has been overwhelmingly positive.
“Customers are interested to learn about projects and what they can do to support them.
“We can benefit from the expertise of more than 60,000 Tui colleagues who are networked, know what challenges exist and where help and support will make the greatest difference.
“We also have longstanding partnerships with a range of charities and other organisations.”
€10m projects target
From 2020, Tui aims to spend €10 million a year on projects.
Ellerbeck says: “Funds will be provided by Tui, but also by holidaymakers’ donations. Tui will bear the administrative costs, which ensures all donations are directly invested in projects.”
He explains: “When people travel on holiday they are often inspired to do something to help the local community. We can guarantee guests’ donations will be invested in worthwhile projects that we have chosen carefully.”
An advisory board evaluates all projects and an independent board of trustees is responsible for decisions on funding.
• Tui publishes details of all the projects at tuicarefoundation.com
The Tui Care Foundation
• Supports and initiates projects to drive sustainable development of tourism
• Connects holidaymakers to ‘good causes’ in destinations
• Aims to create meaningful and longlasting impacts
• Partners with local and international organisations
• Convenes experts from Tui and project partners
• Current projects include: winemaking in Lanzarote; elephant protection in Tanzania; wildlife protection in South Africa; hospitality scholarships in Namibia; sustainable olive oil and wine production in Crete; and elephant welfare in Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Nepal, India and Sri Lanka