The Travel Foundation is gearing up for a month-long campaign to promote Make Holidays Greener. Ian Taylor finds out how agents can get involved.
The Travel Foundation has set its sights high this year with a consumer campaign that will run throughout July.
This is the first time the Make Holidays Greener campaign has run for a month, rather than a week.
That gives everyone time to get involved, but the campaign will have to compete for attention with the Olympics.
The aim is to spread awareness of how to make travel and tourism more sustainable and show how small efforts can make a difference through initiatives in shops and among holidaymakers in resorts.
Travel Foundation chief executive Sue Hurdle said: “The destinations on which the outbound travel industry depends need help to motivate consumers.”
She told Travel Weekly: “Most of our work to date has focused on the trade. It is new for us to target consumers, but what makes a holiday special is also what makes it sustainable.
“Consumers may not be asking for more sustainable holidays, but if a destination is clean, there are great things to do, there is culture and customs, great food and people – it makes a holiday better.”
She added: “Times are hard. Companies are struggling, but businesses have not dismissed sustainability. I’m pleased at the number of companies coming to talk to us. The message is getting out that sustainability is a way to sustain business.”
The campaign is sponsored by Eco Gozo, an ecotourism initiative on the Maltese island of Gozo.
Alex Incorvaja, director at Malta Tourism Authority, said: “We are proud to be teaming up with The Travel Foundation to support Make Holidays Greener.”
Manuel Tabone of the ministry for Gozo, said: “The aim is to preserve the island’s environment, way of life, resources, culture and identity while responsibly developing the tourism and the economy.”
Hurdle said: “This is a call to action. Making Holidays Greener is easy and can be fun for staff and customers.”
The Travel Foundation receives more than £1 million a year from donations.
How agents can get involved
- Link to makeholidaysgreener.org.uk and download material for use in marketing.
- Display the posters designed by illustrator Rachel Bright. Available from June 29.
- The Ministry for Gozo is offering holidaymakers the chance to win a trip for four to the Maltese island. Make sure customers know how to enter.
- Get kids involved – Rachel Bright has created an activity sheet for children to take on holiday. Print out copies or display one and let customers know where to download it.
- Consider visiting a local school to explain the Travel Foundation’s tips on how to be a greener holidaymaker. thetravelfoundation.org.uk.
- Visit facebook.com/makeholidaysgreener.
- Highlight ‘greener’ deals, such as European camping breaks, holidays in Travelife hotels or journeys by rail.
- Make your shop greener – review energy use and recycling practices.
- Contact your local paper to tell them what you are doing. There is a press release on the Make Holidays Greener site.
- Tell customers you support Make Holidays Greener. Present them with good ideas and holiday deals.