Responsible travel can often seem like a subject suited only to major companies or to destinations.
But as Abta head of destinations and sustainability Nikki White points out this week, there is plenty that agents can do, starting in their own workplaces with the help of Abta’s online programme Better Places.
“Sustainable travel is not just for eco-warriors,” says Nikki – and she’s right.
So I’m pleased to announce that the agent who can demonstrate most commitment to responsible travel will be named our ‘Responsible Travel Ambassador’, thanks to an initiative we’re launching this week with G Adventures.
The competition to support sustainable tourism offers a chance for an agent to stand out. It comes not just with the promise of a title, but with the prize of a trip of a lifetime to Peru to see some of G Adventures’ responsible travel projects first-hand.
It’s a fitting competition for this responsible travel-themed special edition of Travel Weekly. Inside, we cover everything from the first attempts to turn around a mass-tourism destination in Majorca to the latest initiatives from sustainability trailblazer Tui, sponsor of this edition, and the Travelife hotel certification scheme and the accessibility of Ilunion Hotels in Spain.
Our product pages are filled with news from suppliers doing more to promote responsible tours, as well as information for agents increasingly asked about travelling in a more sustainable fashion.
The idea that responsible tourism is just for big corporations is a myth that needs busting. Every one of you can do something to make a difference. This is for all of us.