The Travel Foundation
will refocus its work on sustainability in destinations as it enters a new phase under chief executive Salli Felton (pictured).
Noel Josephides, who chairs the Travel Foundation’s board of trustees, explained the approach at the charity’s annual general meeting in London last week.
“The market was very different when we founded the Travel Foundation more than 10 years ago,” he said.
“Low-cost carriers were in their infancy and bed banks unheard of. Tour operators controlled capacity.
“Ten years on, travel is dominated by companies that care little about sustainability in destinations. The focus of sustainable travel needs to change.
“Destinations need to step up and become more sustainable, and the model of sustainability has to be widened to reflect a more destination-focused approach.”
The Travel Foundation will seek to partner destinations, the private sector and “donor organisations on a regional, national or international level”.
Josephides said: “What sets the Travel Foundation apart is that it has boots on the ground. We can implement what we preach.”
Referring to the recent Timm project to measure the impact of tourism in Cyprus (Travel Weekly, July 9), he added: “We see immense importance in being able to measure the impact of tourism in destinations.”
The foundation also aims to work on a bigger scale. Annette Tingle, Travel Foundation programme co-ordinator in Jamaica, outlined a project to establish excursions to a Rastafarian village in Montego Bay, and said: “We want to use the experience to help other tourism businesses and associations.”
A foundation spokesman said: “Rather than help just one community in Montego Bay, we’re creating a programme that the local government will give to many community enterprises.”