The author, documentary film-maker and adventurer talks to Juliet Dennis about the relationship between travel and sustainability and his work with Kuoni
Q. Tell us a bit about your background
I flunked out of school with no qualifications and got a job as a postboy on The Sunday Times. Gradually I worked my way up to researcher before doing a bit of writing. Then I wrote books on terrorism. That led to working on TV programmes, which I have been doing for the last 20 years.
Q. Why is sustainability a subject close to your heart?
The world is changing and humans are having a massive impact on the planet. We are in danger of wrecking our own home. This has been brought up by remote people in far-flung parts of the planet that can see the climate changing and weather becoming more unpredictable.
This has not come from people with a scientific background, but they could see change was coming. Now, we all know it’s coming.
Everyone in every industry has a responsibility to take this on board because we all want to ensure our children have a good, sustainable planet for the future.
Q. Is the travel industry at fault for damage to the planet?
Travel is not the only culprit, and it’s by no means the worst industry. The fashion industry has a massive carbon footprint. Travel gets a bit of an unfair rap; it is a beautiful human right.
The history of travel is important. A show on ancient pilgrimages a few years ago said there were times when up to a quarter of the population of Europe went on a pilgrimage. A lot of that was an excuse for an adventure and for people to go away; not much has changed.
Travel is not the only culprit, and it’s not the worst industry. The fashion industry has a massive carbon footprint. Travel gets a bit of an unfair rap; it is a beautiful human right
Travel’s been with us forever and it’s vital to us as human beings; that desire to explore, meet and engage. We want to make it possible and make our journeys as sustainable as possible. We need to make travel as ‘green’ as possible.
Q. Can travel be a force for good?
Yes! What we don’t discuss is the impact of travel in a positive way: the industry of travel and how many millions of people it employs in poorer parts of the planet.
Equally we don’t discuss how it helps protect and preserve a lot of ecosystems around the world that rely on tourism money, whether it’s to pay for anti-poaching patrols or for uniforms for forest wardens. This is all supported by people going on their holidays. Of course, we have to do that as sustainably as possible, but we can also remind people of the positive aspects of travel.
Q. What should travel firms be doing, in your view?
Companies want to do a virtuous job that doesn’t have a negative impact on the planet. The industry employs loads of wonderful people. We want to share the delight; we want people to enjoy themselves when they go away. We don’t want to have a negative impact on the world.
Staff want to do their best and guide customers. Not every customer going into a travel agency is going to ask to travel responsibly first and foremost, but it will give them a glow around their holiday if they do so.
It’s about getting through to people. It’s up to all of us to make the case for travel as a vital part of our lives. Travel is wonderful, but we also need to put more back into the environment.
It really matters that firms are properly embedded in the community they operate in. It’s not a quick buck industry.
We want it to be sustainable; hotels are in these places not just for a couple of years. Local people have got to feel they are benefiting from that in terms of work and employment and that the hotels and the industry are not destroying tourism. So the more sustainable we can make it environmentally, the more sustainable it will be economically.
A lot of it is on companies involved [in travel] to make sure a positive message gets out by people having a good experience.
Q. How can travel firms balance the competitive nature of business with promoting sustainability?
I don’t think anyone goes into travel to make lots of money and harm mother nature. They want to look after the world and care for the planet.
But supply and demand do mean firms are forced to compete on price. It puts companies and travel agents in a difficult position because they want to give people these amazing experiences that are meaningful and sustainable.
Passion and knowledge have got to be key things that lead people to choosing more interesting holidays and experiences.
We should trade on the whole notion of the ‘experience’ more and ‘bribe’ people by spreading the message that if they spend a few extra pounds, the experience will be better
We should trade on the whole notion of the ‘experience’ more and ‘bribe’ people by spreading the message that if they spend a few extra pounds, the experience will be better and richer.
We should do whatever it takes to tell people about the virtue [of travel experiences]. In an ideal world we would not have to constantly compete; there would be more of a level playing field.
Q. How do you balance your own travel footprint with helping the environment?
I am conscious of every aspect of my travelling, but I do believe there is a virtue and merit of going on journeys.
On TV we are all together on an adventure, we are capturing stories and lives. I am looking not just at the beauty and joy [of destinations], I am looking for the issues.
That mix makes for a richer experience and hopefully for the people watching, it’s a mix of issues and adventure, and beyond that, it’s for people to learn more about the planet.
I do know for example, with the South America TV series, people would not have an idea about the different countries we travel to, so in bringing those stories to them it gives people more of an idea [of destinations].
Q. Why do you work with Kuoni?
I admire their ethos and how they treat customers and the value they put on a proper, magnificent experience. I am keen to nudge their customers and teams to be as green as possible.
Kuoni recognised early on that travel has a really important role to play in helping our precious ecosystems to survive and thrive, whether it’s a safari on the plains of Africa or visiting a marine reserve in the Maldives, it’s tourism money that helps to keep these people going.
The Maldives is a magnet for marine life, tourists help finance the government to keep poachers and illegal fishing boats away and make it into a marine nursery for the wider nations.
You put your head underwater and it’s like visiting another planet; life under the waves is being protected by tourists who are visiting these destinations. Let’s remind people of that value.
Tourists help protect the tourism ‘arches’ [that support the whole infrastructure]; it’s vital we recognise the importance of tourism.
More: TV presenter Simon Reeve becomes Kuoni brand ambassador