Safer Tourism Foundation impact report marks ‘significant milestone’

The Safer Tourism Foundation says its work is “more essential than ever” as it strives to save lives and prevent serious harm or injury to people on holiday abroad and in the UK.

 

Launching the charity’s first impact report, chair Paul Carter (pictured), said: “This report marks a significant milestone, not just in terms of what we have achieved, but in how far the charity has come in building a safer environment for travellers. 

 

“That’s why our work – grounded in data, shaped by behavioural insight, and made possible through collaboration – is more essential than ever.”

 

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The report highlights the foundation’s evidence base of incident data from more than 10 million trips a year, helping to understand how, where and why travellers get into difficulty. 

 

Covering the past five years, the report also looks at the success of campaigns, such as “Stick Together,” which helped halve fatal balcony falls in the Balearics; “Pack Safe,” which brought the fatal risks of carbon monoxide poisoning to national attention; and the “Holiday Head” initiative to help travellers understand the risks of a ‘holiday mindset’.

 

The charity has also begun to explore the rise in severe allergies, noting how “2022 and 2023 data reveal a worrying pattern of anaphylaxis each year, with some resulting in fatalities”.

 

The foundation now has 15 Safer Tourism Pledge partners, who are assessed on how well they meet six safety and risk management commitments.

 

Leading UK travel brands such as Tui, the Latin America Travel Association (Lata) and easyJet holidays signed up to Safer Tourism pledge in 2024.

 

Carter concluded: “Looking back over the past five years, I can truly see the difference we’re making – and the potential that lies ahead.”