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Responsible Travel deletes X in protest at Elon Musk stance

Holiday company Responsible Travel has deleted its account on X – formerly Twitter – after 15 years on the platform, citing its incompatibility with company values.

Justin Francis (pictured), founder and executive chair, said: “At Responsible Travel we believe in free speech, not hate speech, disinformation or incitement to violence.

“There was no justification for Elon Musk’s assertion that ‘civil war is inevitable’ in response to a post blaming the violent demonstrations in the UK on the effects of ‘mass migration and open borders’.

“The heart of responsible tourism is respect, and we’re a global, diverse and inclusive community.

“But instead of a safe and positive space for engagement and connection, X has increasingly come to feel like a platform for abuse.

“Perhaps enough people taking a stand might eventually help to change that. We hope to see you instead on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and Threads.”

Earlier this year, Responsible Travel severed ties with Barclays bank amid fossil fuel concerns, becoming the first travel client of Unity Trust Bank.

In 2023, Responsible Travel launched its first major impact report and introduced a carbon label option for its 479 global tour operator and accommodation members.

The company now offers almost 900 carbon-labelled holidays on its site.

It does not support or promote carbon offsetting, instead advising customers to fly less and choose responsible trips that work to reduce carbon, support nature and benefit communities.

More: Communications expert Debbie Hindle joins Responsible Travel

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