09 September 2009

TUI chief to take WTM hot seat

TUI Travel CEO Peter Long is to be quizzed as part of this year’s World Travel Market.

Long will be interviewed in the ‘hot seat’ by BBC World HARDtalk presenter Stephen Sackur as part of the show’s World Responsible Tourism Day on November 11.

"Sustainable development is central to the way we run and manage TUI Travel," Long said.

"Sustainability is one of our four key drivers for growth, and the group strategy team has taken into consideration sustainable development issues - with particular reference to climate change - when developing our business strategy.

"We have recently issued our first sustainable development report which documents the progress our businesses have made towards providing holidays that cause minimal environmental impact, respect the culture and people of destinations and offer real economic benefit to local communities.

"We are determined to not only talk about our commitment to sustainable development but to embed and action this within our businesses.

"Our aspirations are to lead in sustainable development within the leisure travel industry and to develop this in the wider marketplace.

"We still have a long way to go, but I believe that the steps we have taken in the last year have set us on course to make a real contribution to a more sustainable world."

WTM chairman Fiona Jeffery said: "Hot Seat is one of the undoubted highlights of WTM WRTD.

"In the past, responsible tourism was confined to smaller, specialist companies but now leading mass market operators such as TUI Travel are demonstrating that sustainability and commercial success can and are going hand in hand.

"TUI Travel rightly recognises that the environment, communities and cultures in which it operates are vital to the success of the business.

"Clearly responsible leadership is one of the company’s essential values."

by Phil Davies

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Your Comments (1)

Local knowledge

Peter, local knowledge and really well written, locally researched guides and "content" for destinations is a good, medium-size component of sustainable travel. And surprise! This is some part of what we do! Have good WTM and perhaps meet you and see you there.

By Roger Ellman, Tuesday, November 10, 2009