Green consortium move by TTA Worldchoice
Sunday, 23 Nov, 2009
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The combined TTA Worldchoice consortium has set an objective to become the ‘greenest’ and most responsible independent agency group in the UK
The group hopes to find ways to make available to members holidays that have been audited to ensure that they adhere to the principles of responsible tourism.
A partnership with TTA member responsibletravel.com and charity The Travel Foundation is designed to work towards screening and identifying green products that members can sell with confidence.
A customised co-branded version of The Travel Foundation’s online training programme has been introduce for members to help staff understand the issues and helps them to advise their customers.
TTA Worldchoice has also initiated a ‘self environmental audit programme’ for member shops devised with The Travel Foundation.
The first of these was undertaken at Bailey’s Travel, whose managing director Chris Bailey said: “Some parts of the world are fragile and it is important that we take care of what is there.
“Also it’s important that my staff feel able to discuss these issue with customers and respond confidently when asked about our position. The audit was a helpful exercise.”
TTA’s headquarters in Woking has introduced an internal green programme which has resulted in a number of changes to working practices including a reduction in waste and a move towards using public transport. TTA also uses Fair Trade products wherever possible.
TTA Worldchoice managing director Simon Hargreaves, speaking at the group’s annual conference, said: “Every travel company should have a green policy to minimise any negative impact they have on the environment.
“Tour operators need to look closely at the working practices of the suppliers they use, and in any travel agency there are simple things you can do to reduce your carbon footprint.
“I know this is not something we can achieve overnight, and there is a long way to go yet, but I want TTA Worldchoice to take a lead on this and make it central to everything we do.”
Hargreaves is realistic that full-scale change in attitudes towards green business ethics will not happen overnight.
“Of course there are trade-offs but I believe a responsible approach to tourism can also be good for business,” he said.
“I think increasing numbers of tourists will want to know more about the impacts of their holidays, and to book holidays with the ‘local’ element that responsible tourism brings. Crucially we want to show our members that responsible tourism can be profitable for their business as well as good for the planet.”
Also speaking at the conference, responsible travel.com managing director Justin Francis said: “Agents, as the frontline with customers, have an unrivalled opportunity to spread the word about responsible tourism, and to offer new and more responsible tourism products.”
*See linked TTA/Worldchoice stories.
by Phil Davies
Phil Davies
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