Travel industry told to fly less
The travel industry was given a stark warning at this week’s ABTA Convention: we need to fly less.
Tim Williamson, customer director for Responsible Travel, said the only way to tackle climate change is to reduce the growth of the aviation industry.
"There’s no way around it. I can’t sugar coat this in any way that makes it more palatable," he said.
"We need to fly less and we need to encourage our customers to fly less. If you’re going to stop the planet heating above 2 degrees, I can’t see how you can do that without stopping flying."
He said the travel industry should ‘get on the front foot’ because regulation is coming.
"We’re in denial that offsets are the answer but they’re not," he said.
"The longer we put it off the more trouble we are going to be in. Legislation will come and you might not like it."
He said consumers might also be the ones driving the changes, through a rising feeling of ‘flight shame’.
"Customers might get there ahead of us. In fact, a survey by UBS Bank found 16% of Brits have already changed their flying habits because of environmental concerns."
He said the industry should encourage a move back to the traditional annual two-week holiday, reducing the number of flights taken each year.
Customers should also be encouraged to travel to places where tourism is welcomed and crucial to the local communities.
Bev
Editor in chief Bev Fearis has been a travel journalist for 25 years. She started her career at Travel Weekly, where she became deputy news editor, before joining Business Traveller as deputy editor and launching the magazine’s website. She has also written travel features, news and expert comment for the Guardian, Observer, Times, Telegraph, Boundless and other consumer titles and was named one of the top 50 UK travel journalists by the Press Gazette.
Vegas’s Billion-Dollar Secrets – What They Don’t Want Tourists to Know
Visit Florida’s New CEO Bryan Griffin Shares His Vision for State Tourism with Graham
Chicago’s Tourism Renaissance: Graham Interviews Kristin Reynolds of Choose Chicago
Graham Talks with Cassandra McCauley of MMGY NextFactor About the Latest Industry Research
Destination International’s Andreas Weissenborn: Research, Advocacy, and Destination Impact
Graham and Don Welsh Discuss the Success of Destinations International’s Annual Conference
Graham and CEO Andre Kiwitz on Ventura Travel’s UK Move and Recruitment for the Role
Brett Laiken and Graham Discuss Florida’s Tourism Momentum and Global Appeal
Graham and Elliot Ferguson on Positioning DC as a Cultural and Inclusive Global Destination
Graham Talks to Fraser Last About His England-to-Ireland Trek for Mental Health Awareness
Kathy Nelson Tells Graham About the Honour of Hosting the World Cup and Kansas City’s Future
Graham McKenzie on Sir Richie Richardson’s Dual Passion for Golf and His Homeland, Antigua
ADS PRO 
France prepares for a massive strike across all transports on September 18
Turkish tourism stalls due to soaring prices for accommodation and food
CCS Insight: eSIMs ready to take the travel world by storm
Germany new European Entry/Exit System limited to a single airport on October 12, 2025
Airlines suspend Madagascar services following unrest and army revolt