10 minute read
Conscious travel: How
A world of good
The pandemic has revealed the power of travel, for better and for worse. Can agents use this to usher in a new era of conscious travel? Laura Gelder investigates
We’re more than 20 months into the pandemic and there is a mixed view of how this seismic event will aff ect travel in the long term. However, a recurring theme pops up in every discussion about travel trends, and that is building travel back ‘better’.
The growth in conscious travel – travel that is mindful of its impact on the planet and its communities – is not a new concept, but one built around long-indicated consumer demand. At this November’s ABTA Travel Convention, the organisation’s Chief Executive, Mark Tanzer, opened the event by talking about the challenges of building back customer confi dence post-Covid, saying: “Part of that confi dence is the confi dence to travel with a good conscience.”
But according to a Travel Intelligence Report commissioned by representation company Lotus this September, there isn’t much consumer demand. Its survey showed fewer than 10% of the uk population ask for sustainable travel options, just four per cent have compensated their CO2 emissions and six per cent have chosen eco-friendly accommodation if it cost more.
Changing attitudes
G Adventures’ recent research begs to diff er and shows that 33% of UK travellers are more focused on travelling responsibly now than before the pandemic.
“Mindsets are shifting and the pandemic has given travellers time to rethink their travel decisions,” says the operator’s Managing Director, Brian Young.
There is no denying that the travel hiatus has produced hard evidence of the negative impact travel can have on the environment.
“We all saw the headlines about marine life returning to Venice and people in India seeing the Himalayas for the fi rst time thanks to the lockdown easing pollution,” says zina Bencheikh, EMEA Managing Director for Intrepid Travel.
The shutdown also highlighted the good that travel can do.
Giles Hawke, CEO of Cosmos, points out: “As tourism begins again it is great to hear the responses from our local partners, who are fi nally seeing their livelihoods restarting. We can really see the importance of tourist money in these destinations.”
Melissa Tilling, CEO of not-for-profi t travel agency Charitable Travel, thinks that agents have a professional responsibility to champion conscious travel.
“ultimately, it’s the customer’s decision as to how they holiday but it’s now an agent’s job to present responsible options,” she says.
“It’s also a great way to demonstrate knowledge and expertise.”
Intrepid’s Bencheikh agrees. “Agents are often the fi rst point of contact for the customer so it’s important that they are primed and ready to talk about this topic in an informed and helpful way,” she says.
Trend watching Conscious travel / 9
Trend watching 10 / Conscious travel
SEEFROMTHES k Y NOVAC DAN
The Maldives relies heavily on TourisM g advenTures’ Tours give back To The local coMMuniTy wildlife in venice Thrived during lockdown
Positive points
But, as Young points out: “No one wants to feel like they are being preached to, or made to feel bad about their holiday choices.” He thinks that drawing on the positives of travel can help.
“Travellers usually book an adventure based on the destination or type of holiday they want, but when they are there meeting locals and seeing the positive impact of their trip, they become more engaged with the idea of responsible travel.”
Bencheikh recommends focusing on social sustainability too. “Talking to customers about how they can make sure their trip benefits local communities is a good place to start,” she says. “And using a local guide, eating in local restaurants, even hopping on public transport, are all fantastic ways to get under the skin of a destination.”
If a client isn’t set on a destination, Tilling agrees with steering them to ones in the developing world, where tourism can be a significant force for good, or those that rely on it and have been decimated by Covid-19.
The World Bank’s TCdata360 database released last year listed the Maldives as the country most reliant on tourism, which generates 75.1% of GDP and creates 36.7% of jobs. The top 50 most dependent countries included many island nations in the Indian Ocean, Caribbean, Pacific and even the Mediterranean, but there’s no denying the list misses out many needy countries.
MEHMET T u RG u T -k IR k GO z
organised hoMesTays are helping nepali woMen Spread the love
Tilling also recommends suggesting secondary destinations to spread the benefits of tourism.
“Even close to home there are less developed countries. Alongside Greece you could suggest its less-developed neighbour Albania,” she explains. “And within developed countries there are less-visited resorts or cities that could benefit from tourist money. Be bold with options and aware of where you can make a difference.”
G Adventures’ Young points out that responsible travel is often equated to ‘roughing it’, but it’s important to show that this is far from the truth.
Even if a client is set on visiting a developed and popular destination, bookings can still make a difference – by seeking out hotels with sustainable credentials, for example. Preferred Hotels’ Beyond Green collection, launched last year, only includes properties that meet over 50 sustainability indicators.
Or book hotels that are locally owned. “Swapping large all-inclusives for small, family-run hotels doesn’t mean you won’t have a great room,” says Young. He points
out that 600 of G Adventures’ tours are audited using a ‘Ripple Score’, which shows the percentage of money that goes directly to locally-owned businesses. “Across all trips we average 93, meaning 93% of all money spent on “Talking to customers about tours goes into the hands of local how their trip could benefit people,” he adds. local communities is a good Agents can also place to start. This can be as book tours that simple as using a local guide” visit isolated or marginalised Zina bencheikh, intrepid Travel communities. Intrepid Travel teamed up with Nepal’s World Wildlife Fund to create a village-run community of homestays and activities for travellers in the Madi Valley. “The project creates jobs, generates income, and empowers local people, particularly women, economically, socially and personally,” says Bencheikh.
Look for the good
There are many travel companies offering less obviously sustainable product but supporting charities, championing causes or making an effort to be more sustainable. Indeed, agents can always offer the chance to donate to a charity with each booking. Tilling points out that The Charitable Travel Fund helps tourism communities in need, with money currently going to places like Cambodia, where Covid-19 caused a 99% decline in international tourism. Cosmos recently launched its Lighthouse Project, focused on ensuring holidays have a positive impact on people, the planet and places. Hawke summarises with a quote: “Nobody made a greater mistake than he who did nothing because he could only do a little.” •
Trend watching Travel talk / 11
Dana Young, CEO of Visit Florida
In the fi rst six months of 2021, we saw visitation levels rise 6% above 2019, which was a record year for us. That same year 1.5 million Brits visited the state, accounting for 29% of the market share. We know there is tremendous demand for the US and I think we will see a lot of Brits who have been saving their money return to Florida in November and December.
Let clients know there is more to Florida than theme parks and beaches. We off er the widest range of holiday experiences of anywhere on earth. As a sixth generation Floridian, I highly recommend our nature experiences, such as taking an airboat ride in Simi, just south of Orlando, or, swimming with manatees in Crystal River, just an hour north of Tampa International Airport.
Looking ahead
There’s so much new product with highlights including a Jurassic Park themed roller coaster at Universal, and a Star Wars immersive hotel at Disneyland.
A big focus for us at the moment is accessibility. We will be building an extensive list of accessible travel opportunities, that goes beyond just people with mobility issues. Several of our hotels and attractions can now accommodate families with children on the autism spectrum.
In other news, Visit Florida will host several fams over the coming months, in addition to doubling down on training. We’ve been very involved in virtual training during the pandemic and we will continue to do so as it has allowed us to reach a much wider group of travel agents. visitfl orida.com
DREAM DESTINATIONS BY RAIL
WE’VE GOT YOU COVERED
GRAND TOUR OF SCOTLAND AMERICA COAST TO COAST GRAND VENICE, FLORENCE AND ROME
10 DAYS
FROM £1,249
PER PERSON
15 DAYS
FROM £2,149
PER PERSON
8 DAYS
FROM £1,599
PER PERSON
Inverness > Isle of Skye > Glasgow > Fort William > Edinburgh > London
HIGHLIGHTS:
• Overnight journey on the Caledonian sleeper • Explore Inverness • Tour the Isle of Skye and Eilean Donan Castle • Take one of the worlds most beautiful train journeys through the West Highlands • Explore Loch Lomond and Stirling Castle • Discover Edinburgh and the Edinburgh Castle New York City > Washington > Chicago > Denver > Salt Lake City > San Francisco
HIGHLIGHTS:
• Hop-on, hop-off sightseeing tours of New York City,
Washington, DC, Chicago and San Francisco • Monuments by Moonlight tour of Washington, DC • Sightseeing tours of Rocky Mountain National Park* and Salt Lake City • One-way Amtrak® in Coach accommodations from New York City on the Northeast Regional®,
Capitol Limited®, and California Zephyr® routes Geneva > Venice > Florence > Rome
HIGHLIGHTS:
•Arrive in Italy in style travelling through the breathtaking vistas of the Swiss Alps • Spend a night in cosmopolitan Geneva en route to Italy •Sample the best of Venice with a gondola ride, walking tour, and Doge's Palace entrance •Discover Florence's masterpieces with Uffizi
Gallery entrance and a sightseeing tour •Explore Rome with an Ancient Rome tour and •Explore Rome with an Ancient Rome tour and
Vatican Museum tourVatican Museum tour
SCOTLAND WITH RAILBOOKERS Travel from anywhere in the UK BELMOND ROYAL SCOTSMAN SCOTLAND’S CLASSIC SPLENDOURS with Edinburgh and the Jacobite Steam TrainGRAND TOUR OF SCOTLAND
