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*SOURCE: Research commissioned by Booking.com and independently conducted among a sample of 29,349 respondents across 30 countries and territories. The survey was taken online and took place in March 2021.
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Give yourself – and the planet – a break More Brits are looking to travel sustainably than ever before – but what’s the best way to do it? • Now that trips abroad have • been given the green light again, thousands of Brits are unapologetically packing their bags and jet setting. However, awareness of how we’re travelling, • and the subsequent impact it has, is continuing to grow with the ‘pandemic effect’ further encouraging travellers to opt for more sustainable measures. In fact, Booking.com’s Sustainable Travel Report 2021 has found that 43% of UK travellers say the pandemic has made them want to travel more sustainably in the future, whilst 64% say they want to stay in a sustainable accommodation in the upcoming year. The latter has seen a notable increase from previous years, from 44% in 2016, and 50% in 2020, prior to the pandemic. Marianne Gybels, director of sustainability for Booking.com adds: “The good intentions are there on all sides, but there is still a lot of
work to be done to make sustainable travel an easy choice for everyone.” With there still being some uncertainty surrounding travelling, some Brits are still naturally drawn to a staycation. For those with an environmental conscience, the perfect trip could be Plymouth, Britain’s Ocean City, where sustainability is a watchword. Although best known for its impressive maritime heritage, the city is now a community with plastic-free status and offers the chance to enjoy a sustainable adventure, celebrate nature and learn about conservation initiatives while helping to reduce harm – litter pick with Plymouth Gin anyone? Larkhill Tipis and Yurts is an eco-friendly glamping site that is set within 20 acres of land with stunning views over Carmarthen and Cardigan Bay. The entire campsite is run by alternative energy – wind and solar, with electricity coming from solar, hydro and wind power and the tipis heated by a cast-iron wood burner. Battlesteads in Wark is one of the UK’s most proactive eco hotels, including bee-friendly hedgerows, a pesticide-free garden, a wildlife meadow and built-in bird and bat boxes. The property also boasts a
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In the spotlight Biostays The climate crisis is knocking at the front door ever louder. Biostays are pioneers, and aim to make a difference. Explore the world’s best eco-friendly hotels and experiences, and if you book on their website, they protect two acres of rainforest permanently. Visit biostays.com and follow @biostays dark sky observatory to allow guests to look out to the night sky. The lure of jumping on a plane again can be too much of a temptation for others though. But
there are plenty of ways you can still travel sustainably without the guilt from flying. To counteract the CO2 emissions from aviation, interestingly, 36% have made more sustainable travel choices over the past 12 months*, through small changes such as: turning off their air conditioning or heating in their accommodation when they are not there, bringing reusable water bottles and doing activities to support local communities. Hotels are committed to implementing proactive measures too, including The Europe Hotel & Resort in Ireland, with measures such as running on renewable energy, conserving natural resources, recycling throughout the hotel, and utilising EV charging points throughout.
For those looking to rejuvenate while getting a bit of sunshine, TheLifeCo Wellbeing in Turkey, a detox centre favoured by the stars, supports vegan charities and sources produce from local communities or plants their own. Meanwhile The Retreat at Blue Lagoon’s exclusive spa switches out tourist-trap for sustainable wellness. These suites are heated from the geothermal lagoon, offering an extraordinary volcanic experience, making it the ultimate Icelandic sustainable stay. So whether you are opting for a staycation, or jet setting to an eco-hotel, there’s so many ways that travellers can make steps to help our planet, no matter where they are in the world. by Laura Forsyth
The climate crisis is here, what is the travel industry doing about it? Discover the world’s fi rst dedicated eco-hotel and experience booking website that protects the rainforests of the planet with every booking Coronavirus has been around for nearly two years now, and with new variants emerging, normality still feels a little way off. The pandemic has changed how people do things, forever. However, a much larger and more urgent problem looms, and that’s the climate crisis. What is done in the next decade will determine how humans survive this storm. Biostays is a pioneer in the travel industry – the world’s first dedicated eco-hotel and experience booking website that protects the rainforests of the planet with every booking. Founded in 2020 by Edgar Whalley after witnessing the effects of climate change in the Japan Alps, Biostays vow to protect vulnerable ecosystems whilst simultaneously encouraging people to visit the most stunning destinations in the world. Each booking will save at least two acres of rainforest automatically, because Biostay sends a portion of revenue to their global rainforest protection partner. Moreover, many of the hotels on biostays. com can’t be found on other major travel websites, and every hotel or experience on biostays.com has
What is done in the next decade will determine how humans survive this storm
been handpicked by the team to meet two criteria – sustainability, and how off-the-beaten-path or close to nature they are. Tourism and air travel make up a large portion of global emissions. In order to mitigate any more rising in temperatures by 2050, emissions must be reduced and the destruction of the natural processes that absorb CO2 from
the atmosphere needs to be halted. Deforestation is one of the strongest catalysts for global warming. Nature has a beautiful way to self-regulate and look after itself and the planet. In order to travel and enjoy the world, nature needs to be protected. The team at Biostays love to travel, but also want to ensure the future for humans is a happy and harmonious one, working hand in hand with nature. After all, everyone wants to be able to visit,
and enjoy the stunning natural beauty of the planet. Help combat climate change by exploring the planet, and your adventure starts with Biostays.
Find out more Visit biostays.com for more information and fi nd them on @biostays
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