Make Holidays Greener Month support continues
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Tour operators and travel companies have continued to show their support for Make Holidays Greener Month with a variety of initiatives.
Many companies are sharing green holidays tips with customers, such as Cosmos Holidays with its branded landing page for the month and tips and destinations. Its resorts will also encourage customers to buy locally-produced souvenirs to support the local community, on posters printed on recycled paper.
The initiative comes after new research from The Travel Foundation and ABTA found that holidaymakers could be spending 10% of their holiday budget on illegal, environmentally-unfriendly or binned souvenirs. In addition most holidaymakers do not realise that coral and certain shells need a permit to be bought into the UK, while coming home with wood carvings and leather goods is fine (although how they were sourced should be checked).
In Greece, Sunvil Holidays is also promoting local souvenirs by showcasing items made by a local ladies’ co-operative in Alonissos, while unwanted items in Tolon will be donated to orphanages. In addition, its reps in Lemnos will start a book library so guests can swap novels, with guests in Skiathos able to walk dogs from a local sanctuary.
Closer to home, off-airport parking company Airparks has put up posters on its buses and reception desks asking holdiaymakers to do one thing to benefit the locals and protect the environment while away.
“It’s in everybody’s interests to support the local economy in holiday destinations, as well as protecting the environment,” said Sue Hurdle, chief executive of The Travel Foundation. “Having diverse, beautiful and welcoming places to visit is what makes a holiday fun and memorable for so many of us, and considering what to buy is one simple way to play your part in protecting them”.
Cosmos has also been working to reduce paper used in its offices, with its Bromley and Stockport offices holding a ‘Green Day’ on 27 July to promote eco-friendly awareness.
