Action on plastics key focus at Abta sustainable travel conference

The one-day event on June 26 will tackle a range of sustainability issues including measuring the impact of tourism and finding positive ways for the industry to make a difference.

Jamie Sweeting, president of tourism charity Planeterra Foundation and also vice president for social enterprise at G Adventures, will explore how the industry “can do more good”, instead of being focused on “doing less harm”.

Sweeting will look at examples of how this can achieved through initiatives such as social enterprises, animal welfare campaigns, working with indigenous people and dealing with plastics.

Working in partnership with destinations to reduce the negative impact of tourism will be a key theme of a presentation by Rochelle Turner, director of research at the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC).

Abta’s senior sustainability manager Clare Jenkinson will be looking at key changes over the past year including issues such as destination management and overcrowding, drought and water crises, and plastics.

Abta’s 2018 Make Holidays Greener campaign will focus on single-use plastics and what holidaymakers, travel businesses, tourist boards, hotels, resorts and destinations can do to address the issue.

Jenkinson said: “Sustainable tourism is essential for the industry’s long-term viability, and initiatives such as this summer’s Make Holidays Greener campaign and Abta’s sustainability programme, Better Places, offers different ways in which companies can do something that best works for them.

“This is Abta’s second annual seminar focusing on this important area, and will offer practical guidance on how to implement sustainable approaches across travel businesses.

“Customers expect to be able to purchase travel products from businesses who are making a conscious effort to protect local communities and environments within destinations.”

The seminar will also feature presentations on promoting sustainable growth and working with suppliers to meet customer expectations.

A series of sessions will be held on how travel companies can apply sustainable practices to reduce plastics, manage carbon and water usage, and within the cruise industry.

“This seminar is for travel agents, tour operators, hotels, airlines, cruise providers and the wider travel and tourism industry who have a part to play in making travel more sustainable,” added Jenkinson.

The event will be held on June 26 at Abta’s headquarters in central London.