'Many ways to support a low carbon future,' Responsible Travel insists

The self-styled activist operator on Tuesday (24 September) published its 2024 impact report, charting the progress it has made since its first impact report last year.

The first edition saw Responsible Travel adopt 16 goals which included reducing its greenhouse gas emissions, placing carbon labels on more trips and offering more holidays that benefit indigenous communities.

"It made sense [for us] to involve everyone – our goals and values are indivisible and touch every corner of the business,” said Responsible Travel executive chair Justin Francis, who co-founded the business.

"Staff volunteered to lead actions and goals, and I think that collective ownership and responsibility has added value to the process.”

Over the past year, Responsible Travel has achieved a per passenger per day reduction in CO2 of 3.2%. It has also increased the number of trips it offers with carbon labels to 886.

Other developments include expanding its range of trips benefiting indigenous people from 58 in 2023 to 187 in 2024, strengthening its offering for vegan and vegetarian travellers, and adding more rail options.

"Responsible tourism generates conservation funding, jobs and income for the least advantaged communities,” Francis continued. “Its potential for creating positive change – supporting a fairer transition to a nature positive, low carbon future – is enormous."