I was struck by the Netflix documentary Seaspiracy, which taught me so much about the state of the oceans and the negative impacts of fishing as well as the fishing lines and nets used in our oceans. I learnt about the percentage of macro plastic which is found in the oceans from fishing lines as well as the practise of trawling the ocean floors.

Oceans absorb over 90% of heat and almost a third of all carbon dioxide that humans have ever produced. Our coastal ecosystems play a vital role in the climate and nature recovery. The more carbon dioxide the ocean absorbs, the more acidic it becomes and add that to over-fishing, pollution, coastal development and rising temperatures; the oceans are in crisis and we have a problem.

WWF have recently set out a strategy which is looking to include: restoration of lost coastal and declining ecosystems in partnership with coastal communities, reductions in emissions in line with net zero to tackle the impacts of climate change, full protection for at least a third of the UK seas by 2030, rebuilding fisheries for the benefits of climate, nature and people, increasing investment in new forms of finance to fund ocean recovery and will aim to set ambitious targets for ocean recovery in the UK.

There are plenty of projects in the charity sector which are, in essence, a rallying call for the travel & tourism sector.

One example of protecting the ecosystems in the ocean is the Galapagos Cocos Swimway. It’s a vital migration highway that follows the Cocos Ridge connecting the Galapagos Islands, Ecuador with Cocos island, Costa Rica. One of our Make Travel Matter charity partners, Galapagos Conservation Trust (GCT) has been supporting the creation of the proposed Galapagos-Cocos Swimway protected area since 2018, by helping their science partners gather important evidence needed to drive forward the creation of this 240,000 km2 route, which is critical for conserving endangered Galapagos marine species.

Another innovative project is the Flipflopi. They are a movement for change with a mission to end single-use plastic and lead a plastic-reuse revolution through education, sailing expeditions, positive storytelling and campaigns. In 2017 on the island of Lamu, Kenya, using traditional dhow builders and techniques, they built the world’s very first 100% recycled plastic dhow (sailing boat) and covered it in 30,000 multicoloured flip flops – that’s how they got the name! The Flipflopi has sailed over 500km from Lamu, Kenya to Zanzibar, Tanzania, stopping at 12 communities along the way. The hope is that people around the world are inspired to fight the growing tide of plastic pollution.

Then, of course, there are plenty of global beach clean ups around coastlines which demonstrate commitments to the local community and to the ocean and land. Another project that could easily be replicated is that of The Guardians of the Azores – an initiative of Futurismo Azores Adventures. This company has maintained the motto of “Love, Explore and Protect” the Azores, focusing on Sustainability in its broad sense. This activity is fully aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

So you see, it’s not just the charity sector who needs to sound the alarm and think of solutions to see ocean recovery. The travel and tourism sector can play a vital role and, I believe, has a duty to contribute to environmental preservation. We need to be considering how we can integrate the sustainable development goals into our core business models.

The Future of Tourism coalition, who’s guiding principles provide a clear moral and business imperative for building a healthier tourism industry while protecting the places and people on which it depends has continued in their work. We must recognize that most tourism by its nature involves the destination as a whole, not only industry businesses, but also its ecosystems, natural resources, cultural assets and traditions, communities, aesthetics, and built infrastructure. We are all stewards of the planet and do all we can to ensure that our oceans are protected and cared for.

L’article How can travel and tourism help protect our oceans? est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.

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As the topic of the climate crisis gets louder, I’ll chip in that we know that women, indigenous peoples and younger generations are often impacted the most by climate change. We know too, that they also hold some of the most effective solutions. To remind the reader, in June 2019, the UK parliament passed legislation which required our government to reduce the UK’s net emissions of greenhouse gases by 100% relative to 1990 levels by 2050. Doing so would make the UK a ‘net zero’ emitter. Sounds good to me. If the UK shows leadership, surely other countries can replicate and follow suit. More than 110 countries have committed to becoming carbon neutral by mid-century, but just six countries have net zero carbon targets in law. SIX.

The UK has pledged that by 2050, the amount of carbon dioxide emitted by all the cars, homes and industry in the country will be net zero – which means that for every tonne produced, a tonne must be extracted from the atmosphere. Let’s have a look at how one of the UK’s carbon emitters – our aviation sector is dealing with the challenge.

The Jet Zero Council (now that rhymes with Net Zero!) is a partnership between industry and government to bring together ministers and chief executive officer-level stakeholders, with the aim of delivering zero-emission transatlantic flights within a generation. It’s an ambitious delivery of new technologies and innovative ways to cut aviation emissions.

The Jet Zero Council (JZC) will be the catalyst for zero-emission passenger flight across the Atlantic. How? I hear you ask? It will focus on developing UK capabilities to deliver both net zero and zero-emission technologies by developing and industrialising zero-emission aviation and aerospace technologies, establishing production facilities for sustainable aviation fuels (SAF) and commercialising the industry by driving down production costs. It will develop a coordinated approach to the policy and regulatory framework needed to deliver net zero aviation by 2050.

The Travel and Tourism sector contributes up to 10% of world GDP and is a major contributor to jobs, trade, wealth and well-being, especially in emerging economies. However, we all know too well that it can be a major contributor to the world’s carbon footprint, pollution, resource utilisation and damage to the environment. As we grow again as an industry, we are challenged, we have to be mindful and ensure we are not going to damage to ourselves and our planet. We need to take action to reduce our carbon emissions and halt warming of our planet, before it’s too late.

Are you as an individual or a business thinking about Net Zero targets? Before setting a net zero target, it is important that you develop a clear roadmap of the actions that will reduce your own emissions as far as possible in the first instance. To conclude, let me introduce the Net Zero Challenge. This is a sustainability engagement tool which will accelerate your net zero carbon journey by encouraging people in the industry to reduce their carbon footprint. You can compete against other organisations in the sector by the specific leader boards and reward employees for doing the right thing. Genius!

With just over 6 months to COP26 in the UK later this year, and the roadmap of getting the country and economy up and running again after lockdown because of Covid19, my hope is that the UK will lead the way to a sustainable recovery.

L’article Are you thinking about Net Zero emission targets? est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.

As a UK travel business owner, I eagerly await the review from the Department for Transport into how we will be allowed to restart travel. The report is due on April 12, assuming we don’t get wind of leaks before then. Thankfully our Prime minister Boris Johnson has said that it is “vital for many businesses which have been hardest hit including retail, hospitality, tourism and aviation”. We are all eagerly waiting and will listen attentively.

I have an image in my mind of the start of a horse race or steeple chase, as jockeys flex their leg muscles spurring their horses into the starting blocks as they tussle to get out of the starting gates. Who will be the fastest on the starter’s orders? We have all had plenty of time to plan for the restart of travel. We all know too well how this pandemic has been a bit of a leveller for travel businesses, used to enabling travellers to move around the globe, see new horizons and meet people or visit families and friends.

But are we ready? Will it be back to business as we knew before? Covid has clearly given us a foresight and laid bare that our normal behaviour as humans is no longer sustainable. Has the rhetoric of “build back better” that is batted around the travel industry become a resounding noise?

Are we truly going to take a new path which looks at the balance in our environment and the communities? Covid has been the centric C word of our global communications the last 12 months but I want to remind you there are words also beginning with the letter C, which will have a greater impact, more devastating than Covid, and that’s Climate Change.

David Attenborough’s Witness Statement and Vision for our planet refers to the Dasgupta review that has estimated that almost 50 % of humanity’s impact on the planet is attributable to the richest 16% of the human population. The Dasgupta Review which was written in 2020, highlights this staggering percentage. We are going to have to learn, and learn fast, that we cannot keep the same trajectory as before – we have to seek ways to share resources far more evenly than ever.

When we travel, or sell travel, we recognise that we are guests in other countries. The local communities receive us as guests and the wealth generated from our visit supports that particular destination. I have been struck by the idea Kate Raworth, a University of Oxford economist has, who teaches us a new model called The Doughnut Economy.

It’s a reinterpretation of the planetary boundaries model. If you imagine a doughnut shape, the outer ring being the ecological ceiling which our behaviour should never go beyond, ensuring we remain safe and well on the planet. The inner ring is like the foundation, ensuring everyone can exist but not at the expense of the wellbeing of another. It’s genius and yet so simple – a model that can be replicated in everything we do.

David Attenborough writes “Sustainability in all things should be our species philosophy, the Doughnut Model, our compass for the journey”. I love that!

So as we emerge in this new season, let’s not go back to business as before, let’s ensure our actions are set to improve the lives of people everywhere as well as reducing our impact on the planet. I am excited for the UK government to take a lead, like they have with the successful rollout of our Covid vaccine programme, to show leadership, on a global level at COP26 in November. It is the perfect time, and we have no time to lose, to ensure that measures and a new way of thinking can be replicated around the globe. I sense it is already happening as new players and innovators join the sustainable revolution – the urgency is here and now. The rhetoric of “Building Back Better” needs to ensure we all flourish, which I have no doubt will lead to wider debate about how we measure GDP in the long run.

L’article Optimism and hope as we build back better est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.

May 2021 bring a brighter future for you and your loved ones. Happy holidays! #Christmas #HappyHolidays https://t.co/PBANXoOOjV

— António Buscardini (@ABuscardini) December 22, 2020

Historically this always referred to specific holy days in the Christian liturgical calendar. Over time the original meaning “holy day” became associated with time off of work. Rest and relaxation were a natural part of every holy day. “Going on a holiday” in the UK is the same phrase as “Going on a vacation.”

The last 10 months have seen the world global economy suddenly stop. Supply chains, trade flows and tourism shut down and, in some cases locked down. Parents juggle their professional commitments via home working with looking after their kids and home schooling them at the same time, individuals who live by themselves affected by the lack of physical social contact, feel lonely and isolated. There are people who are worried about their health, their family’s well-being, with lack of control over the situation; all of this shift we are experiencing has increased stress and there is little that individuals can do to change it.

I am encouraged to learn that within the industry I work in, the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) has launched new mental health guidelines for the travel and tourism sector – an action taken that will help support businesses of all sizes to support the mental health of travel and tourism employees.

The pandemic (and measures taken by governments to control it such as lockdowns and social distancing) are having a significant impact on our mental health. Unless we permit ourselves to have a holiday, it is possible that the mental health implications will be felt for many months. We are all longing for the day when travel corridors are eased, and when our governments allow us to travel more freely. The shift in our behaviour of being forced to stay indoors has had a strain. We are human beings in need of human connection, exploration, with a desire to stretch our imaginations, learn and exchange ideas from one another.

I am not advocating doing anything other than abiding by the rules, ensuring we protect those who need protecting, however, I sincerely believe that we are facing a tsunami of mental health breakdowns if we don’t address our basic human instincts and desires. I found an example of sharing what I mean.

I read that a Scottish man has reportedly been jailed for breaching coronavirus rules after he rode a jetski from Scotland to the Isle of Man to see his girlfriend. Determined to see his girlfriend despite coronavirus rules he made the four-and-a-half-hour journey by jetski despite never having driven a personal watercraft before. His defence lawyer said in court that the man suffered from depression and was struggling to cope without his girlfriend. He admitted arriving unlawfully on the island and was sentenced to four weeks in jail. A desperate, heartfelt action which had a desperate consequence.

The global pandemic is life changing for us all. Will we return to the life we had beforehand? For others that life may no longer be there. We have to think differently. Some things will return and other things will be forever changed. Some of those things we will grieve for, and others will actually be really positive.

The next time you consider the word “holiday”, remember the Christian origins of the word and try to sanctify such days, being truly grateful for the opportunity of rest and relaxation. Permit yourself and others to spend that time to recharge and re fuel.

A holiday will ensure you take care of your emotional, mental and physical health. That holiday is important for many reasons, anxiety reduction, will help you cope with stress, improve not only self-worth but relationships with others. A holiday is a prescription each of us should be writing to ourselves. It’s part of a self-care strategy, helping us sleep better, eat better and have the energy to embrace the comings and goings in our daily lives. Remember a holiday is a Holy Day.

L’article Holiday: Literally speaking it means a “holy day” est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.

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The covid crisis has been a wake up call within the travel industry. It’s shown me personally how as an industry we can and need to collaborate. We have identified how we are all interconnected. We have learnt how we can each participate in empowerment and partnership globally. Travellers are beginning to understand from their experiences during the pandemic how our actions and choices impact those around us. There is a global reverberation. Covid has been a foretaste of what is to come. What do I mean by this? Let me explain. The challenge ahead for us all is not just the pandemic, it is climate change. As the owner of a travel business, I want to ensure we build back better with partnerships to help us run more effectively and build partnerships to make the business case even more resilient. Surely any business will be addressing ways to survive and recover from the pandemic crisis. Any business should now use this crisis to prepare for the future of travel.  

When we begin to travel again, for our holidays and adventures, it is the communities and conservation which need to be addressed as essential elements within the trip. We need to be considering the planet and people. Building purpose into adventures and traveller’s journeys is a great start. The more people are informed and educated before, during and after their travels, the greater the positive impact and pay off all round. Imagine a visitors first time experience to a destination where there are direct benefits for host communities. Economical and social benefits, with employment opportunities for people who are encouraged to stay and work in their communities instead of leaving their homes to seek other opportunities. The income from the travellers and guests stay benefits the host community, complementing their income as they continue their traditional work, cooking authentic dishes, connecting with visitors. The guest experience is enriched as they connect with the local people, learning their knowledge, understanding their traditional skills – a win, win solution to help create economic opportunity. That’s one way we can make travel matter.

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Covid has made us all assess how interconnected we are as human beings on the planet. When we start to travel again, for the sake of our planet and the people on it, let us consider planning trips that will benefit those we visit as well as ourselves. As mentioned above, the greatest challenge above covid is climate change, that’s why, in January 2020, we stood alongside a group of like-minded travel companies acknowledging the environment around us and joined a community called Tourism Declares a Climate Emergency. We learn from one another, take responsibility for our actions (at an individual level, company level and industry level) and push for regulatory action, research and development.

As you kiss goodbye to 2020, will you embrace 2021 afresh with a renewed vigour to encourage one another, encounter new relationships and experience efforts of working collectively with partners who align with your principles? Covid, lets hope, may be a challenge behind us in 2021 but climate change is a far greater challenge and one we can tackle together if we use the same methodology of global partnership and collaboration.

L’article Can our global efforts to combat Covid-19 teach us to work collectively with climate change? est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.

Let’s face it, we all have desires to travel again when it is safe and possible. We all know too well there is pent up demand – a holiday is a well earned break, a change from the norm and what else can we spend our hard earned cash on right now?! However, travelling as it was before the pandemic was seeing far too many places being over crowded, fuelled by digital influencers teasing us from our armchairs to tick off must see places of interest and destinations. Some communities lived in frustration at their homes being overrun with visitors, the resources and infrastructure could not sustain so many visitor numbers. The quality of life or experiences in those particular areas was noticeably and significantly deteriorated. Unhappy hosts as well as unhappy visitors. Not the best recipe. The term overtourism had been used to refer to the negative impacts attributed to the tourism activities that were too massive and intensive in those certain areas.

When country borders open up to allow us to visit the places we want to visit again and fulfil the travel desires of our hearts, be mindful that you are a guest in the destination you travel to, these places are people’s homes, so travel respectfully, intentionally and sensitively – the reason you travel must be more than a box ticking exercise from a bucket list. Travel responsibly and seek to bring holistic transformation for yourself and the ones you visit. 

I’m encouraged to learn of more community based tourism (CBT) models being integrated, providing opportunities for local people to bring in income as well as introduce their culture to us visitors.

Community based tourism is when local residents (often in rural, poor and economically marginalised areas) invite us travellers to visit their communities. Some offer homestays, meals in their houses or farms. Those residents earn an income, have autonomy as well as make decisions that are right by their community. Local stakeholders having a voice!

I like the Future for Tourism Coalition principles one and three which are as follows: recognising that most tourism by its nature involves the destination as a whole, not only industry businesses, but also its ecosystems, natural resources, cultural assets and traditions, communities, aesthetics and built infrastructure. As a coalition it seeks to develop all tourism through a collaborative management structure with equal participation by government, the private sector and civil society organizations that represent diversity in communities.

Most tourism is about the place and its people. To varying extents, tourism businesses rely on the character, appeal and resources of the destination as a whole. Sometimes it may be one particular attractor – wildlife, a beach, a historic district. But more often, it’s the interwoven combination of all of these elements that together constitutes a sense of place. That is why we travel.

We have to remember that the travel & tourism industry is a sector that keeps the world connected – it’s the only industry I have really ever known. Travel & tourism supply chains are crucial in building back global economic recovery and unity. We must ensure we help to build back better with the right intention, inclusively, with local stakeholders benefitting more from the travellers visit. When we travel, we should behave like a good neighbour, travel with kindness & generosity, as well as being mindful of our environmental impact – we should make our travel matter. We can all benefit from a more conscious, purposeful travel industry to positively transform how we live our lives, how we live with others, and how we live on our planet. 

L’article Make your travel matter! est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.