Responsible Travel Providers: A Growing Trend 

The number of people who say a company’s sustainability credentials are important when booking a holiday has almost doubled in four years.

More than two-fifths (45%) of people say the sustainability credentials of their travel provider are important when booking a holiday this year – which has almost doubled over the last four years (24% in 2014)1.

The findings are published as part of ABTA’s Travel Trends 2019 report, released in December 2018, which highlights that responsible tourism is now becoming an increasingly significant consideration when booking a holiday.

Responsible travel is now becoming an increasingly significant consideration when booking a holiday.

Travel Trends 2019 is based on market information and consumer insights, revealing five key trends expected to shape holiday choices in 2019 and highlighting ABTA’s “12 destinations to watch”. It also identifies that, despite political uncertainty, people are committed to taking holidays and the desire to get a value-for-money break is also expected to influence holiday decisions over the next 12 months.

Responsible tourism goes mainstream

This past year, 2018,  has seen a number of sustainability issues move further into the public’s consciousness – with much greater awareness of the impact of plastics on the environment on tourism’s impact on local communities.

The uplift in awareness is also reflected in holidaymakers attitudes to companies – over a third (36%) of people would opt for one travel business over another if they have a better environmental record – up 13% since 2014 (23%)2.

Responsible tourism has risen further up the agenda and is becoming an integral part of business decisions and planning, with many companies announcing plans to make holidays more sustainable in the long term.

Examples include TUI, Intrepid and G Adventures, who have recently announced plans to further support the local economy and local workers in the destinations they travel to3.  Eurostar is targeting a 50% reduction in plastics by 2020.

Excerpt from ABTA Trends in Tourism Report

For further information, contact:

020 3117 0596 or press@abta.co.uk

Web: www.abta.com

Twitter: @ABTAtravel