Sustainability expert and travel writer based in London.
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Nightingales are synonymous with their beautiful song, but with populations declining in Britain, fewer people have the privilege of hearing it. That’s why folk musician Sam Lee is inviting listeners deep into the woods, after dark, to experience a unique musical collaboration – before it’s too late.
When local people are in charge of creating and delivering travel experiences, amazing things happen. Which is why responsibly-minded travellers are learning that they’re not just tourists, they’re guests.
The beauty of a biodiverse natural world is enriching for us as travellers – and also key to tackling the climate emergency. Holly Tuppen and Juliet Kinsman explore how we help look after the health of our planet by travelling better, and in a way that supports conservation and in turn, brings down carbon emissions
These holiday firms walk the talk when it comes to minimising their carbon footprints and promoting biodiversity.
Long before Covid-19 brought global travel to a screeching halt, the problems associated with large numbers of people moving around the planet were becoming obvious.
Published last month, Sustainable Travel: The Essential Guide to Positive-Impact Adventures (White Lion Publishing), by Holly Tuppen, is a guide written for travellers wishing to minimise the harm they do as they negotiate the world’s ethical and climate-related challenges. Below are a few of the concerns that are addressed within its pages.
Is group travel with a global tour operator compatible with supporting local economies? Sustainable travel journalist Holly Tuppen investigates on Intrepid’s new premium trip in Morocco.
There’s been a lot of talk through the pandemic of travel ‘coming back better’. More people seem to have had a genuine realisation about the devastating effects of our travel habits – namely, the impact of over-tourism, ‘thoughtless’ travel and the frequency of flying. The fact that many of us have had to ‘pause’ our exploring for over a year, has meant that we have been able to actually witness some of the world’s beauty spots without the presence of swarms of tourists, and seen how the inherent wildlife in these places have flourished without us being there. In short, when travel resumes again, there’s hope that tourists will give more thought about their impact on the planet.
But how many of us actually know what this means in reality? Do we really understand how we can effectively put this desire into practice?
Before the pandemic hit, back when you could whizz over to the Med for thirty quid, thousands of climate-conscious travellers took a no-fly pledge. Spurred on by evidence that the climate emergency is a terrifying reality, from wildfires in California to drought in Australia, the movement soon swept into the consciousness of a panicked aviation industry. As Ed Bastian, CEO of Delta Air Lines, pointed out at an investor day in 2019: “Environmental stewardship is the existential threat to our future ability to grow.”
While travel’s on hold, enlightened destinations are looking towards more responsible forms of tourism. We look at those vowing to build back better…
Holidaying on home turf, albeit a little forced upon us recently, has never seemed so appealing. Nor – largely as a result of the pandemic – has it been so sought after; watching a growing wave of interest sweep across the UK’s best cities and beautiful landscapes, the travel industry is racing to curate exceptional staycation experiences.
Amid all the challenges, last year’s forced pause sent some hopeful ripples across the travel industry. Talk of renewed purpose, going slow and regenerative travel – the kind that does good, rather than merely less harm – spread among tour operators and across destinations. Although travel has ground to a halt once more, with Britons currently banned from entering many countries - and even other counties - these ripples will help us to travel better once we can.
The world’s largest adventure travel company first acknowledged the elephant in the room — travel’s hefty carbon footprint — in 2005. An initial inkling that the climate emergency needed to be tackled head-on, rather than brushed to one side, led to Intrepid becoming the world’s largest carbon-neutral travel company in 2010 and a founding signatory of Tourism Declares in 2020. It doesn’t stop there; this year Intrepid is the first tour operator to submit science-based carbon reduction targets.
To understand more about Intrepid’s carbon management journey, and how the industry can better collaborate, we chatted to Dr Susanne Etti, Environmental Impact Specialist for Intrepid Travel.
Holidaying on home turf, albeit a little forced upon us recently, has never seemed so appealing. Nor – largely as a result of the pandemic – has it been so sought after; watching a growing wave of interest sweep across the UK’s best cities and beautiful landscapes, the travel industry is racing to curate exceptional staycation experiences.
It’s not hard to see why. From the intricate islets of western Scotland to the creative Mecca of St Ives, there is so much to see, smell, taste and feel on our impossibly varied little island, it could easily fill a lifetime of adventures.
The Long Run was born out of the need for greater collaboration between conservation-minded tourism businesses, and a desire to embed sustainability into the heart of business operations. Founded by Jochen Zeitz in 2009, the not-for-profit organisation is a collection of lodges, affiliates and partners that demonstrate the utmost commitment to safeguarding fragile ecosystems and empowering communities. Collectively, over 40 global members protect 23.5 million acres of biodiversity and improve the lives of 750,000 people.
Accommodation is booking up fast for the autumn break. Here’s our pick of cottages and glampsites that still have availability.
Huilo Huilo Biological Reserve is home to 240,000 acres of volcanoes, lakes and forest in the Chilean Lake District. At the heart of the reserve are a series of mind-expanding, eco-minded structures, the most luxurious of which is Nothofagus Lodge.
Thankfully, for those seeking natural beauty and solitude within our shores, showing support can be an inspiring mission. Here are 10 places to stay that will not only ensure a calming experience but contribute to critical conservation projects.
From bell tents deep in the evergreen mountains of the Black Forest to camping pitches overlooking Bavaria’s towering medieval spires, Germany is a camper’s paradise. There are over 1,000 camping and caravanning sites throughout Germany offering endless possibilities for adventures. Facilities can be as slick or back-to-basics as you wish. There are secluded, lowkey campsites like Camping Brunnen for those that want to get back to nature, and resorts with pools, spas and even golf courses like Camping Arterhof for those that want a little more entertainment.
Once travellers are back on the road, there is hope that they will choose experiences that have a positive environmental impact. But what do those experiences look like and how easy are they to find? Holly Tuppen discusses how post-pandemic wanderlust could be a force for good.
From plummeting carbon emissions to animals taking over cities, the lockdown has given us a tantalising glimpse of a more environmentally harmonious world. As scientists relish the opportunity to capture data in quieter oceans and traffic-reduced cities, the media is awash with talk of green shoots.
Unfortunately, this hiatus for the natural world has followed a devastating loss of livelihoods, and lives. As the tourism industry reels amid a grounded planet, those who rely on it the most are struggling to put food on the table. There’s an uneasiness in the conservation world, too. For every chunk of wilderness thriving with less human intrusion, numerous ecosystems are devastatingly at risk.
