Leading Travel Companies Go Green

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. October 14, 2008

OCTOBER 24, 2007. The Leading Travel Companies of the World, a collection of quality international travel and tourism companies, has formed The Leading Travel Companies of the World Conservation Foundation. This not-for-profit organization has been established to fund much needed conservation, community and sustainable tourism projects around the world.

The founding brands of the Conservation Foundation are Trafalgar Tours, Insight Vacations, Brendan Worldwide Vacations, Contiki Holidays, AAT Kings, Evan Evans, Busabout, Haggis Adventures, Shamrocker Adventures, and Eastern Trekker.

Together these companies are donating US$1 million annually to the Swiss-based Conservation Foundation to fund a minimum of three carefully vetted projects each year.

The Leading Travel Companies of the World Conservation Foundation board member David Hosking says the Conservation Foundation will support projects that work towards developing long-term sustainable tourism.

"The environmental challenges of our time are clear - climate change, the loss of cultural heritage, and diminishing natural habitats and species - and the Conservation Foundation and its contributors are working towards a better future," Mr. Hosking said.

"Mass tourism presents significant environmental and social challenges and The Leading Travel Companies of the World Conservation Foundation will fund projects that foster sustainable tourism and protect places of great ecological and cultural importance."

In the first year (2008) funding will be from company contributions only; however, voluntary customer contributions may be invited once the Foundation's work is established.

Other Sustainable Tourism Initiatives

In addition to the Conservation Foundation, The Leading Travel Companies of the World have announced three other initiatives which they have undertaken as part of the broader environmental and social responsibility roll-out:

o The Leading Travel Companies of the World passengers will now be able to choose for their travel to be 'carbon neutral' with the companies providing website links to partner sites where they can neutralise the carbon emissions from flights, coach travel or accommodation. This will be available from 18 October 2007.

o Among the initiatives already planned is a full independent audit of office and tour operations globally to determine the companies' carbon footprints and introduce new measures by February 2008 to make significant reductions to this.

o Starting in 2008 an employee volunteer programme where each staff member will be encouraged to volunteer two days a year to work on charitable projects.

These global efforts and others to follow will be coordinated through a sustainable tourism representative or committee appointed in each region.

These initiatives follow the principle that it's necessary to take a precautionary approach to environmental concerns and use our influence to have a positive impact on social issues and the wellbeing of our staff and local communities.