In a session entitled Setting Off a Chain Reaction, Travel Counsellors partnerships manager Natalie Aspinall and sustainability and EXO Foundation director for EXO Travel Alexandra Michat discussed the importance of industry cooperation.
"It’s about having a continuous channel of communications, as we’re all learning from each other and if we need to adapt policies we’re open to it and we want to work with our partners rather than against them," Aspinall said. "Let’s continue to learn from each other."
EXO Travel, a destination management company (DMC) covering Asia, has partnered with Travel Counsellors under the home working agency’s green leaf scheme, which gives agents access to eco-friendly options when booking holidays for clients.
"Sustainability has always been a part of our culture and DNA," Michat said. "It’s especially important for us to include sustainability in our tour guide training, as they have direct contact with travellers while they are away.
"This way, travellers along the way will have all of the information they need. It is very important the message of sustainability eventually ripples down to the travellers, so there is no stone left unturned."
The message was echoed by Graeme Jackson, head of strategic partnerships for The Travel Foundation, who spoke during a session entitled We Do Declare: What is the Glasgow Declaration and How to Get Involved.
The charity works in partnership with the UN’s World Tourism Organisation on the Glasgow Declaration on Climate Action in Tourism, which sees signatories commit to halving their emissions by 2030 and reaching net-zero carbon emissions by 2050.
"It is important, however, to note that this is not an individual commitment, but by signing you’re going into a push by the industry to reach those sustainability goals," Jackson added. "It will only work if we do these things in a collective fashion.
"As we progress, there will be more and more climate action plans published. But look at what your competitors are doing - reach out to them - this isn’t a competitive area, we should be working together on this, as to continue that competition we need to ensure we are working for a sustainable future."
