Opinion

'Sometimes, it makes sense not to fly – but not when our rail system is so mind-bendingly useless'

The UK can’t yet afford to cut domestic air routes when rail isn’t always an adequate alternative, writes co-chair of Aito’s Sustainable Travel Committee Amy Skelding after an eye-opening European rail journey

'Travel and tourism gets a bad rep – it's time we fought back against the negatives'

’As an industry, we must challenge the current narratives around travel and tourism," writes Chris Crampton, chair of the Pata UK and Ireland, for TTG

'Doing nothing "because consumers don't demand it" is not good enough'

’If everyone in the travel, tourism and hospitality sectors took responsibility for ensuring those trips were as sustainable as possible, we could be part of the solution,’ writes Harold Goodwin for TTG

'Why I support Cop29's 'polluters pay' principle – even as a global travel business leader'

The "polluter pays" idea is about forcing those at fault for the climate crisis to take responsibility, and it’s about time we extended the same expectation to the tourism industry,’ writes Intrepid Travel chief James Thornton for TTG

'Nature is a big part of the holiday experience; we must take steps to preserve it'

’It’s important nature is supported and biodiversity is restored so it can continue its important role tackling global warming, and travel has a really big role to play in supporting this work," writes Abta head of sustainability Carol Rose for TTG

'Houston, we appear to have an image problem'

’Whether travellers factor the governance of a destination into their holiday booking decisions is something those involved in promoting and selling the US will learn over the next four years,’ writes Phil Bloomfield for TTG following Donald Trump’s re-election

'User-centric tech is the secret sauce for next-level travel'

Trip.com Group’s Boon Sian Chai, managing director and vice president, international markets, shares his take on user-centric innovations

'Dynamic pricing could play a powerful role in addressing overtourism'

’For dynamic pricing to deliver overtourism benefit, travellers must not view it as a tool for maximising profits,’ writes 8020 Communications founder and chief Marc Cornelius for TTG

'Travel won't be happy with the Budget, but it could have been much worse'

Legal advisor to the Association of Atol Companies, Alan Bowen, runs over the key announcements in chancellor Rachel Reeves Budget statement on Wednesday (30 October)

'Knowledge gaps are preventing cruising from becoming the most accessible form of holiday'

When I ran my own agency, I had clients with a range of accessibility needs who loved the freedom a cruise holiday can offer – however, their trips all too often fell short of what they were looking for," writes Kate Holroyd for TTG

'Male allyship is critical in creating a more level playing field in the workplace'

With men continuing to dominate senior leadership roles in travel, Women in Travel CIC founder Alessandra Alonso writes for TTG on how the industry can harness their influence through male allyship

10 ways agents can – and should – prepare now to make the most of peaks

With the obvious caveats of climate change, conflict and consumer confidence, the mood is – guardedly – optimistic after several difficult and dreary Januarys.

A good summer, calmer economic outlook and oodles of capacity has given agents and operators good reason to think 2025 could be just like – or even better than – the good old days of 2019.

'The travel industry should be for everyone, but not anyone'

’So long as we are open to great people and to doing things right, there is always hope and excitement,’ writes Travel Counsellors’ director of franchise sales Matt Harding for TTG

‘We in the cruise industry cannot afford to cut corners as prices go up’

‘Cruise has always represented exceptional value for money and been able to shout about it with conviction – we need to strike a balance between higher price points and customer experience,’ writes World Travel Holdings MD Alison Earnshaw for TTG

'Brexit will deprive a generation of the invaluable, life-long skills travel can teach'

’Our industry, and the UK itself, will be much worse off as a result of no longer having access to such a resourceful young talent pool,’ writes Noel Josephides for TTG on the impacts of Brexit on the travel industry

'I lived on Hanoi's streets as a child – now I'm fighting to end human trafficking'

This year, the Intrepid Foundation has been named the Travel Industry Awards by TTG’s official charity partner – Do Duy Vi, co-CEO of one of Intrepid’s partners – the Blue Dragon Children’s Foundation – explains how agents can help the foundation make a difference on the streets of Hanoi where he grew up

TikTok: 7 tips to get the most out of the platform agents can no longer afford to ignore

With TikTok users spending upwards of 90 minutes a day on the platform, on average, We Are Llama’s Marta Safin explores some of the ways savvy agents can use it to their advantage

Abta: 'It’s clear many of the industry’s priorities have been heard'

One month to the day since Labour took power after 14 years in opposition, Abta’s director of public affairs Luke Petherbridge assesses the party’s actions since forming a new government – and what its priorities mean for travel’s prosperity

‘Jasper is Canada in a nutshell – after the wildfires, it will open its arms to your clients’

Earlier this year, TTG’s Gary Noakes headed to Jasper in Canada – he reflects on the impact of the recent wildfires that have ripped through parts of the town and the national park, and what agents can do to help the destination recover

The Moroccan charity changing worlds – one young girl at a time

Education for All Morocco is one of several beneficiaries of the Intrepid Foundation, this year’s Travel Industry Awards by TTG charity partner. Board member Samira Govers El Hachioui tells TTG why its work is so important to Morocco

'Our market leaders have tanked package prices, and we're all suffering'

’Package prices in July and August have tanked. Our market leaders are to blame, and we are all suffering,’ writes Sunvil chair Noel Josephides for TTG

‘Operators can be pivotal in travel's fight against climate change’

Nobody caught up in the wildfires that swept across Rhodes last summer will forget the devastating scenes, which prompted the largest evacuation effort in Greece’s history.

What's driving the resurgent M&A interest in the travel sector?

After the travel industry was forced to all-but shut down during the Covid-19 pandemic, Houlihan Lokey director Thomas Barnard explores the factors driving the industry’s resurgence – and renewed interest in its prospects

'Can your business really afford NOT to seek a quality mark like B Corp?'

To B Corp or not to B Corp? Writing for TTG, We Are Llama’s John Pritchard weighs up the pros and cons for travel of seeking B Corp certification as the standard becomes more common