This page provides additional resources for journalists on the Tourism 2023 project with details of what the partners have committed to, why they are doing it, and what actions they are already taking. It supports the Tourism 2023 press release issued by ABTA and Forum for the Future.

At the right of this page you can download the full report and view the scenario animations. These are also available on the Tourism 2023 page, which will be updated periodically as the project progresses.

What the partners have signed up to – vision and strategy

The partners have signed the Tourism 2023 Vision committing to action in six areas.

It states that the industry will deliver “measurable socio-economic benefits” to destinations and work with local governments to make sure tourism development is sustainable. “That way, our operations are welcomed by host communities and our business is sustained for the long term.”

It pledges to use more renewable energy, conserve water, minimise waste and protect vulnerable ecosystems. “It makes commercial sense for us to commit to ambitious efficiency savings, to prepare for environmental shocks and to add to the natural environment that we all depend on, not detract from it.”

Signatories also commit to using their influence to encourage governments to adopt more sustainable standards and policies and help customers and employees understand how they can play their part.

The full Vision is available in the report on pages 48-51 along with a strategy to achieve it. Download it here.

Why they are doing it – four scenarios

The Tourism 2023 scenarios are designed to help the industry explore key uncertainties ahead and led to the development of the Vision. They bring to life four very different but completely possible futures for the UK outbound travel and tourism industry in 2023.

The scenarios were developed with the help of more than 100 industry experts focussing on two key variables: whether the economy, politics, technology and energy costs combine to encourage of restrict overseas travel; and whether the appeal of overseas destinations and consumers’ sensitivity to the environmental impacts of travel makes tourism more or less attractive.

Our full report gives highlights of the scenarios on pages 6-9 and full details on pages 16-46.

The scenarios have also been brought to life in four short animated films, created by students from Goldsmiths college.
Click on the links to view them:
www.green.tv/boom_and_burst
www.green.tv/divided_disquiet
www.green.tv/price_and_privilege
www.green.tv/carbon_clampdown

What they are doing – quotes, activity

Quotes from Tourism 2023 partners and supporters, plus further details on what Tourism 2023 partners are currently doing to support the Tourism 2023 Vision.

(see end of document for all press contacts and media spokespeople for each organisation)

ABTA

Mark Tanzer, ABTA Chief Executive said: “It is vital that the travel and tourism industry meets the challenges that an international industry faces if we want to have a successful and profitable future. By working together we can come up with practical and innovative solutions to these challenges, which make sound commercial sense. Tourism 2023 sets out the destination, and the direction we must follow to get there.”

ABTA will be taking a leadership role in the next phase of the 2023 project, with a responsibility for coordinating and driving the next stages within an agreed framework with clear priorities and success measures. ABTA also currently administers three key sustainability programmes for the industry:

Travelife Sustainability System: This web-based system helps businesses monitor and improve their sustainability performance. Tour operators work with the system to assess the sustainability of their supply chains – hotels. Top performers, are awarded with a classification of Gold, Silver or Bronze Travelife Awards. The awards are featured in the brochures and on the websites of the tour operator that conducted the assessment. Information: http://www.its4travel.com/

Reduce my Footprint: Reduce My Footprint is a carbon reduction programme set up by ABTA, The Travel Association, with the Association of Independent Tour Operators (AITO). It is facilitated and operated by Carbon Offsets Ltd.  Reduce My Footprint offers individuals and businesses information and advice on how to reduce carbon emissions, and the opportunity to offset residual carbon emissions; most are linked to sustainable development programmes in tourism destinations. 

ATP: created by ABTA, in association with People 1st (the Sector Skills Council for the Industry) and the Institute for Travel and Tourism. The aim of ATP is to recognise the skills, experience and qualifications of those who work within the UK travel industry and encourage continuous professional development (CPD). It's designed to recognise individuals who have achieved high levels of customer service, product knowledge and professionalism.

Advantage Travel Centres

John McEwan, Chief Executive of Advantage Travel Centres, said:

“As one of the largest travel retailers in the UK, we are in an ideal position to help raise awareness of this initiative at point of sale and promote the importance of sustainable tourism to holidaymakers and travellers.”

British Airways

Jonathon Counsell, Head of Environment, British Airways said:

"British Airways is proud to be a part of the Tourism 2023 initiative. We will be embedding these principles into our business and see them as a complimentary to the broader work we have been engaged in on environmental issues. In January 2008 we announced that we would cut our net CO2 emissions 50%  by 2050. Since then we have lobbied our industry, governments and the United Nations to seek broad support for this target and the inclusion of aviation in a global, sectoral approach to emissions trading. We are heartened that this is, indeed, the agreed industry position as we approach the Copenhagen Climate Change Conference in December 2009. It is now vital that we translate this new found cohesion within the travel and tourism industry into committed action."
British Airways has worked for many years to reduce the impact of aviation on the environment. In particular our recent focus has been on:

Road To Copenhagen: In January 2008 we announced that we would cut our net CO2 emissions 50% by 2050. Since then we have lobbied industry bodies, governments and the United Nations to seek broad support for this target and the inclusion of aviation in a global, sectoral approach to emissions trading. It is immensely satisfying to see that industry has rallied around these goals and will speak with a unified voice at the Copenhagen conference in December 2009.

Sustainable Aviation: We are working with a number of other airlines, airport operators, aircraft manufacturers and the UK National Air Traffic Service to demonstrate how we can achieve substantial reductions in our carbon emissions. The SA Roadmap identifies initiatives whereby UK aviation can  achieve

2005 levels of CO2 emissions in 2050 on an absolute basis through improved operating efficiencies and adoption of low carbon technology. We have also embarked on a series of initiatives to develop and deploy improved procedures in the short term, such as quieter, more fuel efficient approaches and ground procedures. 

Low carbon, alternative fuels: The work on alternative fuels for aviation is gathering pace. We are working with leading industry bodies such as Rolls Royce and Boeing and are greatly encouraged by the emerging options and the speed with which alternative fuels are reaching maturity.

Carbon Efficiency: Our carbon efficiency work looks at all opportunities to reduce emissions within our business, be it in our aircraft operations, our fleet of ground vehicles or in the energy efficiency and good practice within our buildings. We have identified over 500,000tonnes of potential Co2 savings per annum and have already delivered 57,000tonnes of annual savings. We have also ordered quieter more fuel efficient Airbus A380 and Boeing 787aircraft to replace less efficient, older aircraft in our fleet.

Carbon Offset Scheme:  We have for several years offered our customers the opportunity to take part in our voluntary carbon offset scheme. The scheme uses high-quality UN-certified emissions reduction programmes through our provider,  Morgan Stanley. This year we became the first airline to be awarded the UK Government’s Quality Assurance Scheme for Carbon Offsetting.

We are proud of our achievements, proud to work with other enlightened companies and organizations within the industry and proud to be a part of the Tourism 2023 initiative. 

Carnival UK

David Dingle, CEO of Carnival UK said:

"The industry has put a great deal of effort into shaping the Tourism 2023 study, we are committed to championing its principles within the wider UK outbound tourism industry, incorporating those principles within Carnival UK and communicating this through our future sustainability programmes and reports."
Carnival UK is working with the Ocean Conservation and Tourism Alliance to develop a sustainability tool to be used with providers of marine excursions to the cruise industry.

Carnival UK has a project where we send our used cooking oil for recovery as biodiesel and this is then used to power the waste collection barge in Southampton. Rather than accept payment for the oil we give the revenue to the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust – together with match-funding from Biodriven, the biodiesel producer – and the money is used for marine surveys and litter collection.

Carnival UK sets higher standards for the discharge of waste than is required by law. We discharge no garbage, such as wood, metal, glass, ash etc into the sea and set stringent standards for our wastewater – either discharging it further out to sea than is required or by treating the waste to a higher standard than the legal requirement.

The Co-operative Travel

Mike Greenacre, Managing Director of The Co-operative Travel said:

“We are delighted to be part of Tourism 2023, developing with other leading businesses a sustainable vision and strategy for the future. Tourism 2023 shows that the Industry can work together to meet some of the toughest challenges that the sector has to face over the next 15 years.”
Overland Heaven: Key sponsor/partner of the Overland Heaven project. Overland Heaven is a Forum for the Future initiative to make low-carbon, overland travel between the UK and Europe mainstream, opening up a distinctive new market.
http://www.forumforthefuture.org/projects/overland-heaven  

Reducing the carbon footprint of our business:

RENEWABLE ENERGY
All branches of The Co-operative Travel are powered by renewable electricity. Last year, we purchased 7.2GWh of renewable electricity, saving 3,844 tonnes of carbon dioxide in the process.

In 2009 we’ve maintained our ‘carbon neutral’ status by offsetting the remaining emissions from Travel’s business operations.

Our wind farm at Coldham, in Cambridgeshire, generates enough electricity to power 9,000 homes.  Plans are currently in place to extend the Coldham wind farm, and to develop a 14 turbine wind farm on Group land in Goole, Humberside.

OFFSETTING
Air travel releases carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. These gases contribute to the overall warming of the earth – i.e. climate change. Carbon offsetting involves funding projects in the developing world that either absorb – for example, through planting trees – or avoid, such as through being more efficient with energy – equivalent amounts of greenhouse gases.

The Co-operative Travel works with Climate Care, an organisation dedicated to combating climate change, to provide our customers with an easy way to ensure that they counteract the impact their flight has on the climate. When customers book a holiday with us, they have the option of making a small payment to help fund carbon offset projects in the developing world. Our members have the option of free carbon offset on their holiday flight when they book a holiday with us*.  Climate Care ensures that projects are well managed and deliver the carbon savings promised.

Our staff are fully committed to carbon offsetting and by July 2009, over 750 employees have completed and passed, and over 240 are currently working through, our carbon offset training guide. For more information on carbon offsetting, visit www.co-operative.coop/carbonoffset

3. Education
Educating the British public on responsible tourism by:
•    supporting The Travel Foundation and communicating to our customers the work that they do
•    providing solar panels to 18 schools around the country
•    piloting a sustainable schools lesson plan that fits into the national curriculum in 19 schools across the country with a view to rolling it out further in 2010. This project illustrates for children how to make responsible travel choices in a fun, engaging way.

Sunvil Holidays

Noel Josephides, Managing Director, Sunvil Holidays said:

"The hard work that has gone on over the last year and the launch in Barcelona is the first, bold step by the tourism sector and shows the commitment of the companies involved.  However, we must convince our  industry as a whole to believe in the science and to join these companies in making a real difference to the way we operate and therefore to our impact on the earth's future.  Unless we all unite to make this difference, then, as ever, it will all be so much talk."

Follow this link for further information about responsible tourism at Sunvil www.sunvil.co.uk/sunvil/home/About_Sunvil/responsible_tourism_more.asp

Thomas Cook

Andy Cooper, Director External & Governmental Affairs, Thomas Cook Group plc said:

"The Tourism 2023 initiative is a major step towards a more sustainable UK outbound industry. As a founding partner of the initiative, Thomas Cook believes in the success of the project and the joint-industry approach. Taking part in Tourism 2023 proves once more that Thomas Cook takes sustainability very seriously and has incorporated it into its business strategy."
At Thomas Cook we define Corporate Responsibility as "operating responsibly to minimise negative and enhance positive environmental, social and economic impact: ensuring the long-term sustainability of our business and of the resources on which we depend". For detailed information, please go to http://csr.thomascookgroup.co.uk/tcg/csr/ for our Sustainability Report.

Informing our customers: Sustainability is part of our booking page. We have a dedicated microsite for responsible tourism where we tell our customers what we do but especially what they can do to make their holiday more sustainable: www.thomascook.com/sustainable-tourism?intcmp=ti_07_promo_responsiblet

Working with the Travel Foundation: The Travel Foundation has become one of our key partners internationally: we share its values and passion for the protection of destination environments and cultures. Launched with funding from the UK government and major travel operators including Thomas Cook, it focuses on people as well as the environment. We support it as an active partner and a leading fundraiser: in 2008 we raised over £456,000 towards its projects in destination communities, through donations made by customers when booking their holidays.

Supply Chain Management: The Travelife Sustainability System is our Nr. 1 choice to engage with our suppliers on environmental and social issues. It links businesses with providers of specific advice and solutions to help them improve their sustainability performance, and contains downloadable guidelines and information for all suppliers. Linked to it are the Travelife Awards, which we’ve helped to develop and promote with the FTO. Travelife Bronze, Silver and Gold Awards are based on independent audits across a wide range of sustainability criteria in areas such as environmental management, employment issues and involvement with local communities. Our customers can now look out for the Travelife Award logos in brochures and on websites, so the scheme offers transparency for all our stakeholders as well as real recognition of sustainable suppliers. We feature well over 75 Travelife awarded hotels in our UK brochures.

Our Airlines: At Thomas Cook Airlines, we recognise that to achieve long-term success it is important to address our impact on the environment. We believe that the drive for financial success and the mitigation of environmental impact can actually work in harmony. The airline has implemented an internal environmental group and an Operational Efficiency Focus Group (OEFG) to drive projects forward. The OEFG has commissioned a state-of-the-art fuel efficiency monitoring system that will provide detailed information on fuel burn initiatives.  The system is currently going live and results are expected in the coming year. To increase passenger awareness of environmental matters, we display labels on all Thomas Cook Airlines aircraft by the boarding doors to advise them about the environmental impact of their flight. Similar to energy efficiency labels for white goods, these labels provide an insight for passengers about their carbon footprint. The airline is currently implementing an Environmental Management System (EMS) to enable us to comply with the aims of our environmental policy, and also to achieve ISO 14001 accreditation. Our inflight magazine, Thomas Cook Travel, has a dedicated article in each edition regarding sustainable tourism and what Thomas Cook is doing to make a difference.  This helps to update our passengers on our environmental activities.

The Travel Foundation

Sue Hurdle, Chief Executive of the Travel Foundation said:

“Tourism 2023 is a positive example of how different players within the  travel industry can come together to meet its most important challenges.  The Travel Foundation exists to help travel companies move towards a more sustainable future – enabling local communities in destinations to benefit from tourism and protecting the environment – principles which are integral to the Tourism 2023 Vision.  We look forward to working with companies to help them to meet their goals and commitments.”  
Communications & Training: The Travel Foundation has developed a range of tools to help travel companies understand sustainable tourism and implement initiatives across their business. These include a range of destination-specific "insider guides" for customers, a managers’ training toolkit, a sustainable accommodations pack, and an online training quiz for agents and front-line staff, called Make Travel Greener.

Sustainable Destinations: The Travel Foundation funds and manages projects which showcase best practice for sustainability in 14 tourism destinations around the world, covering areas such as the creation of livelihoods for local people and the protection of wildlife. For example, in the Gambia, we have helped local farmers to gain vital income from the sale of produce to hotels.  Over 400 farmers have been trained in crop production techniques and the initiative supplies many of the hotels in the main resorts, collecting and selling fresh produce from community farms.

Tackling climate change: Our water, waste and energy programme is helping accommodation-providers by providing practical advice and guidelines to save precious resources. 34 hotels from across Sri Lanka are piloting the new "Greening Sri Lanka" programme, with plans to extend this to 350 hotels – representing around 40% of hotels in the country. Approximately one third of hotels in Cyprus have taken part in our initiative there, saving over 600,000 euros during the first six months in the summer of 2008. The scheme has also been launched in Morocco, where over 80 hotels are taking part, and the Caribbean, where over 70 hotels are currently involved.

TUI Travel

Dermot Blastland, Managing Director, TUI Travel UK & Ireland said:

“We are thrilled to be joining other leading operators in signing up to the Tourism 2023 Vision. We hope that through combining our efforts we can take our collective sustainability commitment to the next level, setting industry-wide goals on issues that cannot be tackled by individual tour operators alone.”
TUI Travel is committed to providing holidays that cause minimal environmental impact, respect the culture and people of destinations, and offer real economic benefit to local communities. www.tuitravelplc.com/sustainabledevelopment 

World Care Fund: In April 2008, First Choice’s World Care Fund was extended to all of TUI UK & Ireland’s brands for departures from May 2009 onwards. When booking a holiday, we ask customers to donate £1 per adult or 50p per child to the fund, and that contribution is then matched by us. The money goes towards carbon reduction and sustainable tourism projects overseas, in partnership with ClimateCare – the carbon offsetting experts, and The Travel Foundation. Nearly a third of customers contribute to the World Care Fund and so far £3.5 million has been raised.

Greener hotels: TUI UK & Ireland has a dedicated Sustainable Product Manager, and is actively encouraging all hoteliers to use the Travelife Sustainability System, an auditing system that looks at the environmental impacts of the hotel. This year, we are focusing on the 400 biggest hotels in terms of customer numbers, which provide accommodation for over 50% of TUI UK customers.

In April 2009, First Choice launched a new online Greener Holidays brochure (www.firstchoice.co.uk/greener-holidays), featuring Travelife-awarded hotels from across the world.

TUI UK aims to introduce a community project at all flagship hotels. The first project is underway in Chumpon, Mexico, where Thomson is helping a Mayan community by helping finance the production of jams that will be used at Thomson’s flagship property Sensatori Mexico. TUI UK is also working with Atlantica Hotels to ensure that sustainable design principles are embedded into First Choice’s new Holiday Village in Rhodes.

Carbon reduction: TUI Travel PLC has committed to reducing its carbon emissions by 6% by 2013/14 – against a baseline of 2007/08. In May 2009, Thomson Airways appointed a dedicated Airline Environmental Manager, and continues to ensure its aircraft operate as efficiently as possible by flying with high-load factors, optimal sector lengths and efficient pilot procedures. Compared to other carriers in the scheduled and low cost carrier sector, our airline's CO² performance per RPK (revenue passenger kilometre) is excellent. Thomson Airways will continue to update its aircraft fleet with newer, more efficient models, and to work closely with Boeing as the UK launch customer for the Boeing 787 Dreamliner

Media Enquiries

ABTA
Sean Tipton, Senior Press Officer
Tel: 020 3117 0513

Frances Tuke, Public Relations Manager,
Tel: 020 3117 0514, Mobile 07850 712325

Casia Zajac, Head of Communications, tel: 020 3117 0515,
Mobile: 0754 592 7411
Out of hours: page the duty press officer on 07659 190987
press@abta.co.uk, www.abta.com

Advantage Travel Centres
Contact Emma Smith
Tel: 020 7324 3934
or
Colin O’Neill, Tel: 020 7324 3934
Media spokesperson: John McEwan, Chief Executive, Advantage Travel Centres

British Airways
Contact Cathy West, Media Relations Manager: Tel: 020 8738 8893, Mob: 07789 612159
e-mail: cathy.west@ba.com

Carnival
Contact: Michele Andjel: Tel: 0238 0656 653

The Co-operative Travel
Contact Craig Brownsell, Senior Public Relations Officer
Tel: 0161 827 5774, 07843 648 467, craig.brownsell@co-operative.coop.
Media spokesperson: Mike Greenacre, Managing Director

Defra
Contact Oliver Jackson, Press Officer, Sustainability, Science, Campaigns and Regions
Tel: 020 7238 1822, 07771 345 507, out-of-hours 020 7238 5529
www.defra.gov.uk

Forum for the Future
Contact Alex Johnson, Media and Publications Officer
Tel: 020 7324 3624, a.johnson@forumforthefuture.org
or
David Mason, Head of Communications
Tel: 020 7324 3631, d.mason@forumforthefuture.org
Media spokesperson: Stephanie Draper, Director, Change Strategies, James Goodman, Head of Futures, or Vicky Murray, Senior Sustainability Officer

Sunvil Holidays
Contact Rachel Jelley, Tel: 0208 568 4499

The Travel Foundation
Contact Georgina Davies, PR Manager
Tel: 07918 652 729
Media spokesperson: Sue Hurdle

Thomas Cook
Contact Bronwen Griffiths
Tel: 01733 417 268 (5000)

TUI
Contact Emma Waddell, Head of PR, emma.waddell@tui-uk.co.uk,
Tel: 07814931268
Spokesperson: Tim Williamson, Customer Director, or Jane Ashton, Head of Sustainable Development TUI Travel Plc