Sustainable Tourism
Protecting the environment and the people and places we visit is a top priority for Trafalgar. We want to help ensure these remain for future generations to enjoy. We are committed to ensuring we minimise the environmental impact of our own operations around the world and believe that together we can truly make a difference.
Our Responsibility
In 2008 we established The Leading Travel Companies Conservation Foundation, a non-profit organisation that’s goal is to support the development of long-term, sustainable tourism globally. Our group of companies contributes US$1 million per year to support threatened communities, natural environments and historic sites all over the world. The Foundation supports the Venice in Peril charity and in 2010 funded the restoration of the Monument to Canova, in the Santa Maria Gloriosa dei Frari Church, where the famous sculptor’s heart was interred upon his death and where some of the greatest art treasures in Venice are held.
Other projects have seen the Foundation support Conservation International to protect three million hectares of Atlantic Forest in Brazil, the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) to foster sustainable indigenous tourism in Australia’s Kimberley region. We are also a primary sponsor of the Tourism for Tomorrow Awards which encourages tourism operators to develop and share leading sustainable tourism practices. To learn more about the work supported by the Foundation please visit www.tltc.com/foundation.
Every time we travel, whether by car, train, plane or coach, we are burning fossil fuels and contributing greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. And while there are many ways to travel while on holiday, we are pleased to advise that by choosing a Trafalgar escorted tour, you are opting for one of the most environmentally friendly ways to go. This grid below shows you the amount of carbon dioxide emitted per kilometre for a passenger traveling on various forms of transport which clearly shows coach transport as emitting significantly less carbon dioxide than other forms of transport. With carbon dioxide being one of the main causes of global warming, it’s good to know that buying an escorted tour holiday is a better way to travel.
| Method of Travel | Kilograms of C02 per passenger kilometre |
|---|---|
| Car* | 0.2028 |
| Air | 0.0819 |
| Rail | 0.0577 |
| Coach** | 0.0300 |
| Source DEFRA (Dept for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs) Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Conversion Figures June 2009 http://www.defra.gov.uk/environment/business/reporting/conversion-factors.htm * Car assumes national average of 1.56 people per car. ** Assumes average of 36 passengers UK statistics used to accurately reflect our tours which are majority are operated in the UK and Europe. | |
With constant improvements in technology newer engines offer greater fuel efficiency while also emitting less pollutants. Trafalgar is continually upgrading its motor coach fleet and we are proud to have one of the best in Europe.
We are reducing the carbon footprints and environmental impact of our offices by introducing recycling, energy reduction and waste minimisation projects as well as supporting local community projects where we live and work. Our staff are proud to be involved in making a difference and starting in 2008 we will be encouraging our staff to spend two working days a year volunteering for charitable projects.
You Can Make A Difference
While there are many things you can do to lessen your impact on the environment while travelling, an easy way to make a difference is to 'carbon neutralise' your travel.
It's the carbon emissions in the atmosphere that are slowing warming our planet and causing climate change. Reducing these emissions is up to each of us and can be done by turning off appliances, driving less, and buying local produce. For those emissions that can’t be reduced carbon neutralising allows you to contribute to projects that are greening the planet in other ways.
Trafalgar has partnered with Sustainable Travel International™, allowing you the option to calculate the carbon footprint of your travel and contribute towards projects that will reduce the C02 emissions in the atmosphere on your behalf.
This voluntary scheme invites you to pay a contribution based on the amount of carbon likely to be generated from your travel. You can choose to offset your flight, coach travel or the energy consumed staying in your hotel accommodation.
Click here to find out more and carbon neutralise your travel.
What Else You Can Do?
There are many things you can do while travelling to minimise your environmental impact. Some of them you may already do at home but you can also do them while on holiday:
• When you’ve finished with your holiday brochures, pass them onto a friend or recycle them
• Buy local produce which reduces air miles incurred in transporting the food to a kitchen for final preparation
• Respect the local culture and traditions where you are traveling through. Ensure your dress and behaviour is appropriate for the places you visit. If you’re unsure, ask your tour manager
• Minimise waste by bringing your own water bottle and reusing it, and refuse or reuse plastic bags when shopping
• Learn a few words of the local language and ensure the way you dress, eat and greet people is polite according to the local custom
• Please don’t pick plants and flowers, leave them for others to enjoy
• At your hotel use water sparingly, take short showers instead of baths and hang towels for drying and reuse
• Separate paper from plastic and try to recycle as much as possible
• Throw any litter in the bin and keep the local environment tidy
• Switch lights off & air conditioning off if you are not in the room or don’t need them
• Turn off your TV instead of leaving it on standby
• Support a local environmental group and learn more about what you can do
• Reduce your use and waste of precious resources such as water, food and energy
• Leave as much packaging at home from goods you buy for your trip and recycle as much of this as possible
Climate Change & Carbon Offsetting - FAQs
How do I impact on climate change?
Greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide (CO2) are emitted when fossil-fuels are consumed. Each time we drive a car, fly in a plane, use electricity, or generate waste these fossil fuels such as oil, gas and coal are burnt and CO2 is added into the atmosphere warming the earth and causing climate change.
What can I do to help avoid Climate Change?
We can all take simple steps to reduce the amount of CO2 we produce and for those emissions we can’t reduce we can neutralise the rest. Neutralising means paying someone to reduce CO2 in the atmosphere on your behalf. In that way we can pay for the damage we are causing and the money helps to fund transition to a lower-carbon world.
Will going carbon neutral really make a difference?
By neutralising your carbon emissions you are supporting projects which lower the amount of carbon in the atmosphere. Some of the most effective ways to do this is by supporting energy efficiency projects and the development of renewable energy sources such as those offered by our partner carbon offset organisations.
How do I know the carbon projects are effective?
Each of the carbon projects we support are independently audited and meet high quality standards such as the Gold Standard or the Kyoto Clean Development Mechanism (CDM). The Gold Standard is an independently audited, globally applicable best practice methodology for project development that delivers high quality carbon offsets.
