REPORT – LONDON – WTM 2006: The world waits to see if the changing face of American politics will help halt the Doomsday scenario on global warming. The chances of it signing up to the Kyoto Protocol…
REPORT – LONDON – WTM 2006: The world waits to see if the changing face of American politics will help halt the Doomsday scenario on global warming. The chances of it signing up to the Kyoto Protocol are greatly enhanced but this is still some way off, warned Jonathan Tourtellot at World Travel Market’s Responsible Tourism Day.
“I don’t think it’s probable that it will happen soon.
There is some argument now, which I think may be legitimate, that it is not good enough, anyway.
What we may see and what I hope happens is that there is international effort to improve on the code of Kyoto, with the USA signature. But it may take two or three years,” said Tourtellot, Director of the Centre for Sustainable Destinations, National Geographic.
“I do think there is beginning of change.
There is a matter of balance in responsible tourism issues.
To say we should stop flying is as absurd as suggesting we should stop reading books to save trees – particularly when there is no alternative way of getting there.
That said, there should be increasing investment in alternative forms for short haul, certainly trains.
And I’m amazed why it is almost impossible to get a boat between islands in the Caribbean, for example. That would be entirely appropriate.”
Will taxes help the environmental scenario?”
He added: “I don’t think customers today say they wouldn’t fly because of taxes but more because they are under the impression that going at all is bad for the environment. That is a terrible message to send out.
On the other hand, a reasonable tax with the money put to good use creates a level playing field that shouldn’t really affect tourism traffic.
If, for example, £1 a day is going to make you cancel a holiday, then you are probably not making much of an economic contribution. Better to go for the kind of traveller prepared to pay and who is going to take extra care of the environment.”
Harold Goodwin, Director of International Centre for Responsible Tourism, said: “I hope the USA signs up to Kyoto. Many of the state governors want to do so and the question will be there. Are the horrific implications being projected for the planet beatable? That is the million dollar question. I’m not a scientist but it seems to me unless we take action now we will be culpable if we don’t stop it. We need to see everybody in the industry playing their part. There is a tendency to put all the pressure on the airlines. We need to be realistic about that. They are not the only cause in travel and tourism for global warming.
All the businesses play a role in that. We need to look in particular at aviation but also beyond that agenda. If we stop flying to Africa, the damage will also be severe to those countries’ economies and the people who live there. The struggle is to find more sustainable forms of transport.
All one person can do is nibble at the problem; that is true of the scale of the task that confronts us. It is about taking individual responsibility for doing something.
We need to be careful that the money raised from any green taxes is spent on green initiatives. A big danger maybe is that they are used for other things that do more damage than the flying!
There is a great deal of uncertainty about what is the best way to go in terms of being a responsible purchaser. We need to have the science improved to make sensible decisions. But we have to make these changes and start doing it now.”
Kimberly Kay, Corporate Responsibility Manager for Thomson and Thomsonfly, said: “If the Government can show where any green tax money goes, how it has benefited the environment with positive impact, then we would support that. A lot of people say they are prepared to pay but when it comes to it don’t want to put their money where their mouth is.”
Theodore is the Co-Founder and Managing Editor of TravelDailyNews Media Network; his responsibilities include business development and planning for TravelDailyNews long-term opportunities.
