p12 News Oct23 21/10/09 18:15 Page 12
news travel gives back
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Tui offers Mexico prize
Charity fights
Chris Gray.
donations for all Thomson and First Choice
TUI TRAVEL has launched a competition for holidays booked. They must also show they have
for survival
third-party agents to win a trip to Mexico to see “gone the extra mile” to help the environment
projects supported by the World Care Fund. or their local community, writing 100 words THREATENED charity Tourism Concern is calling
The competition follows Tui’s move to offer about their efforts. on travel companies to help it find funds so it can
third-party agents training and incentives to get Tui’s Max Mason, inhouse and third-party continue its work monitoring the impact of
customers to donate to its World Care Fund. sales general manager, said Thomson and First tourism on destinations.
The fund raises money for environmental and Choice had become concerned about the The “100 Appeal” is asking 100 companies to
sustainable tourism projects through the Travel number of agents who deselected the World Care donate £1,000 to help the charity in its fight for
Foundation and Climate Care. Fund option when booking, and the competition financial survival.
Tui is offering two agents the chance to visit a aimed to educate them about the work of the It has already been supported by Sunvil,
“Mayan Jam” project supported by the fund and fund, and increase donations. Expert Africa and travel PR firm BGB. Donations
run by the Travel Foundation in Mexico. The prize includes a seven-night all-inclusive of £10,000 a year for three years have also been
The fund has helped finance women in the stay at Thomson’s flagship property, Sensatori pledged by the Margaret Hayman Trust.
village of Chumpon to create a jam-making Mexico on the Riviera Maya. Tourism Concern warned earlier this month
business, using local ingredients. Additional activities include a day trip to the that it could not fund its basic running costs, and
The project helps the community benefit from ancient Mayan ruins of Chichen Itza. it would close by Christmas if it could not raise
tourism by earning an income from the sale of Agents must be available for the trip from £40,000.
jam to local tourism businesses. December 9 to 17. Entries should be emailed to The charity has sometimes been an outspoken
To win the trip, agents must demonstrate their worldcarefund@thomson.co.uk. critic of the industry, but director Tricia Barnett
shop has achieved the highest percentage The competition closes on said its work had helped expose issues about
conversion above 10% in World Care Fund November 16. the impact of tourism on local people that the
industry would otherwise not know about.
Barnett, a judge at this year’s TTG Travel
Awards, added: “Often we find the wider travel
industry isn’t aware of many of the issues we
encounter. We are keen to work with the industry
to raise awareness and galvanise change.”
In brief
■ GDS donations help fund medical campaign
Technology developed by Amadeus has enabled
travellers worldwide to make donations to help
fight disease in developing countries. The system
can be used in all GDS systems. It allows anyone
who travels to make a $2 contribution every time
they make a reservation, either through an
agent or online. The money raised will go to the
Eco agent ditches
countries,” he said. “Global reduction targets will MassiveGood campaign to fight HIV/Aids, malaria
not be met this way.” and tuberculosis in developing countries. It aims
carbon offsetting
Francis said he agreed with Friends of to raise up to $1 billion in its first four years.
the Earth’s view that carbon offsets were a
“dangerous distraction”. ■ Birmingham airport wins green award
ONLINE agent Responsibletravel.com is dropping Responsibletravel will instead advise clients Birmingham airport has won an international
carbon offsets from its website, saying it is on how to reduce emissions by travelling by train award for cutting carbon emissions over three
the travel industry’s duty to reduce rather than or taking holidays closer to home, or making years despite growing passenger numbers over
offset emissions. reductions in areas of life other than travel. the period. The airport was awarded the Carbon
The company was one of the first to offer He added: “Tourism contributes to livelihoods, Trust Standard for reducing emissions by 4%
offsets in 2002 and managing director Justin local economic development and the conserva- since April 2006. It said the cuts were achieved
Francis said it thought “long and hard” before tion of the world’s cultural and natural heritage. by investing in new technologies, changing
dropping them “for environmental reasons”. “We will continue to offer a more responsible procedures and improving staff awareness.
“Too often offsets are used by the tourism choice of overseas holiday so when tourists
industry to justify growth plans on the basis do fly they can ‘make their holiday count’ by
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For the latest news, reviews and comment
money will be donated to projects in developing choosing a more responsible holiday.” from the travel industry, visit ttglive.com
12 23.10.2009
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