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The Interview Simon Reeve,
explorer and presenter
The author, documentary film-maker and adventurer talks to Juliet Dennis about the relationship between travel and sustainability and his work with Kuoni
Q Tell us a bit about your background I flunked out of school with no qualifications and got a job as a postboy on The Sunday Times. Gradually I worked my way up to researcher before doing a bit of writing. Then I wrote books on terrorism. That led to working on TV programmes, which I have been doing for the last 20 years.
Q. Why is sustainability a subject close to your heart? The world is changing and humans are having a massive impact on the planet. We are in danger of wrecking our own home. This has been brought up by remote people in far-flung parts of the planet that can see the climate changing and weather becoming more unpredictable. This has not come from people
with a scientific background, but they could see change was coming. Now, we all know it’s coming. Everyone in every industry has a responsibility to take this on board because we all want to ensure our children have a good, sustainable planet for the future.
16 24 NOVEMBER 2022
Q. Is the travel industry at fault for damage to the planet? Travel is not the only culprit, and it’s by no means the worst industry. The fashion industry has a massive carbon footprint. Travel gets a bit of an unfair rap; it is a beautiful human right. The history of travel is important.
A show on ancient pilgrimages a few years ago said there were times when up to a quarter of the population of Europe went on a pilgrimage. A lot of that was an excuse for an adventure and for people to go away; not much has changed. Travel’s been with us forever and
it’s vital to us as human beings; that desire to explore, meet and engage. We want to make it possible and make our journeys as sustainable as possible. We need to make travel as ‘green’ as possible.
Q. Can travel be a force for good? Yes! What we don’t discuss is the impact of travel in a positive way: the industry of travel and how many millions of people it employs in poorer parts of the planet. Equally we don’t discuss how it
helps protect and preserve a lot of ecosystems around the world that rely on tourism money, whether it’s to pay for anti-poaching patrols or for uniforms for forest wardens. This is all supported by people going on their holidays. Of course, we have to do that as sustainably as possible, but we can also remind people of the positive aspects of travel.
Q. What should travel firms be doing, in your view? Companies want to do a virtuous job that doesn’t have a negative impact on the planet. The industry employs loads of wonderful people. We want to share the delight; we want people to enjoy themselves when they go away. We don’t want to have
a negative impact on the world. Staff want to do their best and
guide customers. Not every customer going into a travel agency is going to ask to travel responsibly first and foremost, but it will give them a glow around their holiday if they do so. It’s about getting through to
people. It’s up to all of us to make the case for travel as a vital part of our lives. Travel is wonderful, but we also need to put more back into the environment. It really matters that firms
are properly embedded in the community they operate in. It’s not a quick buck industry. We want it to be sustainable;
hotels are in these places not just for a couple of years. Local people
Travel is not the only culprit, and it’s not the worst industry. The fashion industry has a massive carbon footprint. Travel gets a bit of an unfair rap; it is a beautiful human right
travelweekly.co.uk
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