Responsible Tourism

Travelmood’s focus has always been on providing value for money, quality holidays in some of the world’s most beautiful countries. Like you, we care about the people and places we see on our travels.

We are proud to be part of TUI Travel PLC who believes we should enable people to explore and enjoy the world without harming it based on a commitment to sustainable development. While we acknowledge we have a long way to go on this journey, we recognise that the success of our business goes hand in hand with the way we treat our environment and people in our destinations.

We’re working with a range of experts on the ground to protect the places you travel to. In Africa, for example, we work with hotels that support animal welfare and school projects, while our local partner in Sri Lanka, Jetwings has won international awards for their work in education with the Jetwing Youth Development Project.

But we know that a difference can be made not only with local initiatives abroad but also offering alternative ways to get there. Air travel is inevitably a significant part of our holiday industry and, as such, when flight planning in the near future, we will be researching the carbon emissions of the airlines we use in order to give you the information you need to make an informed environmental choice.

We are also keen to promote alternative means of travel that will contribute to a more sustainable present and future. Take our excursions or add-ons for example. We’ve started looking for tours that are good for communities, promote local culture and traditions and help conserve the natural environment. You can now join coach tours in China and India and walking safaris in Kenya and Southern Africa.

We believe that we should all try to give something back, as well as taking away some incredible memories. Here are some things that you can do too, to make a positive difference:

• Wherever possible, we will take you to local markets and restaurants where you can support the local economy by buying local produce.
• Be sensitive to the customs and traditions of the local people.
• Respect habitats and the natural behaviour of the wildlife.
• Do not buy products made from endangered species.
• Save water and energy – take a shower rather than a bath, re-use towels, and turn off air-conditioning and lights when you leave your room.
• Donate a pound to the World Care Fund which supports environmental and community projects around the world.

Come on holiday with us any time from May 2009 and together we’ll do our bit for the planet.

The rules are simple - give a pound to the World Care Fund and we’ll match it. Every penny you donate goes straight to projects that help make up for the impact holidaymakers have on the environment, and look after communities around the world.

These are some of the projects we support in partnership with The Travel Foundation, a charity that cares for local communities in our favourite holiday destinations by helping locals set up their own tourism businesses. The Travel Foundation’s work is supported by many leading UK travel companies.

Find out more about The Travel Foundation