There is increasing feedback to suggest that our customers have the
interests of their holiday destinations at heart. We believe Neilson
customers are people who enjoy spending time in beautiful environments
and who appreciate the cultural diversity that foreign travel can
offer. We all have a vested interest in protecting these locations, but
how can we all play our part? Well, the old proverb every little helps
is certainly true. Imagine, for example, if all our guests refused one
plastic carrier bag from a shopkeeper during their holiday. That would
mean around 100,000 plastic bags would fail to make it to landfill
sites each year.
So what else can you do? We have put together a few ideas that you might like to consider.
Before You Go....
- Remove packaging before you go (soap wrappers, cardboard boxes, etc) - don't export our rubbish.
- Travel light - it's cooler, saves aircraft fuel and you can live without the ghetto blaster and heated rollers for two weeks.
-
Read up on the country of your destination - you'll get more out of
your holiday. Learn a few words of the language - it's a good way to
make friends.
- Bring back plastic shampoo bottles, batteries, etc. You're more likely to find a plastic recycling facility back in the UK.
-
Try to find environmentally-friendly shampoos and detergents to take
with you - the chances are that whatever you use will end up in the
sea.
While You're There....
- Use air conditioning with care. It wastes energy if left
running unnecessarily and won't work with open windows or doors.
Leaving fans running when not in the room wastes energy and can
actually increase the room temperature.
- Save water - and in doing so save the power needed to heat it. Take a shower instead of a bath and reuse your towels.
- Save electricity - mains electricity burns non-renewable fossil fuels and contributes to the greenhouse effect.
-
Wherever you are, beach or mountain - dispose of litter carefully -
it's not only an eyesore, it can be hazardous to wildlife, too. For
example, plastic bags in the sea can be mistaken for jellyfish, a
delicacy if you are a turtle! Beware of fire - in hot dry countries,
forest fires are a serious problem. Even a piece of broken glass can
set one off.
- If youre a smoker - No Butts please! - don't
litter the beach or flick them from the chairlift - they take up to six
years to biodegrade, and that's assuming they're not eaten first by
hungry 'fauna'. Instead, ensure you leave no trace by carrying a camera
film pot. A bit of sand in the bottom creates a handy sealable
travelling ashtray, which can be emptied at your accommodation.
- Skiers - Don't assume that just because there's
snow, that everywhere is fair territory for carving. Explore by all
means, but respect your playground and try not to ski amongst obviously
delicate 'flora'. Skis can easily cut through saplings and plants,
often killing them. Ski around them, not through them (with the added
bonus of avoiding later retaliation from a tree! - Ouch).
- Divers - Leave nothing but bubbles - take nothing
but photographs. Responsible divers all know that the fragile
underwater environments we visit must be protected. Taking souvenirs
from the seabed and touching the wildlife and coral reefs are
unacceptable.
- Please leave the flowers and seashells for others
to enjoy. Avoid buying souvenirs made from endangered plants and
animals such as coral, ivory and hardwoods. If in any doubt don't buy
it.
- Enjoy the local culture but be sensitive to local
people. Ask permission before taking photographs (and don't be
surprised if they want payment - from their perspective you can afford
it!) and wear appropriate clothing when entering holy places.
- Buy local: it's a great way to enhance your
holiday experience while contributing to the local economy. Eat at the
local restaurants, shop at the craft markets, try the bus service
rather than going by taxi. Not only will this add a hint of adventure
to your holiday it's more fuel-efficient, too. You could even hire a
bike.
Some of these ideas may be irrelevant to you. Others you might
practice already. You probably have ideas of your own, in which case,
please share them with us. Contact us by dropping an email to Nancy
Brock at responsible.business@neilson.com. More information can be found at the following website: www.thetravelfoundation.org.uk