Responsible Travel with Neilson
The buzz word of the new millennium but what does it mean? A few
years ago we launched a detailed environmental campaign to assess the
impact of our holidays on the local environment - we aimed to lower the
use of non-renewable resources and implement The Three R's where
possible, by Reducing, Re-using and Recycling wherever we could.
Following an audit by the University of Brighton we were able to
tighten up many of our overseas practices and by working with our local
suppliers we have been making some ground in these important areas.
Back in the UK our state-of-the-art offices have a relatively small
carbon foot print and developments with our printers mean that this
brochure becomes more and more sustainable each year. But enough of the
Three R's - Responsible Travel takes our concerns a step further.
We operate our holidays in some very beautiful places and we want to
keep them this way. Responsible Travel is about respecting the
different countries and cultures that we visit and about helping to
give them the resources they need to manage the long term future of the
places that we all love to visit. Our tourism can be a great boost to
the local communities in which we operate. We use only locally owned
properties - many are family owned and managed. We don't provide 'all
inclusive' holidays, preferring to encourage you to explore the local
environment and to bring much needed cash into the local community.
This philosophy has enabled us to grow with the communities in which
we operate and not swamp them - you won't find a 'little England' feel
at any of our centres; you'll feel that you really are in a foreign
place amongst friendly welcoming foreign hosts.
Recently our parent company, Thomas Cook, has made a huge commitment
to Responsible Travel and, along with other responsible tour operators,
they have funded the start up of a new charity 'The Travel Foundation'
which seeks to develop practical solutions to help improve and protect
holiday destinations, their natural environments, traditions and
cultures - the very things that make your holiday there so special.
In your pre-travel information pack you'll receive more information
on how to make your holiday more responsible and we'll be updating
guests in resorts of the developments we have made.
To find out more about the work of The Travel Foundation you can visit: www.thetravelfoundation.org.uk