Good Travel Alliance launches to promote green and tourism destinations
A collective of destinations, tourism boards, tour operators, and professional services firms has launched the Good Travel Alliance, a platform that aims to promote and stimulate sustainable travel worldwide.
The Good Travel Alliance has been launched by 14 founding partners with the aim to develop travel products, attractions, activities, and trails that maximise social benefits while minimising negative impacts on the climate, environment, and culture.
At launch, destinations from 20 countries have become part of the Good Travel Alliance, with that number forecasted to grow to over 60 by the end of the year. Destinations range from places in Europe (Corsica, Germany and the UK) to places across other continents (Chile, Jordan, Guyana, Sri Lanka, Turkey and so on).
“Our goal is to support destinations and businesses in improving quality and sustainability. Through expert support from Green Destinations, member destinations and activity providers will be able to measure these impacts and promote their experiences as "Good Travel Experiences,” said Albert Salman, Founder of the Good Travel Alliance.
Working together with destinations, the Good Travel Alliance will also support them in ensuring compliance with the Green Claims Directive and other emerging consumer protection legislation.
The initiative comes at a time of growing focus on ecotourism and sustainable tourism, which have rapidly gained popularity in the industry. There remains however a long way to go – tourism accounts for more than 5% of global CO2 emissions globally.
Acorn Tourism Consulting
Among the founding partners is Acorn Tourism Consulting, a UK-based consulting firm that focuses on the tourism sector.
“We are proud that Acorn is an expert partner in the Good Travel Alliance. With the support of green destinations experts, the alliance helps measure and communicate sustainability efforts transparently, empowering businesses and travellers to make responsible choices,” stated the firm in a post on LinkedIn.
Acorn has already been working alongside two of the network’s fellow founding members – the Jordan Tourism Board and the North York Moors National Park – where the firm has been actively supporting sustainability initiatives.
Looking ahead, Acorn will continue to help ensure the Good Travel Alliance “provides a platform for destinations and businesses to develop and promote good travel experiences, ensuring tourism contributes positively to local communities, cultural heritage, and the environment.”
The other co-founding partners are: Green Destinations; Good Travel Guide; Guardians of Earth; Go Good; Good Place; Riviera Maya Sostenible; Tourism Impact; Teata; Travelife; Eurakom; Fair Trade Tourism; Ekoa Brasil; Fair Unterwegs.
