Heathrow protests: comment from responsibletravel.com

MEDIA RELEASE: WEDNESDAY 15 AUGUST 2007

Heathrow protests: comment from responsibletravel.com

Commenting on this week's protests by environmental campaigners at Heathrow airport, responsibletravel.com's co-founder and managing director Justin Francis said:

"The debate on flying is wrongly raging at two extremes, with environmental campaigners arguing that all flying is evil and the Government planning to double UK flights. We believe the solution lies at neither of these extremes but instead involves a steady reduction in flights and an increase in responsible tourism.

"Tourism directly and indirectly accounts for one in eight jobs globally [1] and is a major source of income for those in the developing world. In reality, if we were all to stop flying tomorrow, a major global recession would result, thereby affecting local communities and thwarting efforts by governments and industry to research and invest in the renewable energy sources and newer, greener technologies that are so greatly needed if we are to reduce emissions globally.

"However, the UK Government's plans to expand airports to cope with a predicted doubling of air traffic are insane. At responsibletravel.com we believe we all need to be flying less and we will continue to call on the Government to introduce a coherent strategy for reducing flying in line with overall CO2 reduction targets."

responsibletravel.com is calling on the Government to:

Increase the cost of flying through either emission trading schemes or taxation to a level sufficient to start reducing the number of flights taken annually
Ensure tax revenues are transparently hypothecated to low carbon initiatives
Offer incentives to encourage airlines to be greener and create more fuel efficient planes
Only expand airport capacity when there is a real need based on current customer numbers

responsibletravel.com is also calling on travellers to make more responsible travel choices where possible:

Reduce the number of flights you take each year. Instead, take the train to European destinations and consider UK based eco-holidays
Take fewer short breaks by air. Shorter flights and multiple stop overs are more polluting per passenger mile than longer flights as take-off and landings generate a significant part of the total emissions per flight. Try to take fewer, longer holidays instead
Try and avoid internal flights within a destination - use local public transport where possible
If you do fly, opt for a responsible holiday that respects, benefits and helps to conserve local communities, customs and environments
Offset the carbon emissions of your flight through a company such as www.climatecare.org
Demand that our politicians take action (see above)
Make other changes in your day-to-day life to reduce your overall carbon emissions

For further information or to arrange an interview, please contact:
Kristina Pentland
press@responsibletravel.com
07717 348368(m)
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[1] World Trade Organization

Notes to editors

responsibletravel.com is an on-line travel agent - based in Brighton, England - launched in 2001 for travellers who want more real and authentic holidays that also benefit the environment and local people. responsibletravel.com markets carefully pre-screened holidays from over 270 leading worldwide tourism brands and businesses. More about the company here.