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HELLO GREEN WORLD: Travel Agents are actually selling sustainable travel

Sustainability isn’t just the future of travel, it’s the here and now because more and more Travel Agents are selling it than ever before.

Sustainability isn’t just the future of travel, it’s the here and now because more and more Travel Agents are selling it than ever before.

Intrepid Travel’s Chief Executive revealed that the operator has seen a 42 percent rise in tour sales through Helloworld Travel alone during the first three months of the 2019 financial year.

“That’s enormous”, James Thornton told attendees at the Frontliners Forum, before explaining that he believes growth is being driven by demand and growing awareness for purposeful travel.

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“This growth is showing that sustainable-rich travel is actually here in the now and not just the future.”

James Thornton, Intrepid Travel Chief Executive

The Chief Executive said he believes consultants can expect to receive more enquiries for sustainable travel in the coming years, because “responsible travel really does matter”.

He used the group’s banning of elephant rides as an example of this interest in purpose-led travel, saying that the group received more bookings for Thailand the year after they banned elephant rides.

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“When you take a strong purpose-led agenda, more often than not, we find it can actually improve the overall growth of your business.”

James Thornton, Intrepid Travel Chief Executive

Helping Agents cater to clients looking for greener and caring holidays, Intrepid Travel is looking at meeting its existing animal and community-friendly approach with more gender-equality options such as women-only tours in Jordan, Iran and Morocco, as well as doubling the number of female tour leaders by 2020.

“It’s important to support females and provide a sustainable sure of income, especially in the developing countries through which we operate.”

 

Are you receiving more enquiries for sustainable travel?