Sustainable Tourism

Awards

Over the past few years, we’ve been delighted to win some of the most sought-after environmental awards in travel.

• Most Environmentally Responsible Tour Operator, British Travel Awards 2007-2009

• Winner of Travel Gives Back Award, TTG Travel Awards 2009

• World Responsible Tourism Award, World Travel Awards 2009

• Most Environmentally Responsible Airline, British Travel Awards 2006-2009

• Highly Commended for the Scream If You’re Green Awards, TTG Travel Awards 2007-2008

• Highly Commended for Best Tour Operator, Responsible Tourism Awards 2007-2008

Find out more about other First Choice Awards

TUI Travel's Commitment

TUI UK & Ireland is part of the TUI Travel Group of companies, which is listed on the FTSE4Good Index in recognition of its commitment to sustainable development. Please visit http://www.tuitravelplc.com/tui/pages/sustainabledevelopment to see the Group’s sustainable development policy and latest report.

Your Brochures

Looking for the perfect holiday? You may not realise when you're flicking though our brochures, but the paper they're printed on comes from sustainably managed forests. This means the trees are harvested carefully to avoid damaging the surrounding plants and animals.

We've also reduced the number of pages in the brochures, reducing the number of trees we use. You can do your bit by recycling our brochures when you have finished with them, by taking them into a First Choice shop. Just bring them into a First Choice shop and we’ll recycle them for you!

Your Flight

We all know that flying impacts the climate through carbon dioxide emissions produced during a flight. We’re passionate about providing you with the best possible service on our flights – but, just as importantly, we are doing everything within our power to run the most efficient fleet we can.

We’ll be the first company in the UK to launch the Boeing 787 Dreamliner, which promises a 20% reduction in carbon dioxide emissions and 60% noise reduction compared to our existing fleet.

In the meantime, we’re reducing our emissions by making our fleet as efficient as possible. For example, we’re reduced the weight of our aircraft by carrying the correct amount of fuel, fewer catering accessories and less non-essential engineering equipment. And wherever we can, we use one engine instead of two to taxi around the airport on arrival.

All this work means that our airline saved a whopping 34,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide in a single year – that’s the equivalent of taking nearly 10,000 family-sized cars off the road for a year. And in 2008 – for the third year running – we were recognised as Britain's Most Environmentally Responsible Airline by the British Travel Awards.

Plus, on our return flights we’ll give you the opportunity to donate to two of our favourite charities: Born Free, which works to stop animal suffering and protect threatened species, and the Family Holiday Association, which helps families take a much-needed holiday they would otherwise be unable to afford.

Your Hotel

We've been busy helping our most popular hotels to be more sustainable, looking at everything from their recycling schemes to their use of local produce and tradespeople.

We have started auditing our hotels on strict social and environmental criteria. The best performing hotels receive Travelife awards, a system developed by the Federation of Tour Operators. So far we’ve audited over 300 hotels, and more will be checked during 2009.

Our brochures highlight hotels that have made the best efforts in these areas, so that you can choose your holiday safe in the knowledge that the hotel is doing their bit to reduce their impact on the environment and support their local community.

We’ve also produced a brochure that brings together all of our Travelife-awarded hotels. Click here to access our Greener Holidays brochure.

Look out for these logos on accommodation pages:

Travelife Bronze Award is awarded to hotels that have reduced their impact on the environment and treat their people fairly.

Travelife Silver Award is given to hotels that meet all the bronze criteria and also play an active part in helping the local community and the environment.

Travelife Gold Award is awarded to hotels that demonstrate advanced sustainability practices, seek continual improvements and actively communicate their progress.

In our Kids’ Clubs, we have been busy entertaining children with our Hatch the Turtle programme, aimed at raising awareness of environmental issues through fun games and activities.

Travel Foundation

In Sri Lanka, World Care Fund donations have helped train over 70 beach vendors on how to interact with tourists. Since the training, they’re now sharing the day’s takings and investing profits into a community fund that supports disadvantaged families. The new scheme has stopped holidaymakers complaining about beach hassle - a win-win situation for everyone.

This is one of many projects we support in partnership with The Travel Foundation, a charity that cares for local communities in our favourite holiday destinations by helping locals set up their own tourism businesses.

Find out more about The Travel Foundation

ClimateCare

In Zambia, money from the World Care Fund is bringing clean and affordable power to communities, removing their dependence on diesel generators that are expensive and harmful to the environment. The new hydro-powered electricity is reaching schools, orphanages and a local hospital. At the hospital, the power is helping doctors carry out operations day and night, saving lives.

Our project partners ClimateCare are experts in carbon offsetting. What’s more, the projects we fund in partnership with ClimateCare are being accredited by Gold Standard, an organisation that ensures that carbon-offsetting schemes are good for people as well as the environment.

Find out more about ClimateCare and Gold Standard

Before you go

• Choose a hotel with a Travelife award, which means it has been audited on strict social and environmental criteria.

• Make a contribution to the World Care Fund, which helps tackle climate change and helps local communities in holiday destinations.

• Start enjoying your holiday before you go by doing some background reading on the people and places you’ll be visiting. Your welcome will be warmer if you take an interest and speak even a few simple phrases in the local language.

• Recycle your holiday brochures when you’ve finished with them by bringing them back into a First Choice shop, recycling them at home, or pass them on to a friend.

• Please don’t bring your litter on holiday with you. Remove the packaging from clothing and toiletries, and recycle it if possible.

• Keep your baggage weight to a minimum to save fuel on your flight… every little helps!

Before you travel, check out the Foreign & Commonwealth Office website. It’s packed with essential travel advice and tips, as well as up-to-date information on the country you’re visiting.

While you are away

• Don’t have your photograph taken with any wild animals held captive, and ask before taking photographs of local people.

• Discard packaging waste before travelling.

• Buy souvenirs that were made locally, and use local services wherever possible.

• Help preserve local wildlife and habitats – don’t damage flowers, plants or coral, or buy products made from endangered plants or animals.

• Use water sparingly. Take showers instead of baths, and inform hotel staff if you are happy to re-use towels and linen.

• Save energy – always turn off air conditioning, lights and TVs when not required.

• Learn about appropriate dress codes and behaviour, including how much to tip.

Many of these tips are taken from The Travel Foundation’s ‘Insider Guide’ on sustainable tourism.