The travel industry must scale up its efforts to operate responsible tourism practices, according to the executive director of the Fairtrade Foundation.

Harriet Lamb told delegates at the World Travel Market (WTM), a leading global event for the travel industry, that now was the time to be “brave and innovative”, with business as usual no longer enough.

Ms Lamb made the remarks at the launch of World Responsible Tourism Day at the WTM event.

Ms Lamb said the benefits that Fairtrade ideologies had brought to the grocery sector could also be applied to the travel industry.

She said: “When we started, people laughed in our faces and said the public didn’t care. Now, we work across 80 countries. If we were a grocery brand we would be second only Coca Cola. If we were a supermarket we would be up there in the top 10.

“We all know it is the right thing to do to end poverty through charity and finding new business models. Companies are also engaging in it because the model works. Why? Because, people care and the public is saying loud and clear that they expect you to give back to the communities you depend on. These are the same people who go on your holidays.”

To find out more about the World Travel Market event follow this link

Posted by Caroline Fox

• Visit Work and Volunteer Abroad

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