Sustainable Tourism in the South West

Sustainability and green issues are now very much mainstream, with governments, businesses and individuals all involved. ‘Sustainable Tourism’ is making an impact on many of the UK’s popular summer destinations.

We usually think of sustainable tourism as involving nature-based travel that benefits conservation and communities abroad, but as the recession has begun to bite, tourism at home is becoming more popular than ever before and as one of the main economic drivers in the UK.

The South West of England has been a popular holiday location for many years and with Devon recently being declared the Country’s first ‘Organic’ County - having the largest number of organic producers; it’s not surprising that tourism is the region’s main industry. However the sheer volume of visitors can take its toil environmentally, and the fact that much of the work is seasonal and low paid has its effect on local communities.

Sustainable tourism is addressing these problems, amongst others; to make the industry greener, cleaner and more sustainable; encouraging holiday and visitor attractions to become aware of the impact the businesses have on the environment and the community around them. In simple terms it’s sustainable development achieved through tourism.

The ‘Green Tourism Business Scheme’, (GTBS) is the national sustainable tourism certification scheme for the UK. Originally developed in partnership with ‘Visit Scotland’, It now boasts 457 members in the West Country alone. Including B&Bs, Self Catering Holidays, Camping and Caravan sites, Hotels, Restaurants and Visitor Attractions. Participating businesses are graded against over 120 measures relating to best practice, and dependent on the standards achieved, receive a bronze, silver or gold award, reflecting a balance of environmental, economic and social issues. The assessment considers energy efficiency, nature conservation, community support and general sustainability issues.

Visitors are encouraged to walk, cycle or use public transport as an alternate to the car, lessening congestion and pollution.They are also encouraged to eat in venues that use local produce.

If you’re interested in booking a sustainable holiday or considering joining the green tourism movement visit www.green-business.co.uk.