The tourism industry is making huge strides towards a more sustainable business methodology – from greener transport, to small local suppliers and voluntourism, this industry is constantly evolving to attempt to undo any harm that may have been caused in the previous decades of booming travel.
The tourism industry is making huge strides towards a more sustainable business methodology – from greener transport, to small local suppliers and voluntourism, this industry is constantly evolving to attempt to undo any harm that may have been caused in the previous decades of booming travel.In a world of ever-changing trends it is very easy to get caught up in each passing one. Each new trend becomes a trend because it is deemed successful or important or time saving or fashionable or economic however by its very definition a trend is transient, temporary, fickle even. In the last 5 decades or so the trends all led to a disposable lifestyle, a lifestyle where possessions lost value and products were cheap, flimsy and replaceable. For a long time this was considered forward thinking, modern and clever until it wasn’t. As science progressed and al-lowed the production of this cheap, flimsy, throwaway lifestyle it simultaneously progressed to a point where it provided a view far into the Ozone layer, deep into the oceans and left the majority of the ordinary people yearning for a time when things meant something and they cared about the world around them. Plastic is no longer the best thing since sliced bread, the rat race is no longer where people immediately feel success lies and while cheap and cheerful will always be popular it now comes with a dollop of meaning and people want to con-tribute positively to the world again. This can be seen clearly in the very industry Excursions Ireland calls home.
Sustainability certification is becoming a must-have in the tourism industry. In the cruise industry in particular, many cruise lines are moving towards a model which will require tour operators to be GSTC (Global Sustainable Tourism Council) certified and the first step on Excursions Ireland’s journey to this important certification is the Travelife Certification. EI’s Green Queen, Lynn Henderson spearheaded the significant undertaking necessary to reach that Travelife Certification. The company not only needed to look at how it handled recyclables and reusables within the office and which suppliers it worked with outside the company, it was also required to ensure that the team and all procedures were socially and ethically aware. The aim is not only to leave as little trace behind as possible but to ensure that if there is a mark left by the company it should be a positive mark – be it on the employees and their welfare, the visitors and their experience or the suppliers and their product. It is to develop each contributor’s own awareness of the social, ethical and environmental impact they have.
On February 21st, Lynn was given the wonderful news that Excursions Ireland had been awarded the Travelife Certified award and while attending ITB Berlin in March, Lynn and Caoimhe were presented with this well-deserved award. Well done Lynn and Excursions Ireland.
