British demand “growing” for ethical tourism

The demand for holidays abroad to be more ethical is growing among British tourists, according to a report. The document - Worlds Apart - reveals 52% of people surveyed would be more likely to book a holiday with a tour company that has a responsible tourism policy. Sixty-five percent of people surveyed by Christian relief and development agency Tearfund said they wanted to know from travel agents and tour operators how to behave more responsibly when on holiday. They wanted to be better informed about local customs and politics, preserving the environment, supporting the economy and meeting local people, the report said. British tourists have a right to know how their holidays affect people in destinations, especially in the developing world where many millions of people struggle for survival on less than a pound a day, the report adds. Tearfund is calling for tour operators to take their corporate social responsibility more seriously and to start by writing a clear policy and appointing a responsible tourism staff member. In a foreword to the report the founder of the Body Shop, Anita Roddick OBE, writes: “Tourism cannot escape the ethical consumerism debate. In a world where more and more businesses are pursuing and reporting on ethical practices, the tourism industry has some way to go.”