Sustainable travel - what’s really changing behind the scenes?

But after attending ABTA’s Sustainable Travel Conference in London recently, one thing became very clear - the travel industry is changing, and many tour operators, airlines, cruise companies and destinations are already making significant improvements behind the scenes.

The conference brought together travel companies from across the industry to discuss the real challenges facing tourism today, from climate change and carbon reduction to human rights, workers’ welfare and protecting destinations for future generations.

A major theme throughout the day was collaboration. Sustainable travel isn’t something one company can solve alone - it requires destinations, operators, airlines, hotels and tourism boards all working together with shared goals and open communication.

One of the most interesting talks came from Inghams, the winter sports specialist. Climate change is already having a direct impact on ski destinations, with some resorts experiencing too little snowfall, while others face extreme weather conditions and unsafe levels of snow. In response, Inghams are adapting how they operate, introducing more rail travel options, working alongside organisations including WWF in Finland, and developing over 100 sustainability-focused actions as part of their “Championing the Great Outdoors” programme.

Intrepid Travel shared some particularly inspiring examples of tourism giving back directly to local communities. In Morocco, now one of their biggest destinations, they support projects including boarding schools for young women in remote mountain areas where access to education can be extremely limited. Following the devastating earthquake in 2023, they also helped deliver food, water and emergency aid to villages across the region. Alongside this, they are introducing electric vehicle transfers and continuing to work closely with local tourism authorities to better understand the needs of each destination.

The cruise sector is also making major operational changes. Carnival Cruise Line explained how newer ships, improved technologies and better efficiency are helping reduce emissions, despite continued growth in passenger numbers. Since 2019, they have reduced food waste by almost half, removed many single-use plastics across their fleet, introduced water refill stations and expanded recycling programmes both onboard and within participating ports.

What stood out most throughout the conference was that sustainable travel is not simply about telling people not to travel. It’s about travelling more responsibly, supporting destinations properly, protecting local communities, and ensuring the places we love visiting today are still there for future generations to enjoy.

There is still a long way to go across the industry, but it was encouraging to see just how much work is already happening in the background - much of which travellers may never even realise.

At Flitch Travel, we believe travel remains one of life’s most valuable experiences. Seeing different places, cultures and communities matters. The challenge for the industry now is making sure tourism continues to evolve in a way that protects those destinations for the future as well.

Whether it’s choosing the right destination, finding lower-impact travel options where possible, or simply travelling more thoughtfully, we’re always happy to help you plan holidays with the bigger picture in mind.