Green Tourism

While browsing our family holiday options for this Summer, I noted a few independent hotels and B&B’s claiming to be part of the Green Tourism venture. Upon further reading, I found that there is an active and thriving community for companies striving to be Green and that it is now quite feasible to choose Green accommodation in many regions of the country. With more support for these ventures, the community will grow and we will hopefully see larger hotel chains converting to a Greener hospitality approach.

 ‘Green Tourism businesses are on a green journey, they have not reached perfection but they are focused on being sustainable, responsible and green. This is demonstrated through our three grading levels (Bronze, Silver and Gold).

Every two years each of the Green Tourism Members are visited and assessed by a qualified professional to ensure standards are maintained as follows:

•They are committed to sustainable tourism and minimising its damage to the environment

•They operate in accordance with all relevant legislation and regulations

•They meet standards of good practice across a range of sustainable development indicators

•They are committed to providing a good quality of service’ www.green-tourism.com

Hotels and B&B’s are starting to accept that guests want it all… a restful, luxurious nights’ sleep, great meals and an environmentally aware offering. Some companies are choosing ethically sourced décor options like bamboo linens and towels, while others are more food focused with some having started their own organic fruit and veg gardens that also contribute to local food banks allowing other hotels in the community to share and benefit. The general approach is to move towards an environment free of toxic chemicals and to choose sustainability over convenience.