Green Tourism
Why go Green?
There are so many benefits to going Green:
- Most tourism businesses can reduce energy, waste and water costs by at least 10% and some have made savings of 40%
- Green tourism attracts new groups of customers, encourages all customers to linger for longer and to come back again and again.
- Green businesses are better prepared for the unexpected (flooding, extreme weather, energy price rises). As a result, some can negotiate lower insurance premiums!
- Green businesses are more engaged with local communities and often find that those communities become great ambassadors.
If you want to learn more a good place to start is Visit England's website www.better-tourism.org
Green Edge Training Course
Green Edge is a one-day training course that has been designed by the Regional Tourist Board Partnership to complement Green Start. The Green Edge programme builds on the success of Green Advantage and will help your business reap the rewards of green practices.
Businesses that participated in Green Advantage found that the training delivered the following benefits to their businesses: If your are interested to find out more please contact us at enquiries@visitkent.co.uk
Green Tourism Business Scheme
Since 1997, the Green Tourism Business Scheme (GTBS) has accumulated over 1400 members, making it the largest Green Tourism Scheme in the World. Businesses that join are assessed by qualified graders on certain criteria, including energy and water efficiency, waste management, and biodiversity. Currently, members consist of tourist attractions, accommodation providers, coporate offices and more.
If the businesses meet the required standards, they will gain either a Bronze, SIlver or Gold award.
Visit the Green Tourism Business Scheme website for more information.
Sustainable Tourism for Dummies
For more help and advice of how to make your business 'greener', view the Sustainable Tourism for Dummies Guide.
This Guide is free for all tourism companies in order to encourage sustainable tourism.
Click on the image to download the Guide.
Useful Green Contacts
View more contacts for range of sustaianble advice.
They include:
- National sources of help and advice
- Local help and advice - Green Partnerships
- Green tourism and days out
- Exchange / recycling neworks
- Green volunteering charities in Kent
- Recycling
- Sustainable transport
- Kentish produce
- Green accommodation
- Green online discussion forums
- Best practise in other regions
For help with adapting to the effects of climate change use this online resource.
To read a case study on Green Tourism Click Here.