Holidaymakers are supporting the Travel Foundation, a
new charity that is trying to help manage the travel
industry more sustainably.

Since the charity’s launch in November 2003, more than
three-quarters of holidaymakers who booked a winter or
summer holiday with UK operator First Choice have agreed to
pay a voluntary donation to the charity.

The Travel Foundation is aiming to raise £1 million a
year by 2006, which it says it will spend on projects that
help tourism make a positive contribution to holiday
destinations.

First Choice is asking its customers to donate 10 pence
per adult, and 5 pence per child per holiday booking. Other
UK operators, including The Adventure Company (formerly
Travelbag Adventures) and Hidden Greece, will soon be
providing similar fundraising schemes. Sunvil Holidays is
already asking its customers to match its own donation of
50 pence per booking.

The Travel Foundation has already supported sustainable
tourism projects in The Gambia and in Cyprus, where all the
main tour operators are now offering excursions to the less
well-known rural areas to help contribute to the
livelihoods of local people. It plans to support similar
tourism-related projects in other popular holiday
destinations, including Mexico and Tobago, to help tourism
make a greater contribution to the local people,
environment and economy.

Further information, see thetravelfoundation.org.uk or telephone 0117
9273049.

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