Media coverage

What the press is saying about Tourism Declares…

Journalists may find the Background and Case Studies helpful. 

Please contact Alex Narracott - alex@muchbetteradventures.com or Jeremy Smith - jeremy@tourismdeclares.com for further information.

SKIFT (August 30, 2021) - “But one group is leading the charge for the travel industry to commit to cutting their carbon emissions in half by 2030. Tourism Declares a Climate Emergency, a coalition of individuals, companies and organisations that works to lead tourism entities to declare a climate emergency, is calling on the industry to seek solutions for more sustainable travel.“

SKIFT (August 12, 2021) - “In July, the UNWTO launched a Global Survey of Climate Action in Tourism, in collaboration with the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, ATTA and Tourism Declares a Climate Emergency, with specific versions for destinations, accommodations, tour operators, transportation providers, and associations.”

NEW YORK TIMES (April 22, 2021) - “…start by checking the list of the more than 230 travel organizations that have joined the Tourism Declares initiative, members of which have pledged to publish a climate action plan and cut their carbon emissions.”

SKIFT (Mar 23, 2021) - “There’s more hope since the pandemic, including newly launched Tourism Declares and Future of Tourism initiatives that unite various segments across the industry in finding scalable solutions.”

WASHINGTON POST (Mar 04, 2021) - “Another joint effort that launched in 2020 is Tourism Declares, an initiative aimed at helping those in the travel sphere to develop plans to reduce carbon emissions as they recover from the pandemic. More than 200 companies, ranging from travel agents to tour operators, have committed to publishing a climate action plan within 12 months of joining.”

ETHICAL TRAVELLER (Mar 04, 2021) - “Tourism Declares for short, this isn’t one company but a network of over two hundred travel organisations, and growing. They have come together to declare a climate emergency and, in so doing, are working together to plan a better future for tourism.”

TRAVINDY (Mar 01, 2021) - “This is the first podcast of the Climate Change Series that we will develop in collaboration with the Tourismo Declara initiative, which you can learn more about on its website or in this conversation with its founders.” (in Spanish)

SOUTH CHINA MORNING POST (Feb 28, 2021) - “Recognising our growing carbon problem, hundreds of businesses, governments and individuals have officially declared a climate emergency. Now, under the umbrella of the Tourism Declares a Climate Emergency initiative, almost 200 members of the travel industry, including hoteliers and tour operators, are also on board.”

TOURISM WATCH (Feb 27, 2021) - “Though the industry has suffered severely from the lockdown, a collective of over 200 travel businesses and organisations has already signed and declared a climate emergency. For Tourism Watch, Lea Thin has interviewed Kasia Morgan from the Tourism Declares outreach team, who is also Head of Sustainability and Community at Exodus Travels, a founding signatory.”

THE GUARDIAN (Jan 10, 2021) - “Chris Greenwood, senior tourism insights manager at Visit Scotland, says: “The declaration sends a message that environmental responsibility is essential and that everyone can get involved.””

SUSTAINABLE BRANDS (Jan 07, 2021) - “Yet, there wasn’t any cohesion to these efforts across the industry until last year — when the industry formally came together to collectively acknowledge and address the problem under the framework, Tourism Declares a Climate Emergency.”

COLUMBUS MAGAZINE (Jan 06, 2021) - “With Tourism Declares a Climate Emergency, activist Jeremy Smith is proclaiming the climate situation. With the initiative he tries to get travel companies to make a statement in which they publicly promise to meet certain climate goals. But Smith also appeals to us as travellers.” (In Dutch)

TOURISM INDUSTRY ASSOCIATION OF CANADA (Dec 18, 2020) - “In January 2020, Tourism Declares was launched to support tourism businesses, organisations and individuals in declaring a climate emergency and taking action to reduce their carbon emissions.”

THE TELEGRAPH (Dec 12, 2020) - “It’s five years since the Paris Agreement treaty was drawn up, we look at how the tourism sector is working to reduce CO2 emissions” (Behind paywall)

NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC (Nov 30, 2020) - VisitScotland has partnered with the Tourism Declares Climate Emergency community , becoming the first national tourism organisation in the world to sign the initiative. (In Spanish)

THE GUARDIAN (May 28, 2020) - “Things needed to change. It’s an opportunity for everyone from tourist boards to tour operators to reset and to look at how things can be better – for the planet, for local communities and for travellers.”

METRO (Jan 30, 2020) - “An Inspiring Collective”

TRAVELPULSE (Jan 22, 2020) - “Sustainable Tourism Takes Center Stage in 2020…In January, Exodus Travels became one of the founding signatories of the “Tourism Declares a Climate Emergency” pledge, working with such companies as Wilderness Scotland and Wilderness Ireland to strategize on ways in which to promote responsible tourism.”

PEBBLE (Jan 21, 2020) - “Tourism has been crying out for a cross-sector movement that brings together those willing to fight for the climate, but so far not enough has been done and not enough attention is being paid, from government policy, to other practitioners, to consumers. So leading organisations, individuals and pioneers of sustainable tourism have taken it upon themselves. “

TRAVELPULSE (Jan 20, 2020) - “Intrepid Travel is a founding signatory of the Tourism Declares a Climate Emergency initiative, which commits the company to reshape the short, medium and long-term strategy and business model of Intrepid, and requires that the entire business design be rethought of in the context of a Climate Emergency, which includes ongoing commitment to carbon neutrality and setting a science-based target in 2020.”

SUNDAY TIMES (Jan 19, 2020) - “Travel operators team up to declare Climate Emergency” (subscriber only)

DE VOLKSKRANT (Jan 17, 2020) - “Eleven (international) travel organizations signed the Tourism Declares a Climate Emergency this week” (In Dutch)

AUSTRALIAN FINANCIAL REVIEW (Jan 17, 2020) - “The grass roots movement offers like-minded tourism operators a platform to band together and swap strategies on ensuring their tourism practices are as sustainable as possible, short of not travelling at all.” (Subscribers only)

FAIRUNTERWEGS (Jan 16, 2020) - “[Tourism Declares] offer a platform for mutual exchange and support for tourism companies and professionals who join the collective and also explain the climate emergency.” (In German)

TRAVELLER ONLINE (Jan 16, 2020) - “Tourism Industry Calls out the Climate Emergency” (in German)

TRAVMAGAZINE (Jan 16, 2020) - “Better Places declares a state of emergency for the climate.” (In Dutch)

HOTEL MANAGEMENT (Jan 15, 2020) - “A groundswell movement advocating for the global tourism industry to declare a climate emergency has been launched, already securing declarations from some of the world’s biggest tourism operators including Intrepid Travel.”

REISEVOR9 (Jan 15, 2020) - “In a joint statement, 15 tour operators from different countries undertake to reduce their CO2 emissions by 55 percent below the 2017 level by 2030. The "Tourism Declares" initiative wants to shake the industry and is looking for more members.”

PHOCUSWIRE (Jan 15, 2020) - “Travel and tourism organizations push for action on climate emergency”

DUURZAAM ONDERNEMEN (Jan 15, 2020) - "Tourism Declares a Climate Emergency" is a collective of international travel organizations and tourism scientists who officially acknowledge that we are dealing with a climate crisis.” (In Dutch)

NRITMEDIA (Jan 14, 2020) - “Travel organizations declare a state of emergency for the climate” (In Dutch)

TRAVEL WEEKLY UK (Jan 14, 2020) - “A group of specialist operators have declared a climate emergency and are calling on the rest of the industry to join them in a new initiative”

THE GUARDIAN (Jan 14, 2020) - “Much Better Adventures has gone a step further declaring a climate emergency, with the hope of encouraging other travel businesses and organisations to do the same… Explore and Intrepid are among the 19 travel companies and organisations to have added their names to the declaration”

TTG (Jan 14, 2020) - “Travel companies stand united in Climate Emergency Pledge”

TRAVEL WEEKLY AUSTRALIA (Jan 14, 2020) - “The pledge aims to fight climate change by significantly reducing the growing environmental impact on people and the planet by 2050”