Feel-good factor

Travelling responsibly—and in style—is not a contradiction in terms, as Natalie Moore discovers

Saving the planet might feel like a priority, but when it comes to a good holiday, it seems the British still find it hard to say no. We might be prepared to buy energy-saving light bulbs, or recycle our waste at home, but few think of the environmental consequences of all those weekends away in the Mediterranean sunshine. And when our own prime minister Tony Blair says he won't give up his summer holiday to save the planet, why should we?

All the evidence suggests we show no sign of curbing our holiday habit. According to market research firm Mintel, British holidaymakers took a whopping 46.2 million foreign trips last year, a 20 per cent increase in five years. Cheaper air fares mean holidays abroad are booming. But while all these extra flights are bad news for the environment, we are starting to pay more attention to the impact our holidays have. Thanks to the growth in so-called "responsible travel"—where tourists minimise the negative impact they have on the destinations they visit and do what they can to boost the incomes of local communities—it's now possible to enjoy a luxury break and leave your guilt at home.

So what makes a responsible holiday? Richard Cope, senior travel analyst at Mintel, says: "Nearly a quarter of the population fly more regularly as a result of low-cost carriers. It seems relaxation and cultural fulfilment are important, but there is also a growing desire for authenticity and community interaction on holiday."

While just one per cent of the holidays taken in 2006 could be called responsible, there is evidence that more travellers realise tourism helps the local economy. As Cope says: "Interest in local employment is slowly eroding 'relax and forget about it' attitudes." And better still, for those who like to be pampered in style, or for the adventurous who like their creature comforts, there is still plenty of choice for those who want to travel responsibly.

Justin Francis of eco-holiday website responsibletravel.com says that at the top of the market consumers expect the best standards from their holidays—whether responsible or not—but also expect tour companies to be aware of their responsibilities. "Growth at the top end of the market, where people are more informed, is stronger than anywhere," he says.

Responsibletravel.com was set up in 2001 and has experienced growth of 100 per cent in each of the last three years. Francis says: "The holidays we offer are different. They are more authentic, closer to local cultures, and they use local guides  based at more intimate resorts. These are the advantages of responsible tourism." As more tourists start to seek out responsible destinations, so the choice in sustainable holidays grows. Lewis Kirnon, founder and director of Leisure Space Developments, is setting up an eco-resort on the Caribbean island of Montserrat. He says: "People are no longer satisfied with a typical all-inclusive resort. Many want to give something back to the local community. Travelling to a destination won't help the environment, so we want to make sure your trip is as responsible as possible once you get there."

His plans include luxury accommodation in energy-efficient eco-lodges and integrated tour programmes that allow visitors to experience the island in a responsible manner. He says: "We're working with the government to build the resort in a sustainable way; employing local people and using local products."

Another example that Francis singles out is the Il N'gwesi Community Lodge in Kenya. This eco-lodge offers guests a taste of the African bush in a comfortable environment with a first-class service. The resort is co-owned and run by the local Maasai community and comprises six exclusive bandas (lodges) built in the middle of a wildlife conservation area.

The accommodation is made from local materials, with water sourced from a natural spring and energy from solar panels. It is close to two waterholes so that guests can observe wildlife close-up in their natural habitat. Each room has a four-poster bed and open-air showers with three of the rooms also offering large platforms, where beds can be wheeled out for a night of star-gazing.

If simply lounging by the pool in the Kenyan bush is not enough, there are bush walks, mountain climbing, game drives and camel trips for the more adventurous. Guests are looked after by local guides who can organise picnic lunches for day trips, or drinks for a sunset outing.
Luxury and service are also the focus at Longitude 131, a resort situated atop a sand dune in the middle of the Australian desert. Up to 30 guests can stay in the 15 tents, each with its own private view of the magnificent Ayres rock, or Uluru as it is known locally. But this is not your typical campsite; each tent has everything a guest would expect from five-star accommodation including air conditioning, king-size beds; mini bar; CD player; private bathroom and robes. Guests can choose to dine in the resort's communal restaurant or arrange a private dinner for two under central Australia's clear skies.

The complex has been built with conservation of the area in mind. The tents are energy efficient and the environmental policy is award-winning. Longitude 131 aims to replicate a feeling of the pioneering spirit of early Australians by creating the illusion of camping—but with every comfort thrown in. Those who like to explore can take themselves on a self-guided bush walk, enjoy a trip to Uluru or a sunset tour of the sacred Kantju gorge. Staying at the resort for up to five nights would cost around £400 a night per person, based on two people sharing.

For travellers who break out in a sweat at the thought of a desert holiday, the Whitepod resort offers the same level of privacy and seclusion in the heart of the Swiss Alps. The resort is a small complex of eight eco-pods and, for £240 a night, guests can stay in a fully insulated shelter with their own bathroom facilities and breathtaking mountain views. This resort takes its environmental responsibilities seriously. The pods are heated by a wood-burning stove and lit softly by petrol lamps, furniture is made from recycled or sustainable materials and local producers and suppliers are used as much as possible. There is an emphasis on relaxation and rejuvenation at the resort, with a spa offering massages and other treatments, some of which you can have in your own pod.

But there is no shortage of activities to keep boredom at bay. Dog sledging is a popular choice, as is day or night skiing on the resort's private slopes. If that sounds too strenuous, make the most of the mountain views with a guided snowshoe walk.

Not every responsible holiday has to be as remote or extreme as the African bush or the desert. There are plenty of trips closer to home, from private seaside residences in Europe that boost local communities, to country hotels around Britain with good environmental management programmes.

For a short break, try a long weekend at the Reus Hotel, an hour north of Barcelona, Spain. The grand 1920s building has been restored and converted into 26 luxury rooms for guests looking for a more conventional break. The hotel has high standards of environmental management, which includes separation of recycling materials in all hotel departments and key-entry activated air conditioning sensors in all rooms. It supports the local economy, particularly the area's Hazelnut farmers though its Hazelnut Cuisine project and, in alliance with the most prestigious restaurants in the area, it buys produce direct from local farmers.

If you're looking for an unspoilt natural paradise, head for Cousine Island in the Seychelles. Privately purchased in 1992, and now a haven for the endangered Magpie Robin and Hawksbill turtles, the island has just four villas (in French Colonial style), built to fund the island's ecological restoration in perpetuity.

The advantage of staying here is knowing that, apart from the 16 staff and two full-time ecologists, just three other couples are sharing the island with you. This is as isolated as you will get anywhere on the planet-but with all the frills, from helicopter transfers through to gourmet meals. And guests can also participate in the conservation work that takes place on the island-this is one holiday where you can claim to leave the destination in better environmental shape than you found it.

Responsible tourism is still in its infancy and the chances are there might not be a suitable option at your destination of choice. But there are steps all travellers can take to help protect the environment (see panel, p52). At the Travel Foundation, a charity working with the tourism industry to promote sustainable travel, spokesperson David Weston says: "If you're staying in a hotel, don't get your towels washed every day. Turn off the heating or air-conditioning when you're not in the room and look at how much water you use, particularly in very dry countries." Weston also suggests asking your tour operator how sustainable the holiday is and how it supports the local community.

The toughest nut to crack remains getting to your destination in a greener way. The aviation industry claims it is cleaning up its act. And as Weston says: "The airlines are doing more than we think. There is a sustainable aviation strategy adopted by the industry that aims to make air travel 50 per cent more fuel efficient in 2020 than in 2000." But countering that is the fact that aircraft movements are set to double by 2020, and triple by 2030.

You could opt to go by rail, although it's often not practical. So until flying gets greener, holidaymakers will have to look to one of the carbon-offset schemes, or take fewer, longer breaks. But above all, relax-you're on holiday.

Top tips for responsible travel

* Ask your tour operator how green your hotel or resort is and what sort of environmental management programme it has

* Ask how the local community benefits from your visit

* Don't take your waste on holiday with you—take toiletries, cosmetics and sundries out of their packaging before you travel

* Don't be photographed with any wild animals such as bears, chimpanzees or birds—the animals are often removed from their natural environment and badly treated

* Don't buy products made from endangered substances eg coral, shells, starfish, animal furs, teeth or horns

* Don't waste energy or water—turn off lights, air conditioning etc when you're not using them and use water sparingly in dry countries

* Support local communities by booking excursions with local guides, buying products made in the country you are visiting and eating at local restaurants

* Offset the carbon you produce through travelling