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Green travel 'is still an important issue'

Date added: 14th August, 2009 at 10:35
(view all articles from August, 2009)

Categories: Tourism, Fortaleza, Natal

Despite the recession, people are still opting to take environmentally-friendly holidays in Brazil and other countries.

Although it was predicted that millions more people would opt to stay in the UK this year thanks to a better summer, the revised prediction from the Met Office for an unsettled August has meant that this is now not the case, according to the Association of Independent Travel Operators (AITO).

Spokesperson Ian Bradley highlighted a flurry of holiday bookings in the past two or three weeks as people hurried to ensure they would get a fortnight of sunshine.

He remarked: "People wanted late bookings. People are panicking and thinking: 'I thought it was going to be great, it's not, get me out of here'."

Indeed, a new report from Visa Europe has found that 21 per cent of Britons are planning to take more holidays than they did last year, with over a third intending to take at least two breaks. The majority said they would be jetting off for a beach-based holiday.

Moreover, Wanderlust and AITO found that people are concentrating more on the experience of their break than on the price, with destination more important than the impact it will have on the family's finances.

However, British people need not feel that having a great holiday has to cost a fortune. Krissy Roe from responsibletravel.com said that eco-friendly breaks don't have to break the bank but will allow people to see a more authentic view of their destination.

"It isn't normally more expensive to eat in local restaurants, shop in local markets, stay in locally owned accommodation and travel in a more thoughtful way," she pointed out.

Brazil could be the ideal location to take a greener holiday this year. According to the Brazil Travel Guide, its hotels and other forms of accommodation are largely very affordable, but also relatively luxurious.

It particularly recommends the resorts on the north east coast for travelers looking for a tropical paradise.

"Beach resorts near Rio or southward are fine, but they aren't truly tropical or so preserved or exotic as those surrounding Bahia, Recife or Fortaleza," the guide commented.

There are also a number of opportunities for volunteer work in Brazil, with charitable organisations offering activities ranging from house building to taking care of species on the beaches or in the forests.

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