Britain in global spotlight as a sustainable visitor destination in run-up to COP26 Summit and beyond
With the COP26 Summit beginning in Glasgow, Scotland on Sunday 31 October, 2021, VisitBritain is taking the opportunity to promote Britain’s sustainable tourism offer across international markets.
VisitBritain’s latest international consumer research showed that more than two-thirds of travellers surveyed across 13 countries are thinking more about sustainability and the environmental impact when planning holidays.
In the run-up to COP26, VisitBritain has built a global sustainable tourism content ‘hub’ for visitors with itineraries, activities and experiences to enjoy a sustainable stay in Britain.
To support the overseas travel trade, VisitBritain is hosting webinars to promote sustainable tourism and is highlighting greener modes of transport such as rail related itineraries and products.
VisitBritain Deputy Chief Executive Patricia Yates said:
“The COP26 Summit and the accompanying media exposure gives us a timely and valuable opportunity to highlight how visitors can enjoy a sustainable and responsible stay in Britain, from eco-friendly accommodation to dark sky reserves, from sustainable fashion and locally sourced food and drink to epic train journeys and cycling routes.
“Many businesses and organisations in our sector are already putting sustainability at the heart of what they do and we want to support visitors and our global travel trade partners to find products and experiences that will enrich their stay. And we hope people will then stay longer, travel more widely using low-carbon transport and to explore out of season.”
VisitBritain has set out its priorities to aid the recovery of both domestic and international tourism*, including rebuilding a more resilient, sustainable and accessible industry supporting the UK Government’s ambitions set out in the Tourism Recovery Plan. It’s recently published Sustainable Tourism discussion paper sets out its approach, from championing regional dispersal and low carbon transport, sharing resources and best practice with businesses to working with the trade on itineraries that support sustainable and responsible tourism.
VisitBritain is also using COP26 to promote major events next year which are set to be significant global tourism draws including HM The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee, the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games, and ‘UNBOXED: Creativity in the UK’ 2022 - to promote the UK's creativity and innovation to the world.
Below find responsible and sustainable tourism story ideas from across Britain to consider during COP26 running 31 October – 12 November 2021:
- COP26 Host City Glasgow, Scotland: discover an urban sanctuary connected with nature
- 22 ways to travel sustainably in Britain in 2022: Whether you swap planes for trains, or substitute bus trips for bike tours around London, even the smallest change can make the biggest difference
- Discover some of Britain’s most sustainable accommodation options
- London’s Green Hotels
- Back to nature experiences and accommodation: Reconnect to nature in 2022 and look for ways to reclaim health, protect the environment, and travel in harmony with the planet.
- Alternative Road Trips: From sustainable ways of getting around to slow tourism, check out our top picks for an alternative to the traditional British road trip.
- Electric car driving routes in Britain’s Countryside: England’s The Lake District and Northumberland regions and the Scottish Highlands
- The Caledonian Sleeper night train: access Scotland’s sustainable travel experiences by rail from London
- Explore Britain’s cities on two-wheels: Brighton, Bristol, Cardiff, Edinburgh, London and Manchester
- Discover sustainable fashion in Britain: eco-friendly shopping through ethical clothing brands, vintage apparel and recycled goods
- Coastal Cornwall, England’s sustainable traditions: a bio-diversity and ecological research hub
Discover more ideas, check out the VisitBritain COP26/Sustainable Tourism content hub at: https://www.visitbritain.com/au/en/sustainability-and-cop26
For more information contact Kristen Angus: Kristen.angus@visitbritain.org
*Tourism is a critical industry for the UK, usually worth £127 billion a year to the economy and VisitBritain continues to also work with the industry to spread the economic and social benefits of tourism more widely, driving visits right across the year and across the nations and regions, supporting local economies.