Tourism, leisure, cultural and hospitality businesses in Plymouth are being given the opportunity to showcase their sustainability credentials and environmental commitment through a new partnership between Green Tourism and Destination Plymouth.
The partnership will be launched at the Sustainable Tourism Conference on Monday 14 February.
Businesses that sign up to the programme will be given support to help them reach their sustainability goals, with the aim of gaining the internationally recognised Green Tourism Standard.
The programme includes a series of webinars with Green Tourism which will show businesses the benefits of enhancing sustainability practices to attract the rapidly expanding green-minded tourism and corporate events segment.
Adrian Vinken, Chair of Destination Plymouth, said: “This scheme is important on two levels – the first being Plymouth’s commitment as a city to become greener and more sustainable, and the second that internationally this is a growing sector of tourism with prospective customers actively seeking out more eco-friendly destinations and businesses. Participating in this scheme will give our local businesses the opportunity to demonstrate how seriously they are taking sustainability.
“Our free conference will give businesses a vital insight into the scheme itself and why it’s important, so I’d urge tourism, hospitality and leisure businesses to register and join us in February for a more in-depth discussion.”
Thanks to funding from the UK Government through the UK Community Renewal Fund given to the Plymouth Sound National Marine Park, administered by Destination Plymouth and Plymouth City Council, the first 100 Plymouth businesses to apply for the scheme will receive the first year of Green Tourism membership for free, with discounted fees for the following two years.
Leader of Plymouth City Council, Nick Kelly, said: “We want Britain’s Ocean City to be a leading destination for sustainable tourism and we want to help our local businesses as they recover from the pandemic, so it’s fantastic that this scheme will provide vital support to the industry.
“The scheme also supports our wider objectives to ensure we are protecting the incredible natural environment around us, especially the Plymouth Sound National Marine Park.”
Andrea Nicholas, CEO of Green Tourism, said: “In the wake of COP26 and Covid 19, sustainability has never been more important or higher in the mind of travellers and corporate buyers. We commend Destination Plymouth for taking action to both tackle climate change and support local businesses as they recover from the impact of the global pandemic. Through this partnership, Green Tourism will give local businesses practical support to help them progress on their green journey and meet the growing demand for sustainable accommodation and venues.”
The Sustainable Tourism Conference, which is being held virtually, will feature a number of other industry and sustainability speakers including:
- Andrea Nicholas, CEO of Green Tourism
- Professor Richard Thompson OBE FRS, Director of the Marine Institute at the University of Plymouth
- Roger Maslin, CEO of the Ocean Conservation Trust and National Marine Aquarium
- Adrian Vinken, Chair of Destination Plymouth
- Councillor Nick Kelly, Leader of Plymouth City Council
- Councillor Maddi Bridgeman, Cabinet Member for Environment and Street Scene at Plymouth City Council
The talks will be followed by breakout sessions which will give attendees the opportunity to explore different topics in-depth and discover more about how their businesses can become greener.
Find out more and register for the free online conference at www.visitplymouth.co.uk/sustainable-tourism-conference