Articles
Tourists go green with cars instead of planes
Author: Rob Sharp
Source: The Independent
Publication Date: 18th May 2007
British families have traditionally flooded airport departure lounges every summer in an attempt to escape to sunnier climes. But research published yesterday suggests the trend has taken a downturn as holidaymakers prepare to take their holidays by car, motivated by the environmental impact of flying,
A fifth of Britons are planning a British driving holiday this summer, and 11 per cent intend to take their cars to Europe, according to a YouGov poll for the AA's loans arm.
Lloyd East, AA Personal Loans director, said: "This research further exemplifies the changes people are making to their car purchase and travel plans in order to decrease their carbon footprint."
Less than half of the 2,687 people surveyed were planning to take short-haul flights to Europe, while 3 per cent said they had cancelled their holidays completely because of worries over their carbon footprint.
One in five of those planning a driving holiday in this country are also planning to buy an environmentally-friendly car in the next 12 months. And over a fifth (21 per cent) of those considering a driving holiday on the continent intend to purchase a more comfortable car for motorway journeys over the coming year.
Those intent on caravanning are also showing signs of a green streak. Around 35 per cent of those planning a caravan trip told pollsters they were intent on buying a diesel vehicle in the next year, compared to 27 per cent planning to invest in a petrol car.
East continued: "[AA] reports have shown a consistent increase in the demand for more environmentally friendly vehicles over the past year."
A quarter of Scots surveyed said they intended to respond to environmental concerns by taking trips in the UK this year.
The population of the South-west was found to be the least concerned about its holidays' environmental effects, with just 11 per cent saying they were more likely to consider a holiday in the UK to reduce their carbon footprint.
The debate over whether to take flights has divided British holidaymakers from all parts of society. This week, the Duchess of Cornwall took a private plane to Greece, despite the emerging green credentials of Prince Charles. The Prince has pledged to publish details of his household's carbon footprint in his annual report and offset it.
Earlier this week, he called for UK industry to reduce carbon emissions, and called climate change "the number-one risk in the world, ahead of terrorism and demographic change. This year the Prince decided against accompanying his wife on the cruise in favour of staying at home at Highgrove.
Some environmentalists stressed that the trend released by YouGov should be consolidated by legislation to force holidaymakers to limit their flying trips.
Greenpeace UK's climate campaigner Charlie Kronick said: "Individual decisions to do the right thing are extremely welcome. The Government has always maintained that NGOs are ahead of the public on this, but apparently the public is well ahead of the Government. Now it is time for the Government to act to to limit airport expansion."
Added to the database on 22nd May 2007
Keywords: driving, holiday
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