In this issue’s cover story, “Desert Daze” (page 14), we look at some of the most unique and pristine desert landscapes in the world. These spots might not be your typical vacation locales, but for clients interested in getting off the beaten path and experiencing raw and wild nature, these are bucket-list-worthy destinations.
Despite the hard and desolate surroundings of the desert, the environment itself is often quite fragile, so it’s imperative that any travel here is done in a responsible way.
In general, I’ve been encouraged lately by the speed with which companies and individuals are willing to adapt their behaviors to benefit the environment. When an issue is identified, many companies respond much more quickly than they have in the past. For example, consider the issue of single-use plastics: In a relatively short period of time, we have seen several major travel companies announce that they are changing the way they use these products.
For instance, The Travel Corporation (TTC), under the guidance of its nonprofit TreadRight Foundation, has initiated a Multi-Year Plastics Elimination Strategy. The goal of the program is the complete elimination of single-use plastics across all of TTC’s travel brands. With 1.9 million travelers hosted annually across the company’s brands, it is projected that this effort has the potential to eliminate millions of tons of plastic.
Why is this important?
According to a statement from the company: “It’s estimated that 8.8 million tons of plastic pour into our oceans every year, on top of the more than 5 trillion pieces estimated to already be littering the oceans at this moment. The World Economic Forum predicts that if nothing is done to push back against the deluge of plastics currently overwhelming our oceans, there could be more plastic in the oceans than fish by the year 2050.”
Of course, it’s not just the oceans that are affected by our garbage — deserts, along with other fragile ecosystems, face serious threats. That’s why it’s especially heartening to see large companies such as TTC step forward and make a positive change. It’s another example of our industry showing leadership on the issues that will affect travel for generations to come.
