The Travel Foundation

Please take a look at the information below, and click on any of the highlighted names to link directly to each members website for further information.

The Association of British Travel Agents was founded in 1950 and is a founding member of the Travel Foundation. It is the UK's Premier Trade Association for Tour Operators and Travel Agents having more than 1700 member companies with 6600 outlets around the UK. ABTA has developed in-house expertise on responsible tourism and uses it's high profile within the industry and with consumers to encourage best practice, provide access to tools and raise awareness. The Association is a member of the DTI's Sectoral Sustainability Pioneers network as well as the European Commission's Tourism Sustainability Group.

The Adventure Company offers holidays and real travel experiences that enable their customers to see the genuine side of the countries they visit. They recognise that they are accountable for the way they affect the local community and environment in the areas in which they operate. Over recent years they have made great strides in ensuring that a Responsible Travel philosophy is incorporated into all aspects of their business and are working to make it a way-of-life in the company. Some of the things they have done include appointing a Responsible Travel coordinator, setting up a Responsible Travel team, introducing Responsible Travel elements into their trips, for example in-country projects, auditing all their trips in terms of how 'responsible' they are, linking up with charities and auditing their office energy efficiency.

The African Tourism Organisation is a regional tourism organisation that works with capacity building, the environment and revitalising and expanding destinations for sub-Sahara tourism.

AITO formulated a Responsible Tourism scheme a few years ago. It’s main aim is to invite all its members to engage in the responsible tourism process and encourage them to fulfil their commitment under the AITO charter to recognise their social and environmental responsibilities. 2002 saw the launch of an Awards scheme designed to enable all member companies, irrespective of the types of holiday which they operate, to strive towards Responsible Tourism as an attainable goal, and to gain recognition for their good practice. A condition of membership of AITO is a commitment to the values of responsible and sustainable tourism.

Amathus Holidays cater for a diverse range of upmarket holidays, aimed especially at the discerning traveller.

Andescapes has been operating as an Inbound Wholesaler Operator since the year 2000. AndeScapes advise suppliers (hotels, local tour operators, guides) on sustainable tourism and its practices and adheres to a policy of Sustainable Tourism / EcoTourism.

Ann Noon has worked in tourism for 12 years. She was head of press at the French Government Tourist Office for almost five years and prior to that was employed as a press officer at the Tunisian National Tourist Office. She has recently returned from Peru where she spent nine months volunteering at the Inka Porter Project, a not-for-profit organisation that campaigns for better working conditions for porters and animal drivers in the Andes, as well as improved environmental practice in the region. She is also a freelance travel writer who has contributed to The Independent, the Times Online, The Lady and other UK publications. For further information please email ann.noon@gmail.com.

Atkins Consultancy plan all aspects of their clients' projects, conducting feasibility studies and impact analysis covering technical, logistical, legal, environmental and financial considerations. They design systems, processes, buildings and civil structures. They develop cutting edge solutions and combine them with tried and tested technologies to achieve an optimal result. Atkins Environment also offers a full range of environmental risk assessment and risk management skills for the tourism industry.

Audley Travel are passionate about the countries they specialise in, therefore they try to maximise the economic benefits which tourism can bring to these countries, whilst trying to minimise the environmental and social impact. They have a comprhensive Responsible Tourism policy to implement best practice at all levels. They are committed to using locally owned hotels, guides, ground handlers where possible and are involved in using a number of specific eco-lodges with excellent priciples.