By William Coleman
Taking the caravan and motorhome abroad for a quick weekend or even a couple of weeks has become a lot more popular over the past 4 years. What with the price spikes in flights, accommodation and package holidays more and more youngsters are taking the caravan instead. But what does this mean for the environment?
Recent studies have shown that the carbon footprint of overseas tourism is three to four times higher than it was previously estimated, not good news for the tourism world or the actual world.
A stat that shocked me was that as of 2019 the above info actually counts for around 8% of global carbon emissions, but what does this mean for the caravan and motorhome owners?
Not for a second should you think about reducing your holiday times or destinations. There is a solution which should have little impact on you but massive positive impact on the environment.
Changing Holiday Habits
By making a few alterations to the way in which you take your trips you can actually reduce your carbon footprint by around 980kg per trip.
According to Away Resorts, who sell luxury caravan and lodges, it’s simple, and they have created a carbon footprint calculator to prove it.
Change of Location
Passionate about both staycations and the environment, Away Resorts used their calculator to compare a list of popular overseas family holidays to their favourite UK destinations.
Results showed on average domestic holidays can help reduce your carbon footprint by 490 Kilograms each way, which is the equivalent to heating a UK holiday home for 79 days.
Kate Watts, Holiday Home Sales Marketing Manager at Away Resorts, said: “As people have become aware of their carbon footprint, they are making the decision to cut down their impact by flying fewer times a year or choosing to holiday in the UK exclusively.”
Investing in the UK
Increasingly, the term ‘Fly shame’ is being used by travellers who feel guilty as they knowingly contribute to climate change. Many have taken action, such as committing to going air-free in 2019 and investing in trips closer to home.
Dr. Arunima Malik, Lecturer in Sustainability, says: “Air travel contributes significantly to emissions from tourism. Flying less is definitely a greener option.
Negative impacts of air travel come not just from flying, such as the consumption of fuel and the upstream supply-chain impacts of the production of fuel, but also from the expansion of infrastructure, such as airports that are often carbon-intensive.”
So, when you look to book your next holiday why not check out Away Resorts’ calculator and find out how you can reduce your carbon footprint by staying in the UK.
