ABTA is encouraging its members to take a new free online training – an introduction to sustainability. The training is designed for people who work in travel but aren’t sustainability experts. It sets out what sustainability means in travel and tourism, why it is important and what action can be taken.

Following on from ABTA’s Tourism for Good report, the aim of the training is to help increase knowledge and understanding across the sector of the sustainability agenda. It will also help people identify the role they can play – however large or small – in developing a more sustainable industry.

The training covers the fundamentals of sustainability in travel, looking particularly at four areas such as managing environmental issues, destination management and local impacts, respecting human rights and managing animal welfare.

This training is suitable for people in any role in travel, from marketing and communications to product and sales, across travel agents, tour operators and the wider industry. Susan Deer, Director of Industry Relations at ABTA – The Travel Association said: “No matter what your job is in the travel industry – whether you work in customer service or product development, are a travel agent or tour operator – we all need to have an understanding of the industry’s sustainability agenda. To truly achieve a sustainable travel industry, sustainability needs to be integrated into all parts of the business and all employees aware of the issues and the action needed. We designed this course to help those with little knowledge on sustainability and travel to become more informed.”