What is it?
In the context of tourism, transport is the movement of people from one place to another. It occurs via different modes from planes, trains and cars, to bicycles and walking.
All transport modes are important for tourism because they facilitate the movement of travellers to and from destinations and activities.
However, several transport modes, such as cars and planes, often use fuels which contribute to both climate change and pollution. As these methods of transport are commonly used by tourists, sustainable transport is a vital component of green tourism.
DEFINITION
Sustainable transport
Sustainable transport refers to supporting the mobility needs of a society in a manner that is least damaging to the environment and does not impair the needs of future generations.
The use of low-, or even no-, impact transport options (such as public transport, walking, bicycles, and electric vehicles) are crucial to realise sustainable transport.
Green tourism must seek to encourage and facilitate low/no carbon transport options.
Why is it important?
Encouraging or facilitating more sustainable forms of transport can have many benefits, both for the environment and for your business.
By promoting and enabling low impact transport options, your business is contributing towards reducing environmental damage.
The UK’s transport sector is responsible for contributing to climate change more than any other industry and is also a major contributor to local air pollution.
Therefore, developing and encouraging the use of sustainable transport options will help to reduce the ecological footprint of your customers.
There are also business benefits to promoting sustainable transport. Endorsing cycling and walking keeps customers in the local area which encourages them to spend locally, benefitting your wider community.
Facilitating low impact transport options can also improve your reputation and give you access to new customers. For example, providing electric vehicle charging points will be a draw to those with electric cars, while making your business cycle-friendly will attract cyclists.
How can I improve it in my business?
Five top tips to improve sustainable transport are presented below.
Facilitate low/no carbon transport for staff and customers
Provide amenities supporting cycling, such as secure, under-cover bike storage facilities, and sufficient online information for customers to understand how to arrive on foot, by bike or using public transport.
Try to incorporate local green transport initiatives too, such as Hirebike for Lincoln City, or VisitLincolnshire Bike Hire for the rest of the county.
Advertise local walking and cycling routes
Connect customers with walking and cycling routes by promoting them directly and highlighting where customers can look for themselves. You can find excellent resources that Visit Lincolnshire has put together on its website, such as Cycle Lincolnshire and Walking in Lincolnshire.
Several other entities also provide information on walking and cycling routes, such as Lincolnshire County Council for the whole county, Visit Lincoln for the County’s capital, Lincolnshire Wolds AONB for the Wolds, and both the Greater Lincolnshire Nature Partnership and the Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust for nature trails.
Utilise electric charging points
Keep an up-to-date list of nearby electric vehicle charging points for use by customers and staff wishing to travel by electric car.
Go one step further and install your own electric vehicle charging point on your business’s premises. This will help you attract customers seeking an electric vehicle-compatible holiday.
Offer rewards for using low impact transport
Encourage customers to use low carbon transport options by offering rewards to those who arrive without use of a non-electric private car.
For example, you could give discounts on things like food and drink or provide welcome hampers for those arriving via public transport, bicycle, or on foot.
Communicate the accessibility of your business
Provide detailed and accurate information on how to access your business such as the location, the length of route from the car to the entrance and path details (e.g. gravel, tarmac, level, slight incline).
A case study - Doddington Hall & Gardens
Who is Doddington Hall?
Doddington Hall & Gardens is a family-owned Elizabethan mansion, offering 24 rooms and an events venue for private booking. There are also walled gardens, a restaurant, café and shop open to the public. A converted farm and outbuildings support a variety of diversified enterprises, including farm and clothes shops.
What is the business doing?
The business is encouraging staff and customers to walk or cycle to the estate. It was part of a project to develop a new cycle track (named the Georgie Twigg Track after Olympic Gold medalist Georgie Twigg MBE, a village resident) which allows people to cycle or walk from Lincoln to Doddington safely. Doddington also offers all its staff and customers free, secure bike storage.
What can my business do?
Do you offer low or no carbon modes of transportation to your staff and customers? Consider setting up secure bike storage on your premises or liaising with Cycle Lincolnshire to find out the best cycling and walking routes nearby.
“We hope that visitors to the city will like the idea of hiring a bike and cycling out to Doddington whilst enjoying the countryside en-route or perhaps considering Lincoln as a great base for a cycling holiday”
James Birch, who runs the Doddington Estate with his wife Claire
#GreenTourism Lincolnshire
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