10 June, 2008: The vast majority of British travellers could not care less about the environment and are more concerned about the cost of their holiday, a new survey reveals.
Only one per cent of Brits consider the environment to be their top priority when booking a holiday, according to the YouGov poll.
They also do not consider their carbon footprint to be as important as cost - with 43% saying money talks when it comes to picking a holiday.
The majority of the 2,091 people polled did not see looking after the planet as their top priority, with 23% of 18-24 year olds relegating a trip’s carbon footprint to the bottom of their concerns.
Roger Masterson, founder of travel website celticcastles.com, which commissioned the research, said: “With climate change never far from the headlines I was taken aback by how unimportant the environment is to those seeking a break.
“I’m confident, however, that we will start to see a shift towards sustainable tourism, with people thinking more about their environmental impact and reducing carbon emissions by holidaying closer to home.”
Cultural attractions emerged as a draw, with 17% of men and 14% women considering them a top priority.
The poll also showed tranquillity and weather are holiday pluses, while more than one in four people cited a destination’s popularity with fellow Brits as the least important consideration when booking.
Scottish holidaymakers are the least concerned about cost when booking a trip, and more likely to pick a destination for its cultural attractions, according to the survey.
Masterson added: “There is no doubt that most consider quality, affordability and culture to be important when booking their break.
“The recent increase in air fares and the hassle of heightened security at airports could also be the catalyst for people deciding that holidaying closer to home makes economic and environmental sense.
“We are undoubtedly starting to see an increase in British bookings. The internet has likewise opened up a lot of destinations in Britain that holidaymakers weren’t previously aware of – it is now as easy to find information online about castles in rural Scotland, as it is about hotels in Spain.”
The Halifax-based company provides accommodation in 85 castles in the UK, Ireland and France.
