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Mar 3 2008
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Holidaymakers 'still prioritise price' |
The environment is an increasingly pressing issue for many travellers but affordability is still the number one concern, an industry expert has claimed.
According to Sean Tipton, a spokesman for the Association of British Travel Agents (Abta), most members of the public would say they would be more likely to book villa holidays or other types of trip with a company with sustainable policies.
However, the downfall of this sector of the market is that is seen as more expensive, Mr Tipton claimed.
"If you ask someone if they are concerned about the environment it is unlikely they will say no, [but] from a customer's perspective it is price that's driving them," he said.
The Abta spokesman also disputed the argument that the tourism sector is unconcerned with its effect on the environment, saying that it is in the industry's best interests to maintain naturally beautiful locations such as Tuscany and Provence.
"The industry is very concerned about the damage it does to the environment, the reason being that if you look at the kind of places customers are sent to there's a very simple reason they became popular in the first place - they are very beautiful places," he said.
"It makes good economic sense that the industry does its best to ensure that as little damage as possible is done."
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