Travel Weekly Blog

So the dust has settled on Travel Rants vs the ABTA Travel Convention, which saw the popular consumer blog arguing that the event should be held in the UK.

Both Kevin at Travolution and I argued from the opposite position. What did I take from it all?

What I stand by

If you happily fly, and don't intend to stop, I fail to see what you gain from ABTA 'setting the example' of not flying.

Nor do I accept that flying to a travel event is morally worse than flying for leisure. Both do damage, neither is strictly speaking necessary; the fact that one is more fun is irrelevant.

We could push this point further: holidays account for a vast number of flights per year, while travel events account for a number so small it is almost negligible.

The important point is that both holidays and travel events suffer if confined solely to the UK.

What I think it comes down to

Based on the above, we are in this rather familiar position: we all derive benefits from flying, and don't want to give it up. But we accept that it does damage.

Where do we go from there?

We must talk about mitigating the effects of flying, and not demand the travel industry leads the way to a stay-at-home world none of us wants to live in.

In one of my comments I said, "leading by example means demonstrating that sustainable travel is possible." I think this points towards some common ground.

What I concede

Replying to a comment on this blog, I went further:

If the argument was whether these events could look for more innovative ways to mitigate their effects on the environment, I wouldn't have a problem with that.

It's the job of the industry to demonstrate that travel can be force for good, and you don't make that point by staying at home. However, I do think you could argue that the industry isn't making that point well enough.

And a pat on the back

My final reflection, and the nicest: I liked the way the debate on Travel Rants was conducted.

I always do - Darren's a good host - but this was a particularly hard-fought debate, and its politeness in the face of strong disagreements does Darren and his readership great credit.