PRESS RELEASE: Reviving tourism industry though sustainability & environmental initiatives
For Immediate Release, October 2020.
As tourism destinations and attractions struggle to recover from the crippling effects of COVID-19, the ability to identify a point of difference and demonstrate shared values with consumers is more critical than ever.
The City of Glasgow, known as Scotland’s cultural powerhouse and host of the 2021 UN climate talks, is working to position itself as one of the world’s most sustainable and resilient places to do business, live, and visit. Glasgow will be assisted with this endeavour through a partnership with Australian company and international sustainability leader, EarthCheck, who will assist the city to benchmark its environmental and social performance, enabling the city to deliver higher standards of health and hygiene in a COVID-19 recovery environment.
In becoming the UK’s first EarthCheck certified destination, travellers will take comfort in knowing they are spending their hard-earned tourism dollars in a destination that values the environment and sustainability, while ensuring an exceptional standard of health and hygiene.
“Becoming an EarthCheck Certified destination will add value to the way in which we market Glasgow as a lifestyle destination” said Councillor David McDonald, Deputy Leader of the Council and City Convener for Culture, Vibrancy and International Co-operation.
“Working with EarthCheck will help us to monitor and improve sustainability and promote our achievements, as well as learning more from the best in the world,” he said.
Stewart Moore, Founder and CEO for EarthCheck, noted that “Hygiene, general visitor safety, cleanliness and sustainability can be expected to be front and centre in the forward travel and leisure plans for all visitor markets as we move into a reset and recovery phase where travel restrictions and physical distancing is gradually relaxed.”
“Business operators now need to offer services and experiences in a consistent, safe and sustainable manner which not only meets individual government regulations but the heightened expectations of travel and consumer markets,” he said.
The EarthCheck Sustainable Destinations and EarthSafe program provides Glasgow with a scientific framework to benchmark, certify, and continuously improve their environmental, cultural, social and economic performance. Most importantly, EarthCheck will also help the destination to navigate its way forward in a post COVID-19 tourism and travel environment.
A city’s EarthCheck certification, not only assures travellers they will be protected from the threat of COVID-19 but provides a point of difference to leverage in marketing activities – communicating with travellers that the city shares their values of protecting the environment and promoting a sustainable future.
ENDS
EarthCheck is the world’s leading business advisory group specialising in sustainability and destination management for the travel and tourism industry. EarthCheck’s holistic approach to responsible tourism and its world leading science, enables destinations and operators to benchmark and certify their performance with confidence and surety. Earthcheck.org
