Travel Photographer of the Year 2009, an international photography award competition run by photographers for photographers, is now open for entries until 22nd September....
Read more >>
The United Nations has joined forces with the International Advertising Association and a coalition of the world's leading advertising, marketing and media agencies to launch Hopenhagen – a movement empowering global citizens to engage in the Dece...
Read more >>
EcoDater.com, an eco-friendly online dating site dedicated to green singles and members of the natural dating community has been launched...Read more >>
Austrian village, Längenfeld, has invited 200 visitors to stay for for three days during the first week of July and pay what they think their stay was worth when it’s time to leave....Read more >>
66% of leisure travellers now use the internet to plan their travels compared to only 35% in 2005, according to National Travel MONITORSM latest survey....Read more >>
Iceland’s recent financial crisis has boosted its image as popular travel destination according to Eye for Image agency....Read more >>
Washington, DC is the star this summer movie release of “Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian”, the action-packed sequel to the 2006 hit starring Ben Stiller.
...Read more >>
For those who want to avoid the holiday stampede and visiting usual suspects, adventure travel specialist Explore has compiled a list of top 10 tourist free destinations....Read more >>
An eco way to appreciate sharks in Florida Keys waters has been introduced involving a view only tour and no-shark feeding....Read more >>
Israel is promoting two nature festivals this March....Read more >>
The rare cao vit gibbon population has doubled in size according to census carried out in September 2007 by Flora & Fauna International (FFI) teams in China and Vietnam....Read more >>
Eighteen UK and international festivals have been announced as the first recipients of the Greener Festival Award 2008....Read more >>
The public will have the opportunity to see up to thirty spectacular canal-side private gardens in Amsterdam during the Open Garden Days.
...Read more >>
The latest Amsterdam City Vibes guide was released in March listing out over 100 cultural hotspots to explore....Read more >>
Do you know that it takes 17 weeks to remove chewing gum from Oxford Street, but only 10 days for it to be covered again?...Read more >>
Ashoka's Changemakers partner with National Geographic and Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to announce global online competitions -The Geotourism Challenge 2009 and Cultivating Innovation....Read more >>
Thousands of seafood-lovers will be flocking to West Wales for the 10th birthday of Pembrokeshire Fish Week, between 27 June and 5 July....Read more >>
Windsor and the Royal Borough will be marking the 500th anniversary since Henry VIII ascended to the throne at just 17 years of age starting this April....Read more >>
62 countries have signed up for WWF’s Earth Hour 2009 where people, businesses and iconic buildings around the world will switch off their lights for an hour in a global demonstration of support for decisive action to tackle climate change....Read more >>
Indie film festival, European Capital of Culture 2010, UEFA Cup 2009… Istanbul has a lot going for it as a tourist destination. The Optimist discovers what the city has been up to so far.
...Read more >>
Ski resorts across Europe have been blessed with more heavy snow after a relatively cold, dry spell over the past few weeks....Read more >>
Ethiopia has signed a €220 million deal with a French company to develop Africa's largest wind farm....Read more >>
A school renovation project in a Masai Mara township has inspired two business travellers, Amanda Annan and Sonal Kaddcha, to set up Educate The Children (ETC), a new NGO for underprivileged children in rural parts of Kenya.
...Read more >>
It’s the sound of a blue whale that makes the first impression. Waiting on the oily calm of the Saint Laurence river it’s the first thing we notice – a great rush and hiss as a colossal pair of lungs are emptied; a column of spume and stale air risin...Read more >>
In the last decade, over 1000 new species, equal to two a week, have been discovered in the Greater Mekong Region of Southeast Asia, according to WWF’s report First Contact in the Greater Mekong....Read more >>
Money raised for youth charities will help disadvantaged Hackney kids to have a better chance in life....Read more >>
'Tranquillity is a State of Mind' is the first project to be commissioned by sustainable transport charity Sustrans for its new artwork programme entitled 'Prospectives'....Read more >>
Ecuadorian government's decision to conserve an oil-rich area with the highest biodiversity in the world means tourism must step in to earn the income....Read more >>
The 14th London Turkish Film Festival, the world’s biggest film festival showcasing the cream of Turkey cinematic talents, will be held in London between 5th to 18th December.
...Read more >>
Eight out of 35 European cities have been shortlisted for the European Green Capital 2010 and 2011 titles. Three of them are from Germany....Read more >>
I scanned the past travel headlines as we are reaching the twilight of 2008; there were many gloomy stories – airlines going bust, soaring fuel price, economic downturn and climate change.
...Read more >>
Red Sea resort El Gouna prepares for its first batch of ‘green’ audits by the Green Star Hotel Initiative, which will take place in October 2008. ...Read more >>
This October sees the Ski Club of Great Britain and the Travel Foundation launch a new tool aimed at ski resorts and ski resort businesses to give them practical tips on how to make their business greener....Read more >>
Photography can do much to raise our awareness in the environment, says one of the judges of The Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2008....Read more >>
Travel specialist Journey Latin America has been awarded a 5-star Responsible Tourism status by AITO (Association of Independent Tour Operators) – the highest achievable....Read more >>
Florida Keys celebrates a century of conservation effort in November, demonstrating the region’s commitment to environmental stewardship....Read more >>
British environmentalist, David de Rothschild, will embark on "Plastiki Voyage" – a 7,500-mile journey from San Francisco to Sydney in a boat made of plastic bottles – to raise awareness of waste management issues....Read more >>
“The woman in my picture is returning home from the paddy field after a long day at work. She never thought that a village woman could be the subject of a photograph, so when I told her that I would like to take a picture of her, she just laughed.”...Read more >>
According to recent reports, the people of Andalusia finally have reason to breathe a sigh of relief - Europe's largest desert is seeing a reversal in conditions, with green areas increasing. This is a result of two factors: successful re-fores...Read more >>
Florida Key officials have confirmed that the mandatory resident evacuation order for Hurricane Ike has expired this week and will not be extended.
...Read more >>
Ojon Corporation, a Canadian beauty care company within the Estée Lauder Companies, has enlisted the help of the Rainforest Alliance in working with indigenous groups producing natural beauty products.
...Read more >>
The 2009 Sahara Marathon will take place on February 23rd to raise fund for humanitarian efforts and awareness on the Saharawi refugees' plight in the Western Sahara. ...Read more >>
Munem Wasif’s revealing images of the scarcity of clean, safe water on the people of Bangladesh headlines the launch of Prix Pictet 2009....Read more >>
Deputy First Minister Ieuan Wyn Jones is urging people across Wales to discover the country's beautiful landscape on two wheels at a double cycling celebration at the National Eisteddfod Maes....Read more >>
VisitBritain have enlisted the help of Royal Mail postmen and women to launch an exclusive guide to Britain. The postmen and women involved have revealed some of their favourite parts of the United Kingdom, via a series of vodcasts hosted on the Visi...Read more >>
The multi-million dollar tourist and recreation project aims to be both sustainable and profitable to the region....Read more >>
UNWTO is relaunching its "Protect Children Campaign” to help eradicate child labour and sexual exploitation in the global travel industry....Read more >>
An impressive line-up of 56 travel retail industry executives will be participating in the ‘Miles for Smiles’ fun run in Dubai on 22 November to raise funds for cleft charity The Smile Train.
...Read more >>
Award winning responsible travel tour operator, Hands Up Holidays, has recorded a noticeable spike in volunteer travel bookings from young professionals amidst the credit crunch furore....Read more >>
Walking is British no.1 recreational activity, environmental-friendly and the best way to improve health without hurting your pockets....Read more >>
Swedish capital, Stockholm, will be the first European Green Capital in 2010 with ambitious target of saying goodbye to fossils by 2050.
...Read more >>
European restaurants Moshi Moshi in the UK and Memento in Spain – have stopped buying Mediterranean bluefin tuna in response to fears of an imminent collapse of bluefin tuna stocks in the Mediterranean....Read more >>
On 25th October, active Londoners will be participating in a charity walk starting from Sloane Square to Trafalgar Square, in support of abandoned children of northern Uganda....Read more >>
Eco-fashion label Worn Again Virgin is introducing a unique range of bags made out of old Virgin Atlantic seat covers and other ingredients, including car seat belts, post-Glastonbury tents and bicycle inner tubes....Read more >>
India is in the spotlight after two films set in the country, Slumdog Millionaire and Smile Pinki, took home the Oscars for Best Picture and Best Documentary at the 2009 Academy Awards in Hollywood....Read more >>
The Guardian has awarded its Ethical Travel award to Paris Velib, the self-service bike-hire scheme launched in July 2007.
...Read more >>
Radical proposals to boost children’s health by creating car-free housing developments in Wales will be debated by Assembly Ministers, building contractors and architects....Read more >>
Ski businesses and resorts are being urged to become greener and more cost efficient with the help of a new campaign....Read more >>
US President Barack Obama, who took office last week, would direct the Environmental Protection Agency to reconsider a request by California to impose its own strict limits on automobile carbon dioxide emissions.Read more >>
Christopher Hill, founder and managing director of Hands Up Holidays has been announced as one of the Future 100 Young Entrepreneurs of the Year during Global Entrepreneurship Week 2008....Read more >>
BASH Creations believes companies can 'have fun' organising carbon-neutral events. CEO Joseph Tenzin Oliver speaks to The Optimist about a 'zeitgeist' that could influence the way the live entertainment indust...Read more >>
Tourists from the United States are set to increase as more Americans seek to explore the heritage of President-elect Barack Obama....Read more >>
Sensual Caribbean destination Puerto Rico has added agrotourism in addition to tropical beaches and salsa dancing as tourism attraction.
...Read more >>
Activist lawyers for a South Africa-based NGO, Natural Justice, have developed an innovative legal instrument called ‘biocultural protocol’ to enable indigenous San people to leverage their rights....Read more >>
Transport for London (TfL) will have 56 hybrid buses operating by the end of January 2009, establishing London as the home of the largest fleet of hybrid buses in the UK....Read more >>
Leading sustainable transport charity Sustrans is helping take the stress out of Christmas this year by offering a bumper selection of gifts through its online shop.
...Read more >>
Cycling continues to be one of the hottest travel trends at home and abroad, thanks to the huge successes of Vélib in Paris and Bicing in Barcelona....Read more >>
Inkaterra's latest book on orchids highlights the importance of preserving the cloud forest's biodiversity at Machu Picchu....Read more >>
Winning images of 44th Wildlife Photographer of the Year are to be unveiled at London’s Natural History Museum in October....Read more >>
Nissan has unveiled Nuvu, a green concept electric vehicle (EV) for the city of the future that’s even more crowded than today, at the recent Paris Salon....Read more >>
In the early nineties no one would have dreamt of a Nepalese woman guiding a trek, let alone an all-female adventure trek company. The Chhetri sisters did just that and never looked back....Read more >>
More than 180 Austrian guesthouses, campsites and mountain huts have achieved the Östereichische Umweltzeichen standard – Austrian Eco-label – a government run scheme which recognizes efficient waste and energy management.
...Read more >>
Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines has signed an agreement with UK-based Bio Driven, a start up company dedicated to the production of high quality, compliant bio diesel....Read more >>
Commercial aviation is set to become the first global transportation sector to voluntarily drive verifiable sustainability practices into its fuel supply chain through the Sustainable Aviation Fuel Users Group initiative....Read more >>
Buried in the tropical paradise of the Seychelles, the exclusive resort of Fregate Private Island has shown a way in which high-end holidays can integrate relaxation with conservation, offering a greener way forward for luxury tour operators. ...Read more >>
Intrepid Travel has launched 38 ‘Carbon Offset Trips’ in partnership with carbon offset provider, The CarbonNeutral Company, to help meet customer demands for travel that is less damaging to the environment....Read more >>
The Peun Pa’s community outreach programme at Khao Yai has initiated a fish farm project to help more villagers find sustainable means of income and turn away from poaching.
...Read more >>
Consumer can now discover 101 best ways to survive the spiraling cost of fuel and food bills on Froggybank.co.uk, the UK’s largest network of consumer loyalty cashback websites.
...Read more >>
Last year, 40,000 people visited Mount Everest's Chinese northern side, leaving 120 tonnes of rubbish behind.
...Read more >>
From 2012, airlines will need emissions permit to operate in the EU....Read more >>
The former Tearfund campaigns director takes over the role from Tony Juniper early this week....Read more >>
Gate Gourmet, the world's largest independent provider of airline catering and provisioning services has set an example to the wider business world by researching and implementing a series of green policies....Read more >>
Travellers seeking guilt-free vacations now know which countries protect human rights and environment....Read more >>
Stockholm is living up to its 'eco-cool' reputation by combining 21st
century sustainable lifestyle concept with the traditional Swedish
'allemansrätten' or 'freedom of public access' philosophy....Read more >>
Barely six months since its launch at the end of January, Optimist World has produced award-winning writing talent, with travel journalist Paul Glynn picking up the "Nature Writer of The Year 2008" award for BBC Wildlife Magazine....Read more >>
“Can a photograph help sustain the planet? It depends on the photograph.” These are bold words splashed on Prix Pictet homepage – the world’s premier photographic award in sustainability. ...Read more >>
The credit crunch and rising fuel prices have not deterred leisure travellers from continuing with their holiday plans this year....Read more >>
The past 40 years has seen a revolution in Thailand’s Northern Highlands. Once a corner of Asia’s notorious “Golden triangle”, the region and its people were trapped in a cycle of slash-and-burn agriculture, opium production and poverty. The loss of ...Read more >>
The Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) has introduced a Wikipedia-inspired web portal for travel and tourism bodies to share theory, best practice, links and resources related to sustainable tourism....Read more >>
The impact of tourism on the environment and the cultural heritage, and its possible contribution to peace will be discussed at a tourism conference in Brighton, UK....Read more >>
Hoteliers have voted Japanese tourists as overall the best tourists. German and British tourists tied for second place, followed by the Canadians and Swiss. ...Read more >>
Placido Domingo will be giving a one-off, charity performance at Chichén Itzá to commemorate the Mayan site’s 20th anniversary as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. ...Read more >>
Elding Whale Watching, the largest whale-watching operator based in Reykjavik, has replaced the oil-powered engine of its 130-ton cruise boat with hydrogen alternative....Read more >>
In the face of rocketing fuel price and climate change crisis, why not swap a car trip and go by foot, bike or public transport instead – or simply not make a trip at all – during the Change Your World week? ...Read more >>
Audience travel to live performances contributes significantly to the UK music industry’s carbon footprint. But the industry’s position as a cultural opinion leader means it has the power to lead the way in climate change action, says a study commiss...Read more >>
Venice urges visitors to use drinking fountains and cut down on bottled water consumption....Read more >>
Novotel Hotels Group has announced its commitment to the international environmental certification programme, Green Globe, to achieve certification of its worldwide network by 2010. ...Read more >>
The World Ocean Day in June will be celebrated by campaigners worldwide with a series of events ranging from coral transplantation, seafood-tasting, to a nude photo shoot on a naturist beach in England....Read more >>
You would be hard pressed to find them in big cities or even towns nowadays. But you can still observe and appreciate butterflies, dragonflies and moths native to the British Isles on one of the tours currently offered by Enterprise Io....Read more >>
Love your dog to bits but don’t like its travel-sickness spoiling your holiday plans? Drugs manufacturer Pfizer Animal Health has launched a website providing tips on how to deal with motion sickness in dogs, and how to spot the tell-tale signs of na...Read more >>
Make way for the "GGGs" or the Green Globetrotting Girls , a new breed of travellers leading the change in attitude towards alternative travels. ...Read more >>
They're finally here. Inflight connectivity using mobile phones and PDAs is now being offered by a number of flagship airlines. From March 2008, carriers such as Qantas, Turkish Airlines and V Australia are providing the 'AeroMobile' service – a safe...Read more >>
Most viewed stories
Travel Photographer of the Year 2009, an internati...
Read more >>
The United Nations has joined forces with the I...
Read more >>