ETA

An increase in the popularity of cruise holidays is partly down to their perception as relatively environmentally friendly, according to a travel agent.

However, Trevor Davis of The Co-operative Travel has claimed that while climate change might be a factor when people choose their holiday, he is not convinced that it is at the forefront of customers’ minds when they make a booking.

“I think we’ve a long way to go before the green message on holidays really sinks in. But certainly that is an added plus point of these kinds of holidays,” he added.

Mr Davis went on to say that people usually thought about enjoyment first when they planned to go abroad.

Earlier this week, Business Green reported that a “repressed” report on the environmental impact of aviation has warned total emissions for the sector will increase at a faster rate than had been expected in the years to 2025.

The report predicted total emissions would rise to between 1.2 billion and 1.4 billion tonnes, from 572 million in 2000.

A spokesperson for the Environemntal Transport Association said: “You might think that a ship would emit less carbon dioxide per passenger than a long-haul flight but in fact the opposite is true.

“It has been estimated that travelling to New York and back on the QEII uses almost 7.6 times as much carbon as making the same journey by plane.

“Furthermore, on a typical one-week voyage a large cruise ship generates more than a million tons of grey waste water, 210,000 gallons of sewage, 35,000 gallons of oil-contaminated water and 50 tons of rubbish.”

The ETA is a not-for-profit ethical organisation providing motorists with carbon-neutral breakdown cover and insurance products. As well as encouraging responsible driving to reduce carbon, the ETA campaigns for sustainable transport.