In his closing remarks at the AITO Overseas Conference, AITO chairman Derek Moore proposed the establishment of a think-tank to help the travel industry respond to climate change and present coherent public messages on the issue and help travel industry professionals discuss climate change with customers.
"Climate change, climate crisis, climate emergency, whatever you call it, it will be an issue which will stick around beyond all issues of today," Mr Moore told delegates in Wroclaw.
He said there was no travel industry body leading the way in developing strategies to deal with climate change, facilitate discussion and communicate with consumers as well as the media: "In the absence of such a body, I am making a proposal for AITO to set up a think-tank to engage the issue."
"How do we react when we are challenged by a customer?" Mr Moore asked the audience, in reference to the ongoing discussions at the conference about growing awareness of climate change among customers, particularly younger travellers, as well as the trend of flight-shaming. "How should we respond to adverse criticism? Consumers will challenge us and we need a considered response."
"We want to engage as many people as possible inside and outside the travel industry such as civil servants and airlines," Mr Moore said.
He said that AITO plans to hold the first meeting to establish the think-tank "after the election, when the dust has settled".
"AITO members should be justifiably proud of putting together great products," Mr Moore said, adding that AITO members should be "justifiably proud to be at the forefront of tackling climate change."
