Travel companies are anticipating a greater focus on decarbonisation if Labour forms the next Westminster government, according to Carnival UK’s general counsel.
John Snyder, who spoke at Abta’s Travel Law Seminar on May 1, said the industry is trying to prepare for the prospect of heightened action on climate change following the general election.
“People are scrambling to speak to ex-Labour ministers to try to find out what policies Sir Keir Starmer is going to introduce,” he said.
Travel professionals expect Labour would ramp up efforts to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases, Snyder said. He added that Starmer’s party also appears to be mindful of the financial burden such an approach could present.
Growing numbers of travellers are thinking about the environmental impact of trips, Snyder suggested.
“Sustainability is increasingly going to be a consumer expectation and it’s probably the key challenge for travel businesses in the future,” he added.
Carnival Corporation & plc published its annual sustainability report at the end of April, with the data showing the company released its “peak emissions” in 2011.
Emissions released in 2023 were 10% lower, despite capacity having increased by 30%.
On business performance, Snyder said the US market has tended to be six to 12 months ahead of Europe in its post-Covid recovery, but he added that Europe is gaining ground.
“We’re beginning to see Europe catch up, so I think it’s a positive outlook,” he said.