'£100 tax on short-haul flights'

There is no such thing as an "ethical" or "responsible" holiday. So says Mark Ellingham, founder of the Rough Guides, whose remarkable counterblast against modern travel was reported last night.

Comparing our current addiction to what he called "binge-flying" with the damage caused by the tobacco industry, he said: "We must encourage travellers to travel less and neutralise their carbon footprint through offsetting.

"It is hard to say the positive impact travelling has can ever outweigh the damage done by simply travelling to the destination."

According to The Observer, Mr Ellingham wants a £100 green tax on all flights to Europe and Africa, and £250 on flights to the rest of the world. He also urges investment for a low-carbon economy and a moratorium on airport expansion.

He said: "The tobacco industry fouled up the world while denying it as much as possible for as long as they could. If the travel industry rosily goes ahead as it is doing... we are putting ourselves in a very similar position to the tobacco industry."

Mr Ellingham, who also publishes green books such as the Rough Guide to Climate Change, said the deal he has made with himself is to restrict himself to one long-haul and two or three shorter flights each year.

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