British abroad: 'The amount of frivolous travel is a problem'
Tuesday 06 February 2007
Latest in Green Living
On Facebook
The founders of Lonely Planet have condemned "frivolous" British travellers who fly to European cities with no real sense of purpose.
Tony and Maureen Wheeler, who started the global guidebook company after a pioneering trip across Asia 35 years ago, were speaking at the annual travel industry event, The Independent Conversation.
"The sheer amount of frivolous travel is a problem," said Tony Wheeler.
"Air travel is huge now, but where it's bad is out of Britain because of all these short-haul flights," said Maureen Wheeler. She cited in particular "people flying to Tallinn, to Prague for a weekend. They're not interested in the history, the background. They want to know where's the hip hotel? There's no curiosity there. It's just, 'Let's go somewhere new because we can.' The environment can't cope with that."
The couple buy into carbon-offset schemes to cover their own travel, and are working towards making Lonely Planet a carbon-neutral company.
The Wheelers also defended their publication of books on Burma. "The Independent wouldn't not report the news of Burma; we wouldn't not report the travel news on Burma," said Tony Wheeler.
To listen to Simon Calder's conversation with Tony and Maureen Wheeler click here
- 1 Sellafield faces nuclear option as overspending threatens plant's future
- 2 GM food banned in Monsanto canteen
- 3 10 best hiking boots
- 4 The world's rubbish dump: a tip that stretches from Hawaii to Japan
- 5 The 10 best commuter bikes
- 6 Cow 'emissions' more damaging to planet than CO<SUB>2</SUB> from cars
- 7 Animal Extinction - the greatest threat to mankind
- 1 Kate Allen: It's time for America to put an end to this shameful scandal
- 2 Spotify: 1 million plays, £108 return
- 3 Chemotherapy is 'safe during pregnancy'
- 4 Rhodri Marsden: What we like and what we don't like are often closer than you'd think
- 5 BBC to issue global apology for documentaries that broke rules
- 6 Lightning kills an entire football team
- 7 I was born to be a killer. Every night I see the Devil in my dreams
- 8 Henry does it his way, ending on a high note
- 9 Modern lovers: The 'sexual body warriors' and pioneers transforming 21st-century relationships
- 10 Redknapp hints at same old faces for England
Free trial of new Independent iPad app
Get your daily dose of the best of British journalism, sponsored by American Airlines
Win a three-week coastal jaunt
Spend three weeks exploring every nook and cranny of gorgeous Atlantic Canada.
Amazing restaurant offers
Three glasses of free champagne and a special menu at 46 top London restaurants.
Latest Independent competitions
Win anything from gadgets to five-star holidays on our competitions and offers page.
Commercial thought leaders
Watch the best in the business world give their insights into the world of business.
Career Services
Day In a Page
Apple admits it has a human rights problem
James Lawton: AVB looks all at sea
Procrastination: Not now – I'm busy
Silent revolution at the Baftas
The diva who had – and lost – it all




Comments