WASHINGTON, DC – The US Travel Association, the national nonprofit organization representing all components of the travel industry, announced the formation of its new Sustainable Travel Coalition, which will focus on developing strategies to drive sustainability in the U.S. travel industry.
The Sustainable Travel Coalition, which currently has 60 member organizations, will serve as an advisory body on sustainability issues and concerns among its member organizations and destinations, and will include a policy committee to help drive progress and collaboration.
“As we’ll see at this fall’s Future of Travel Mobility Summit, sustainability is informing business leaders’ decisions, corporate strategy and travelers,” said Tori Emerson Barnes, executive vice president of public affairs for the US Travel Association. “Travel and tourism companies and organizations are already taking steps to reduce waste, lower emissions, protect natural environments and transition to more sustainable sourcing. But to accelerate and enable greater investment in this area, our new coalition can speak with one voice to policymakers to advance investment and create a sustainable travel culture for generations to come.”
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US Travel announced some of its long-term goals, including highlighting the importance of sustainability and its critical role in the future of travel, and highlighting industry advancements by showcasing innovative technologies.
“As technology advances and consumers demand more sustainable travel options, the work of this coalition will ensure the U.S. travel industry can meet the needs of a changing marketplace while protecting our planet’s natural resources,” Barnes said.
Other objectives include identifying and promoting proactive policies to help the industry achieve its goals.
Tourism Industry Calls on Congress to Act
More than 100 travel organizations, including groups within the Coalition, also recently sent a letter to Congress calling on the federal government to advance some of the following sustainability priorities:
- A tax credit for the production and use of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), such as those proposed in the Sustainable Skies Act (HR 3440/S. 2263).
- An enhanced tax credit to increase the availability of charging stations for electric vehicles.
- An enhanced tax deduction to increase energy efficiency improvements in commercial buildings.
- Federal investments to protect and restore natural attractions, including recreational waterways, shorelines and national parks.
- Additional clean energy incentives to invest in renewable energy deployment, green hydrogen, carbon capture and storage, direct air capture and other innovative technologies to reduce the carbon intensity of transportation fuels and the electricity grid.
“This is clearly an issue that goes far beyond the travel industry itself and touches virtually every other sector of the U.S. economy,” Barnes said. “By bringing together stakeholders from related industries, we are aligning travel, transportation and technology leaders on the critical issues that will impact their businesses in the decades to come.”
Contact Tori Emerson Barnes at (202) 408-8422