Travellers Willing to Pay Green Premiums

In a study commissioned to coincide with the Johannesburg Earth Summit, it was found that eight in ten British travellers would be willing to pay to offset the environmental impact of their flights, car rental and accommodation.

The study showed that, given the choice, more than three quarters (77%) of travellers would pay to offset the carbon-dioxide emissions from air travel (at a cost of £7 a flight); nearly four fifths (79%) would do the same for car rental (at £1 for a one-week rental); and nearly nine out of ten (86%) would do so for a hotel room (at a cost of £1 per night).

People who have rented cars over the last two years prove to be the most enthusiastic group, being more willing than other travellers to pay to offset flights, car hire and hotels.

Over three quarters (78%) of the British public have not heard of, or know nothing about, the Earth Summit. Business travellers were more informed, with more than a quarter (28%) having heard of the summit.

MORI interviewed a representative quota sample of 989 adults aged 15+ in 196 sampling points across Britain. Interviews were conducted face-to-face, in-home, between 8-13 August 2002. Data are weighted to the known national population profile.

All articles 2006-22 written and edited by Mel Crowther and/or Nick Thomas unless otherwise stated.

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