The vast majority of visitors to White Cliffs Country want to travel and holiday in a sustainable way, to support planet-friendly businesses and visit places that are environmentally conscious. Dover District Council has set out its vision for a cleaner, greener future in its Climate Change Strategy and we are committed to leading by example.
Research carried out by tourism bodies such as VisitEngland, England's Coast, Tourism South East and Visit Kent shows that visitors are keen to support environmentally friendly businesses and are prepared to pay a little more if they are confident that the service or product they are receiving is genuinely sustainable, rather than mere greenwashing. Taking steps to ensure your business follows sustainable practices and you are conscious of its impact on the planet can be good for business.
Step up your sustainability
The Visit Britain website provides essential information for hospitality businesses including getting started, links to useful resources from organisations such as The Travel Foundation, energy calculators, renewable energy options, calculating your carbon footprint, responsible water stewardship, cutting single-use plastic, and funding sources to help your business become greener.
Ten top tips
The National Coastal Tourism Academy's recent consumer survey showed that 86% of visitors said reducing their carbon footprint or making more sustainable choices on holiday was very (34%) or somewhat (52%) important to them. The NCTA website offers 10 useful tips on becoming more sustainable specifically aimed at coastal businesses.
Advertising your green credentials
Communicating with customers in a straightforward truthful way is essential and we highly recommend you read the Competitions and Markets Authority's Green Claims Code and adhere to it.
Listing your hospitality business on the White Cliffs Country website also gives you the opportunity to highlight the steps you are taking to be more sustainable. For example, your entry may show that you use locally sourced products, that you do not use single-use plastic, whether you have public transport nearby and so on. Make sure you tell us this information so we can help you advertise your green credentials. Please email VIC@dover.gov.uk with any additional information.