Intrepid Travel, a leader in sustainable tourism, has unveiled a new plan to reduce carbon emissions across its operations and trips, including the elimination of flights under 90 minutes, where feasible, on its top itineraries by next year.
The company said that over the past year it has also introduced more than 40 low-carbon alternative tours, including new closer-to-home adventures and walking and cycling trips in the U.S., U.K. and Australia. And it is switching out carbon-intensive inclusions for more sustainable activities on a number of its tours.
Related: Intrepid's new tours: Upscale and socially responsible
"While reducing our carbon footprint has been a priority of our company for years, decarbonization is becoming increasingly central in our product design now. As an industry, we must look beyond offsetting, advocacy and administrative green practices to focus on where we can have the most positive impact -- our trips," said James Thornton, CEO of Intrepid Travel.
"Since the pandemic began, we've been passionately talking about the need for the travel industry to rebuild itself more responsibly. Now, we'retaking action."
Among the changes being implemented to reduce short flights, Intrepid said it has traded out internal flights with high-speed rail on the majority of its trips in China. In Cambodia, the usual flight between Siem Reap and Phnom Penh has been replaced by a boat ride up the Tonle Sap River on a new six-day tour that also includes a three-hour cultural tour from the disembarkation point through to SiemReap.
Update: This report was updated April 19 at 5:35 p.m. Eastern.