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VISIT THE TTG SUSTAINABLE TRAVEL HEROES HOMEPAGE
At Intrepid, we know that creating sustainable travel experiences isn’t a nice-to-have, it’s a necessity. We’re more conscious than ever of the immediate action that needs to happen in our industry if we’re to make meaningful and significant change. Late last year, we announced our new Climate Action Plan which outlines key initiatives we are prioritising that will create urgent, positive change.
We launched a Climate Action Fund, in which we redirect $2million AUD each year from offsets into practical, immediate emissions reductions. This will include things like switching our owned and leased vehicles to EVs, investing in renewable energy in our hotels and offices and sourcing lower-carbon fuel alternatives for transportation. The fund also enables us to help our suppliers decarbonise, in ways such as providing loans to purchase EVs in India and Nepal and installing solar panels in homestays in places like Cambodia.
In addition, we introduced a new lifestyle emissions target that will account for the full environmental footprint of our travellers, including flights. We announced an 8% carbon intensity reduction target by 2030 which covers the full lifecycle of travel – including flights booked directly by customers to get to and from their trips. This means by 2030, the average emissions per trip will be 8% lower than today. One way in which we plan to achieve this is by investing in and growing domestic and short-haul travel, which in turn means fewer long-haul flights, and promoting more rail-based itineraries as well as hiking and walking tours.
We have never shied away from the uncomfortable truth that the travel industry contributes to the climate crisis. Yet, we also believe that travel, when done right and responsibly, has an important role to play in having a positive impact on communities around the world. We know that no individual company can solve the climate crisis, but what we can do is ensure that we champion sustainability across every aspect of our business, and that is what we are committed to doing.
In 2026, we will continue to work with our partners and agents to help equip them with the right messaging and promotions to promote more domestic and closer-to-home travel, tours with less impact such as walking, hiking or rail-based trips and tours with a focus on supporting indigenous communities.
For some, there is still a stigma associated with the words ‘sustainable travel’ – people worry it means having to compromise on comfort or it'll cost them a lot more. We know this isn’t at all the case, so it’s up to travel companies and agents to explain that sustainable travel actually enhances your trip and gives you a more fulfilling and memorable experience.
Take rail trips for example – travelling by train is one of the best ways to see a country. You’re able to stop off in smaller villages and meet people in remote parts of the country that you wouldn’t if you took internal flights between big cities. You also save more time travelling by train – you don’t have to factor in getting to the airport hours before a flight or travelling to airports out of the city centre. It’s a win-win for sustainability and for the overall holiday experience.
There are so many elements of sustainability, it can be hard to know where to start when speaking to customers. To support our agents, we’ve created a suite of practical tools designed with agents in mind to help communicate responsible tourism more easily. For example, our new ‘Ambassadors for Nature’ guide – developed in partnership with the University of Tasmania – provides rich insights on itinerary design, storytelling and traveller engagement, so agents can sell experiences with genuine purpose, not just standout features.
After a very successful fam trip to Switzerland in 2025, we are excited to announce that we are hosting another FAM trip in 2026 – this time, to experience the true meaning of 'slow travel’. Travelling with a small group of like-minded agents, and led by one of our best leaders, you will get to discover the true joy of slow travel. It’s not just about a lighter footprint, it’s about going deeper into the culture, experiencing community-led tourism, and with an exciting twist at the end (all to be revealed soon)! Agents will leave with incredible stories to tell – and hopefully a newfound love for travelling at a slower pace.
WATCH THE HIGHLIGHTS OF INTREPID’S 2025 FAM TRIP TO SWITZERLAND BY RAIL
