VisitBritain is set to start a green hotel accreditation scheme in order to help promote green tourism, the Independent has reported.
The move followed research by charity the Travel Foundation that showed a majority of Britons would prefer to visit hotels with green credentials than with stars to show for service.
Only four per cent of travellers surveyed would rather stay at a five star hotel than a four star with better green credentials.
VisitBritain will set up a grading scheme similar to Scotland's Green Business Tourism Scheme (GBTS), to give accreditations to environmentally friendly hotels.
The tourist board expects to roll out the new scheme as soon as next year.
But there are concerns that without the establishment of a proper independent body the accreditation system will have little meaning and possibly be misleading.
According to watchdog Tourism Concern there is already an increasing problem with 'greenwashing' as there is no proper definition of what being 'eco-friendly' means, and there are worries that consumer confidence in the term might be damaged.
Make sure your travels are as eco-friendly as possible and that to be covered with the appropriate
travel insurance – call or check online for great value deals from
InsureandGo.