Tourists should be fed less meat. That’s according to the recommendations of the government backed organisation, the Green Tourism Business Scheme (GTBS). In an email newsletter to members across the South-West of the UK that offer tourism accommodation the GTBS said:
"This is a busy time of the year for many of our members and providing meals to visitors can make up a large slice of a business’s income. But have you considered the impact these meals may be having on the global environment, especially through using meat and fish on the menu?"
The GTBS gives credit for the provision of a significant amount of vegetarian options, as it is important for health and environmental reasons to encourage people to eat less meat.
We recognise that intensive meat production methods are responsible for a large amount of energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions, as well as being associated with deforestation to make way for growing grain to feed cattle.
So, why not try and encourage all your guests to eat less meat by providing more vegetarian options on your menu, or you could even follow the Belgium town of Ghent with a Meat-Free Monday campaign. As well as reducing your business’s environmental impact, your menu’s greater choice may well create more satisfied stomachs."
The recommendation has infuriated local farmers and some businesses in the region, but as GTBS spokesperson Jon Proctor says: "We’re not stopping them offering a nice farmhouse breakfast. We are simply raising the issue that, in some situations, it’s good to provide options."
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