Concerns about the impact that our modern lifestyles are having on the environment are causing more and more of us to make greener choices from reducing the amount of water and energy we use to buying ecological cleaning products and recycling our waste.

This is especially true in the way we now think about travel and holidays. Increasingly, people are taking account of how their holidays affect the environment and are looking for ways to continue enjoying the planet's many beautiful destinations without putting those very destinations in jeopardy.

Tour operators are responding to this challenge by making significant changes to the way they operate and offering customers an increasing range of eco-friendly travel options. For example, Thomson, the UK's largest travel agency, has introduced two initiatives aimed at reducing travellers' carbon emissions and achieving more sustainable tourism.

The company has started replacing older, heavier aircraft with cutting-edge commercial carriers that are less noisy, more fuel efficient and designed to significantly reduce emissions. Another eco-strategy has been the introduction of Green Medals, which Thomson awards to hotels that have achieved high standards not only in terms of energy efficiency and sustainability but also staff well-being and impact on the local community.

With changing consumer attitudes, green travel is now a top priority for tour operators, which is good news for customers, good news for eco-friendly destinations and, most importantly, good news for the environment.

- See how to be a greener traveller