Prince Harry lashes out at tourists as he pleas with public to save 'heart' of travel

By Emily Ferguson, Royal Editor

Prince Harry talks about the travel industry

Prince Harry has made a surprise appearance at the annual general meeting of Travalyst - an initiative he launched in 2019 with the aim of making the travel industry more sustainable.

Speaking via videocall from his Montecito mansion, the Duke of Sussex demanded action to save the "beating heart" of the travel industry while calling on tourists to look after the environment's that they visit.

He said it was crucial that the industry did better by the local communities in popular travel destinations or there risks being no tourism business at all.

Harry said: "Travel and tourism relies on destinations, held together by communities, without which we have nowhere to travel to.

"Communities are the beating heart of travel, and we must do better by the people who are the custodians of the places we visit."

Prince Harry has said it's crucial the travel industry does better by local communities (Image: Travalyst)

Travalyst is an independent non-profit backed by major tourism industry companies including Google, Booking.com, TripAdvisor, and Expedia, which aims to help travellers to cut their carbon emissions, prevent over-tourism and develop local economies.

Harry, like his father and brother, is a prominent eco-campaigner but faced accusations of hypocrisy for his work with Travalyst due to his propencity for taking gas guzzling private jets.

The Duke defended the criticism and said he only did so when he needed to ensure his family's safety.

MORE FOLLOWS...