Salford ranks as having most eco-conscious holidaymakers in England

Woman hiker raised hands enjoying Karacaoren lake view travel outdoor in Turkey.

Salford has seen the highest spike in searches for eco-friendly holidays, with a 25% increase. This suggests that a growing number of residents are concerned about their environmental impact when travelling.

Steppes Travel, which analysed new search engine data by examining average monthly searches for ‘eco-friendly holidays,’ ‘eco travel,’ ‘eco-friendly resort,’ and 2,582 related keywords, revealed that Salford experienced the biggest surge in England overall.

Plymouth came second with a 21% increase, whilst Coventry followed in third with an 18% jump in searches since 2022.

Wakefield and Wolverhampton rounded off the top five with a 16% and 15% rise, respectively.

Salford 25%
Plymouth 21%
Coventry 18%
Wakefield 16%
Wolverhampton 15%

A YouGov poll in summer 2024 found that 18–24-year-olds prioritised a greener world the most.

On average, 39% of this age group said that a fair amount of consideration goes into how their travel decisions will affect environmental sustainability.

Speaking on the findings Giles Cross from Steppes Travel said: “The rising interest in eco-friendly holidays reflects a growing awareness of sustainable travel, with more people prioritising the planet when planning their trips.

“This growth is encouraging, showing that responsible travel is no longer a niche preference but evolving into a mainstream movement; but it is wrong to focus only on the ‘eco’ side of things.

"Yes; travel, when done thoughtfully and considerately, can help protect planet and bolster biodiversity, but it can also empower communities, deepen understanding and assist in the better distribution of wealth.

“As travellers, we have the power to make choices—choosing eco-conscious destinations and experiences is a step towards a brighter future.”