The duke also called for tourism that supports local communities and protects the natural world.
Prince Harry playfully called out guests using their mobile phones during his recent appearance at the Wanderlust Reader Travel Awards in the UK.
Before the Duke of Sussex took the stage, a speaker had asked the audience to put their phones away. Harry soon noticed that guests were still holding them up.
“All I can see is phones. You guys, literally he just talked about it,” he joked.
During his speech, Harry also discussed Travalyst, the sustainable tourism initiative he launched in 2019. He explained that an industry reliant on the world’s extraordinary places has both a duty and a business incentive to safeguard them.
The duke said he founded the initiative because he believes travel can bring positive change. However, he stressed that tourism must benefit the people living in the destinations it serves. If it no longer works for those communities, he warned, it will eventually fail everyone.
Harry encouraged the industry to cooperate in protecting nature and helping destinations prosper. Working together, he said, would allow travel to keep generating economic opportunities, connecting people and encouraging exploration for generations to come.
The appearance follows Harry and Meghan Markle’s return to the UK in August after almost six years, for what was reported to be an extended stay.
