Tickets are now on sale for the UK’s first Travel Lottery, an exciting new initiative that gives people who love holidays a chance to win prizes, while raising vital funds to keep some of their favourite destinations special.

Tickets costing £2 are now on sale for the first draw at the end of March. Each ticket is a chance to win back the cost of their holiday in the form of a cash prize of up to £5,000.  Prize draws are monthly, with a guaranteed cash prize of at least £1,000 given away in each draw.

The lottery is the first of its kind for the travel industry, creating a unified way of fundraising that protects and invests in communities and natural environments in popular holiday destinations; from Cyprus to St Lucia and from Turkey to Thailand.

Customers will be able to buy tickets from travel agents and other companies when they book holidays and buy related products and services. Launch partners Midcounties Cooperative Travel and Holiday Extras will sell tickets for the first draw, and many more travel companies are expected to join them in the coming months. The aim is to sell at least 100,000 tickets and raise more than £50,000 for good causes in the first year.

Customers can also buy tickets directly from www.thetravellottery.co.uk, either for a single draw or by signing up to play regularly.

At least 50 pence from each ticket goes to projects run by UK charity the Travel Foundation which helps to protect what makes holiday destinations special: the environment, wildlife, history and culture. It also helps to tackle poverty by creating opportunities for local people to benefit from tourism.

Projects that will benefit from The Travel Lottery: 

Over the next five to 10 years it’s expected that many more projects around the world can be delivered thanks to funds raised from The Travel Lottery.  

Initially, the Travel Foundation will use funds to develop and grow its projects that show tourism at its best within destinations. 

In 2014, the charity's projects will include:

• Helping beach operators in Kenya earn a better living from tourism and provide hassle-free tours for holidaymakers to enjoy.
• Finding new ways to help local businesses grow and thrive alongside all-inclusive hotels in Cyprus.
• Supporting local communities in Jamaica and Turkey to create great tourism experiences whilst protecting the marine environment.
• Continuing to develop the business skills of Mayan women in Mexico so they can supply locally-produced honey products to hotels.

For more information visit www.thetravellottery.co.uk 

Ends 

For further information please contact: 

Ben Lynam          

tel: 0117 9307176          

email: ben.lynam@thetravelfoundation.org.uk