Thomson Airways Funds Thirsty Planet

By Tui Uk Ltd, PRNE
Monday, May 16, 2011

LUTON, England, May 17, 2011 - Thomson Airways has announced that in just three years, sales of 'Thirsty
Planet' bottled water have raised over GBP142,000 towards Pump Aid, the
charity that aims to provide clean water for underprivileged communities. In
this time Pump Aid has built over 4,000 Elephant Pumps, bringing water
supplies to at least an estimated 350,000 people in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Thomson Airways first started working with 'Thirsty Planet' in November
2007
and have since sold millions of bottles of their water. For every bottle
of 'Thirsty Planet' water sold onboard, five pence is donated directly to
Pump Aid. This money is used to help people living in some of the poorest
communities in Africa to gain access to clean water, funding the digging of
wells and the installation of easy-to-maintain water pumps in more than 200
villages in Zimbabwe and Malawi.

Carl Gissing, Director of Customer Services for Thomson Airways said:
"We'd like to thank all of our customers who have contributed to this
extremely worthy cause. This incredible achievement is only possible because
of their generosity. Hopefully, initiatives like World Water Day will draw
attention to the work of charities like 'Thirsty Planet' and mean that even
more people can be helped."

Working with Thirsty Planet is just one of the many partnerships that TUI
UK
undertakes as a part of a broader sustainable tourism strategy. As, well
as working with hotels to save water by asking them all to sign up to minimum
sustainability standards, the company also works closely with 'Just a Drop',
a charity that works on sustainable water and sanitation projects worldwide,
agreeing last year to a partnership involving a pledge of GBP100,000.

About Pump Aid:

Pump Aid was founded by three teachers, Ian Thorpe, Amos Chitungo and
Tendai Mawunga who were living and working in rural Zimbabwe. After
witnessing so many of their pupils and friends become ill and die from unsafe
drinking water, the teachers took it upon themselves to find sustainable
water solutions and better sanitation provisions for their local communities.

About Thomson Airways:

Thomson Airways is part of the TUI Travel PLC Group of companies - the
UK's leading leisure travel company. Thomson specialises in sunshine holidays
(www.thomson.co.uk/editorial/features/sunshine-holidays.html), package
holidays (www.thomson.co.uk/package-holidays.html) and late holiday
deals (www.thomson.co.uk/late-deals/late-deals.html). It is also
committed to sustainable tourism, as evidenced by its 'holidays forever'
(www.holidaysforever.co.uk/thomson/) ethos.

Customers expect the travel companies they deal with to have the highest
standards of business practice and accountability. First Choice is registered
with the Association of British Travel Agent (ABTA), fully bonded by the
Civil Aviation Authority under Air Travel Organisers' Licence (ATOL) and part
of the Federation of Tour Operators.

    PR contact:
    Grace Jones
    TUI UK Ltd,
    Wigmore House
    Wigmore Lane
    Luton
    LU2 9TN
    +44(0)1582-648725
    www.thomson.co.uk

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