The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) announced the shortlist for the 2005 Tourism for Tomorrow Awards…
The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) announced the shortlist for the 2005 Tourism for Tomorrow Awards. The Awards, until last year under the auspices of British Airways, recognize and promote best practice in tourism development all over the world.
The finalists were selected from over 90 applications from 30 countries representing the full spectrum of Travel & Tourism enterprises, large, medium and small. Mandip Singh-Soin, Founder & Managing Director of Ibex Expeditions in India and member of the finalists` selection committee said, The number of excellent applications submitted for review was inspiring. I am delighted to be part of the Tourism for Tomorrow Awards which will raise the profile of role-model companies and encourage others to follow suit. Martha Honey, Executive Director of The International Ecotourism Society and also a member of the finalists` selection committee added, The entries received this year were of a particularly high standard which made the selection process very difficult. However, it is encouraging to see how many companies are committed to developing tourism in a responsible way all over the world. The finalists for each of the four categories are, in alphabetical order:
Destination Award
Chugchilan and Black Sheep Inn – Ecuador
Jurassic Coast – United Kingdom
Rinjani Trek Ecotourism Programme – Indonesia
Conservation Award
Cooperativa de Santa Lucia de Nanegal – Ecuador
Damaraland Camp – Namibia
Manda Wilderness Project (including Mchenga Nkwichi Lodge) – Mozambique
Investor in People Award
Cook-up with Kamamma at Dreamcatcher – South Africa
Conservation Corporation Africa – Southern & Eastern Africa
Grupo Plan, Haciendas del Mundo Maya – Mexico
Global Tourism Business Award
Casuarina Beach Club – Barbados
Tiamo Resorts – Bahamas
Xel Ha – Mexico
During the next phase of the judging process, each finalist will be visited by a WTTC / Tourism for Tomorrow representative in person to ensure that the high standards outlined in initial applications are indeed being met in practice. The winners of each category, selected by the Panel of Judges, chaired by Costas Christ, CEO of Bar Harbor Maine Chamber of Commerce and an internationally recognized expert on sustainable tourism, will be announced during a special ceremony at the Gala Dinner of the 5th Global Travel & Tourism Summit in New Delhi, India on April 8.
Jean-Claude Baumgarten, President, WTTC said WTTC is delighted to be presenting the 2005 Tourism for Tomorrow Awards during the Summit. The theme for this year`s Summit is `Realizing the Potential` and the Tourism for Tomorrow Awards will honour the destinations and organizations that are truly realizing the full social and economic potential of our industry. It is particularly fitting that the Awards are taking place in India, one of the world`s fastest growing Travel & Tourism economies where the industry really does have the potential to create very many jobs, enhance livelihoods and help to protect a particularly wide variety of natural environments.
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