The 2005 First Choice Responsible Tourism Awards

You can now see the Winners of the First Choice Responsible Tourism Awards 2006 here   The Awards are a collaboration between on-line travel agent responsibletravel.com who organise the Awards; UK media partners The Times and Geographical Magazine; and The World Travel Market who host the presentation event. The Awards are different from other tourism Awards in that winners are nominated by tourists. In 2005 we had over 700 nominations from readers of The Times, responsibletravel.com and Geographical Magazine. A shortlist of potential winners is then put forward to a panel of 12 experts judges who review detailed responsible tourism questionnaires submitted by those short-listed, and take up references. The central tenet of the Awards is that all types of tourism – from niche to mainstream – can and should be operated in a way that respects and benefits destinations and local people.  Read the full details of the winners The First Choice Responsible Tourism Awards 2005 here Download the latest version of Adobe Reader here "Responsible tourism provides more enjoyable and authentic holiday experiences that maximise the benefits of tourism to destinations and local people, whilst minimising any negative social or environmental impacts of tourism. I believe that this year has been a watershed as responsible tourism is being adopted by the wider tourism industry. The standard of entries to the Awards is higher than last year and demonstrates the advances being made by those at the forefront of responsible tourism." Dr. Harold Goodwin, Director International Centre for Responsible Tourism, University of Greenwich. Chair of the Judges.   Full list of First Choice Responsible Tourism Awards Winners 2005 Take a look at the award winners brochure and read interviews with the winners.   Overall winner: Tribes Travel Ltd One of the first tour operators (if not the first in the UK) set up specifically to promote holidays which benefit local people, wildlife and environment – particularly community tourism. Their outstanding contribution has been to show that it really is possible to make a valid and successful business in tourism whilst promoting local community tourism products. Contact details: Tribes Travel Ltd. Amanda Marks, Managing Director. (01728) 685971 Amanda@tribes.co.uk      Best Tour Operator sponsored by Intrepid Travel, given to the operator who has been deemed to act most responsibly towards the environment and local people. Winner: Tribes Travel Ltd chosen for their all round commitment to responsible tourism and in particular for their work in community based tourism Highly commended: Explore Worldwide Ltd and Traidcraft Meet The People Tours. Contact details: Tribes Travel Ltd. Amanda Marks, Managing Director. (01728) 685971 Amanda@tribes.co.uk Explore Worldwide Ltd. Fran Hughes – RT & Special Groups Manager. (01252) 760 200 franh@explore.co.uk Traidcraft Meet The People Tours. Paul Snedker, Director Saddle Skedaddle. (0870) 4441774 Paul@skedaddle.co.uk    Best Hotel sponsored by Active Hotels Winner: Nihiwatu Resort, Indonesia selected for its exceptional relationship with the local community. Highly commended: Bird Island, in the Seychelles and The Boat Landing Guesthouse, Laos. Contact details: Nihiwatu Resort. Claude Graves – Owner and Managing Director of Nihiwatu Resort and Founder and Managing Director of The Sumba Foundation (62) 361 – 757 149 claude@nihiwatu.com Bird Island. Guy Savy – Managing Director 00248 323322 bird@seychelles.net The Boat Landing Guesthouse. Bill Tuffin, Marketing Director +856-86-312-398 theboatlanding@yahoo.com   Best Mode of Transport or Initiative sponsored by Rough Guides Winner: Sustrans, who have been very successful in getting people out of their cars and in reducing CO2 emissions. Their national Cycle Network reached 10,000 miles in September 2005. Highly commended: The National Trust Greenway Garden Contact details: Sustrans. Joanna Hall, Marketing Manager 0117 915 1017 joannah@sustrans.org.uk The National Trust Greenway Garden Robyn Brown, Property Manager 01803 661901 robyn.brown@nationaltrust.org.uk Best in a Mountain Environment Winner: Guerba who have been recognised for their employment of local guides, and their porter protection policies in Kilimanjaro and the Inca Trail. Highly commended: Neilson and The Black Sheep Inn, Ecuador Contact details: Guerba. Ian Ripper - Director 01373 828302 ian@guerba.co.uk Neilson. Nancy Brock Responsible Business Coordinator nancy.brock@neilson.com The Black Sheep Inn. Andrés Hammerman & Michelle Kirby, Owners 593-3-281-4587 info@blacksheepinn.com Best in a Marine Environment Winner: The Venus Company who are a leading beach Café and shop operator. They have won this category by living up to their mission to be the greenest beach café and shop operator in Europe. Highly commended: Ionian Eco Villagers, Zakynthos Greece. Contact details: The Venus Company. Michael Smith 01803 770343 melverley@venuscompany.co.uk Ionian Eco Villagers. Madeleine Doggett & Yannis Vardakastanis 0871 7115 065 maddy@relaxing-holidays.com  Best for Poverty Reduction sponsored by Exodus , focuses on poverty reduction initiatives that help local communities in developing countries and provided a huge range of nominations from all over the globe. Winner: Association of Small Scale Enterprises in Tourism (ASSET) who have increased the income of poor Gambians by enabling them to become more productively involved in the tourism industry. Highly commended: Koiyaki Guiding School & Wilderness Camp, Kenya and Tourism in Ethiopia for Sustainable Future Alternatives. Contact details: Association of Small Scale Enterprises in Tourism (ASSET). Geri Mitchell: Chair of ASSET 00 220 4497675 geri@gamspirit.com Koiyaki Guiding School & Wilderness Camp. Ronald de Planta Beaton, Consultant & Facilitator 0735 408815 rekeroexpeditions@swiftkenya.com Tourism in Ethiopia for Sustainable Future Alternatives. Mark Chapman, Consultant to TESFA +251 1 14 05 83 / 23 38 40 chapman@ethionet.et      Best in a Protected Area/National Park sponsored by Airport Parking & Hotels Winner: Basecamp Mara, Kenya selected for its contribution to conservation and local communities, but in particular for the Maasai arts and crafts project empowering disadvantaged local Masai women to produce and sell traditional designs and materials Highly commended: South Hams District Council for Life into Landscape and The Lake District Tourism and Conservation Partnership Contact details: Basecamp Mara. Dr Lars Lindkvist, Executive Chairman +254722321409 lars@basecampexplorer.com Life into Landscape. Keith Rennells, Programme Manager 01803 861456 keith.rennells@southhams.gov.uk The Lake District Tourism and Conservation Partnership. Claire Stott, Partnership Manager 015394 34630 Claire@lakespartnership.org.uk   Best for Conservation of Endangered Species, sponsored by Peregrine Adventures Winner: Discovery Initiatives, a UK based tour operator who have actively used ecotourism to fund and support conservation worldwide. Highly commended: The Snow Leopard Conservancy & Himalayan Homestays Contact details: Discovery Initiatives. Julian Matthews, Managing Director 01285 643333 julian@discoveryinitiatives.com The Snow Leopard Conservancy & Himalayan Homestays Dr. Rodney Jackson, Director 001-707-935-3851 rodjackson@mountain.org Best for Innovation Award given to a business that shows particular innovation or entrepreneurship in responsible tourism. Winner: Whitepod who provide alternative means to explore the Swiss Alps. They have pods (dome shaped tents) pitched on raised wooden platforms and offer low impact accomodation in a pristine environment. Contact details: Whitepod. Sofia de Meyer +41 79 744 62 19 sofia@whitepod.com Best use of Technology Winner: The Centre for Alternative Technology (CAT), who have won for their commitment to ‘inspire, inform and enable’ people to live more sustainably. Highly commended: 3 Rivers Ecolodge, Dominica and Greenwood Forest Park (Green Dragon rollercoaster) Contact details: The Centre for Alternative Technology (CAT). Alex Randall, Funding and Development 01654 704959 alex.randall@cat.org.uk 3 Rivers Ecolodge. Jem Winston – owner / manager 1 767 446 1886 jem@3riversdominica.com Greenwood Forest Park. Stephen Bristow – Managing Director 01248 671493 sbristow@greenwoodforestpark.co.uk    Best Volunteering Programme sponsored by The Imaginative Traveller Winner: Rural Organisation for Social Elevation (ROSE) who have enhanced the health, education and quality of life for the rural poor in India by means of their volunteer based tourism programme Highly commended: Azafady Contact details: Rural Organisation for Social Elevation (ROSE). Mr Jeevan Lal Verma, Founder and Director 91 5963 241081, 241097 jlverma_rosekanda@yahoo.co.in Azafady. Mal Mitchell, Education & Fundraising Coordinator 0044 (0) 20 8960 6629 mal@azafady.org Best personal contribution, sponsored by Expert Africa, formerly known as Sunvil Africa. This award goes to a person who has contributed significantly to responsible tourism Winner: Jo Pope from Robin Pope Safaris in Zambia. Jo has worked tirelessly to promote responsible tourism in South Luangwa National Park in Zambia, in particular to support the local community and Kawaza village. Contact details: Jo Pope. +260 6 246090/91/92 jo@robinpopesafaris.net

You can now see the Winners of the First Choice Responsible Tourism Awards 2006 here