Best engagement with people and cultures
A tourism organisation with an inspiring approach to protecting, conserving and promoting the cultural heritage and traditions of local people. Ever been on a holiday steeped in the local way of life? Taken a trip that put traditional living at the heart of the experience - whether it was traditonal reindeer herding and husky tours, rural farmstays with local farmers, or feltmaking and foraging in sweeping landscapes?
The engagement with people and cultures category seeks to award the diverse range of holiday experiences that take a local people and its culture and create a tourism experience which celebrates and fortifies those traditions for the future.
2012
Winner: South Nottingham College in Partnership with The Institute of Travel and Tourism of The Gambia
The judges were impressed by the strength of the partnership between South Nottingham College and the Institute of Travel and Tourism of The Gambia (ITTOG).
The South Nottingham College of Travel and Tourism curriculum team worked in partnership with local people to set up and run a vocational tourism education institute within the Gambia. This was staffed by Gambian students who were sponsored to study at the college in Nottingham, who subsequently returned to Gambia with the skills to train others.
Highly commended:
Uptuyu Adentures
Palestinian Center for Rapprochement between People - The Siraj Center, Palestine
Read more about our 2012 winners in the official Awards newspaper.
Best contribution to conserving cultural heritage
2011
Winner: Agri Tourism Development Corporation, India
"The Agri Tourism Development Corporation organise tourism experiences on working farms in India. By providing holiday experiences based on local agricultural traditions, this initiative is creating job opportunities for local farmers, allowing them to diversify their livelihoods whilst preserving their way of life. The judges were impressed by the replicability of the idea, and how this primarily domestic tourism experience was helping to bring Indian tourists back into rural communities."
Highly commended:
Nutti Sámi Siida, Sweden
"A small Sámi owned and operated ecotourism company based in the village of Jukkasjärvi in Swedish Sápmi, Nutti Sámi Siida provides cultural experiences based on the Sámi culture and the reindeer. The cultural experience, based on key Sámi methods and traditions, provide employment during quiet times in reindeer husbandry, and incentivise young people to stay in the area instead of moving to more urban areas, preserving the unique way of life as an enjoyable tourism experience."
2010
Winner: Booderee National Park, Australia
"Booderee is proof that a partnership between government and a marginalised community can work to protect cultural heritage through long-term conservation goals. The Park's Botanic Gardens is the only Aboriginal-owned botanic garden in existence. The judges recognised the partnership for preserving the privacy of the Wreck Bay Aboriginal Community within the sanctuary zone, and using tourism to the National Park for securing their livelihoods. With 430,000 visitors a year bringing in 1.2 million Australian Dollars and with 80% of the workers Indigenous and living within the park, the future plan for the community to take over sole management of the park alone is very real."
Highly commended:
Under the Thatch, UK
2009
Winner: Selena Travel LLC, Mongolia
In 2004 Mongolian inbound operator Selena Travel worked with the nomadic community in Tuv to found and establish a nomadic cultural festival, recognised by the Mongolian Ministry of Nature, Environment and Tourism in 2007. In 2008 the festival attracted 300 locals, nearly double the local attendance in 2007 and 65 international visitors. The festival, which would not exist without tourism, fosters the local culture. Selena Travel has worked with the nomads to develop itineraries around Gun-Galuut making a significant difference to local livelihoods.
Highly commended:
Rivers Fiji, Fiji
2008
Winner: Shigar Fort - Palace Restoration Project, Pakistan
For the sensitive restoration of this historic building and its development as a hotel which has placed the property once again at the heart of the community as a cultural and economic asset bringing employment, microenterprise opportunities, and social and cultural empowerment for local men and women.
Highly commended:
Andaman Discoveries, Thailand
2007
Winner: Andaman Discoveries, Thailand
For putting people first - recognising that the best custodians of cultural heritage are the people. They have worked with communities to empower them and to create a sense of place, identifying what villagers see as important, and using this information to develop tourist activities and make productive relationships with the industry.
Highly commended:
Go Native America, USA
Intrepid Travel, Australia
Winner: South Nottingham College in Partnership with The Institute of Travel and Tourism of The Gambia
The judges were impressed by the strength of the partnership between South Nottingham College and the Institute of Travel and Tourism of The Gambia (ITTOG).
The South Nottingham College of Travel and Tourism curriculum team worked in partnership with local people to set up and run a vocational tourism education institute within the Gambia. This was staffed by Gambian students who were sponsored to study at the college in Nottingham, who subsequently returned to Gambia with the skills to train others.
Highly commended:
Uptuyu Adentures
Palestinian Center for Rapprochement between People - The Siraj Center, Palestine
Read more about our 2012 winners in the official Awards newspaper.
Previous winners
Best contribution to conserving cultural heritage
2011
Winner: Agri Tourism Development Corporation, India"The Agri Tourism Development Corporation organise tourism experiences on working farms in India. By providing holiday experiences based on local agricultural traditions, this initiative is creating job opportunities for local farmers, allowing them to diversify their livelihoods whilst preserving their way of life. The judges were impressed by the replicability of the idea, and how this primarily domestic tourism experience was helping to bring Indian tourists back into rural communities."
Highly commended: Nutti Sámi Siida, Sweden
"A small Sámi owned and operated ecotourism company based in the village of Jukkasjärvi in Swedish Sápmi, Nutti Sámi Siida provides cultural experiences based on the Sámi culture and the reindeer. The cultural experience, based on key Sámi methods and traditions, provide employment during quiet times in reindeer husbandry, and incentivise young people to stay in the area instead of moving to more urban areas, preserving the unique way of life as an enjoyable tourism experience."
2010
Winner: Booderee National Park, Australia
"Booderee is proof that a partnership between government and a marginalised community can work to protect cultural heritage through long-term conservation goals. The Park's Botanic Gardens is the only Aboriginal-owned botanic garden in existence. The judges recognised the partnership for preserving the privacy of the Wreck Bay Aboriginal Community within the sanctuary zone, and using tourism to the National Park for securing their livelihoods. With 430,000 visitors a year bringing in 1.2 million Australian Dollars and with 80% of the workers Indigenous and living within the park, the future plan for the community to take over sole management of the park alone is very real."
Highly commended:
Under the Thatch, UK
2009
Winner: Selena Travel LLC, Mongolia
In 2004 Mongolian inbound operator Selena Travel worked with the nomadic community in Tuv to found and establish a nomadic cultural festival, recognised by the Mongolian Ministry of Nature, Environment and Tourism in 2007. In 2008 the festival attracted 300 locals, nearly double the local attendance in 2007 and 65 international visitors. The festival, which would not exist without tourism, fosters the local culture. Selena Travel has worked with the nomads to develop itineraries around Gun-Galuut making a significant difference to local livelihoods.
Highly commended:
Rivers Fiji, Fiji
2008
Winner: Shigar Fort - Palace Restoration Project, Pakistan
For the sensitive restoration of this historic building and its development as a hotel which has placed the property once again at the heart of the community as a cultural and economic asset bringing employment, microenterprise opportunities, and social and cultural empowerment for local men and women.
Highly commended:
Andaman Discoveries, Thailand
2007
Winner: Andaman Discoveries, Thailand
For putting people first - recognising that the best custodians of cultural heritage are the people. They have worked with communities to empower them and to create a sense of place, identifying what villagers see as important, and using this information to develop tourist activities and make productive relationships with the industry.
Highly commended:
Go Native America, USA
Intrepid Travel, Australia
Sponsored by Oman Ministry of Tourism
The Sultanate of Oman's Ministry of Tourism is committed to safeguarding and enhancing cultural, natural and heritage values, and ensuring that all forms of tourism are conducted in a sustainable way.
The Ministry has adopted the Sustainable Tourism principles developed by the United National World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO 2003 onwards and including the Muscat Declaration on Built Environments for Sustainable Tourism 2005), and encourages Oman's tourism businesses to adopt UNWTO and related (e.g. ISO and IFC) guidelines and standards, and contribute to the wellbeing of local communities through community, social and environmental programs.
In planning and developing infrastructure and services, consideration is given to social and environmental values, as well as to precautionary and preventative principles.
The Ministry has prepared a Development Control Plan Framework to guide development and to enhance the long-term sustainability of the tourism industry.
In restoring and managing heritage forts and castles, as well as managing reserves and attractions, the Ministry gives priority to the needs of, and opportunities for, local communities.
In marketing Oman as a destination for responsible tourists, promotions, campaigns and advice to visitors highlight Oman's heritage, cultural and natural values. Where possible, marketing collateral is produced using recycled paper and bridgeable inks.
The Ministry is now formulating a Responsible Tourism Policy.
The Oman Ministry of Tourism is a proud sponsor of the 2010 Responsible Tourism Awards.
