Best in a marine environment
An organisation related to a beach or other marine environment, such as turtle conservation or a marine eco-tourism trip. 2012
Winner: Moonraker Dolphin Swims, Australia
Moonraker Dolphin Swims offer the opportunity to swim with wild Burranan Dolphins and Australian Fur Seals, whilst taking steps to ensure the dolphins do not become habituated and remain truly wild. Port Philip Bay in Victoria is one of Australia's last remaining homes for this genetically unique family of dolphins.
The judges were impressed by their contribution to monitoring the populations and their health, and their strict interaction rules.
Highly commended:
blue o two, UK
Read more about our 2012 winners in the official Awards newspaper.
Previous winners
2011
Winner: Peninsula Citizens for Sustainable Development, Belize
"The Judges were impressed by this organisation's campaign for locally owned tourism development in the face of planned cruise tourism in the Placencia Peninsula of Belize. After uniting the community to preserve the authenticity of the Peninsula, they have continued to promote collaboration between local tourism organisations and the village council to proactively develop sustainable tourism."
Highly commended:
Coral Cay Conservation, Cambodia
Maple Leaf Adventures, Canada
2010
Winner: Matava, Fiji
"Matava is a beacon for responsible tourism and an example to other dive sites. They maintain a strong commitment to both the conservation of the marine environment and the development of the local Fijian community. All staff and dive guides are from local villages, they have signed an agreement with local villages designating three established marine reserves as 100% no-take zones, across large geographic areas, and even succeeded in getting marine conservation on to the Fijian National Curriculum."
Highly commended:
Coral Cay Conservation, UK
2009
Winner: Whale Watch Kaikoura, New Zealand
This 100 per cent Maori-owned whale watching operator has demonstrated the ability, at scale – they carry an impressive 90,000-100,000 passengers per year- to offer a very high quality whale watching experience from energy-efficient craft which have a very low impact on the marine environment, and provide ground breaking interpretation which enables passengers to understand what is happening below them. They are the largest financial contributor to the Department of Conservation’s research on the effects of marine mammal watching in Kaikoura, and demonstrate that marine tourism development can go hand in hand with the careful progress of marine conservancy.
Highly commended:
Blue Ventures, UK
Misool Eco Dive Resort and Conservation Centre, Indonesia
Camel Dive Club and Hotel, Egypt
2008
Winner: Ecoventura, Ecuador
For contributing scholarships for education, and developing micro-business for local women, converting a fishing boat into a restaurant and boutique providing alternative livelihoods for the wives of fishermen. Ecoventura was also among the first cruise operators to be independently environmentally audited.
Highly commended:
blue o two, UK/Egypt
Scottish Seabird Centre, UK
2007
Winner: blue o two
For developing a new business approach to diving in the Red Sea, in a highly competitive price-driven market demonstrating that responsible diving is possible for a mainstream business and establishing a way of doing business which is causing their competitors to become more responsible.
Highly commended:
Blue Ventures, UK
2006
Winner: Wakatobi Dive Resort, Southeast Sulawesi, Indonesia
Wakatobi's raison d’etre is to help the environment in an over-fished region where the reefs are being destroyed. Employing 150 people from the local community, they have created the Collaborative Community Based Reef Management Program whereby in exchange for direct payments to local villages, reef sanctuaries have been established. Today 12km of reef enjoys complete protection by the local community.
Highly commended:
Basata Ecolodge, Egypt
Dyer Island Cruises, Western Cape, South Africa
2005
Winner: The Venus Company
A leading beach cafe and shop operator. They have won this category by living up to their mission to be the greenest beach cafe and shop operator in Europe.
Highly commended:
Ionian Eco Villagers, Zakynthos Greece
2004
Winner: Chumbe Island Coral Park Ltd
Chumbe Island, near Zanzibar has funded a number of outstanding conservation and social programmes from tourism revenues.
Highly Commended:
Blue Ventures, UK
Sponsored by Tourism Fiji
Fiji, 'The Soft Coral Capital of the World', is made up of 333 islands surrounded by reefs and diverse underwater terrain. It is rated as one of the world's top ten dive destinations and is a South Pacific marine paradise famous for its white sand, palm fringed beaches, azure lagoons and exceptional reefs.
World famous marine biologist Jean-Michel Cousteau says of Fiji: "The unparalleled range of quality dive sites and sheer diversity of life of the reefs is overwhelming."
Tourism Fiji is dedicated to promoting and protecting this special, and in parts very fragile, marine environment and has long supported and actively encouraged sustainable tourism. Fiji Tourism's UK and Ireland representative, Jane West emphasises the importance of this work: "As a tourist board it is vital to educate all visitors to be both socially and environmentally responsible for the benefit of, most importantly, the Fijian people and future tourists to their wonderful country."
To help project the eco-systems, Tourism Fiji works with partners to conserve Fiji's marine biodiversity by encouraging guests not to remove items, especially coral, from the reefs and requesting they do not purchase souvenir products made from coral or endangered plants or animals.
Many of the country's leading resorts offer diving adventures. One of them, Matava, has just a won the Project AWARE Marine Environmental category at the PADI Asia Pacific Member Awards. The award rewards vision, excellence and pursuit of conservation to ensure the enjoyment of underwater environments for future generations.
A former winner of the same award is Dive Tropex Tokoriki, an owner operated PADI 5-star Dive Centre based at the exclusive Tokoriki Island resort . All the staff here have undergone accredited training in reef preservation and species identification and the company operates a strict 'No Touch' policy on all dives and actively promotes good conservation policy.
Tourism Fiji is also committed to promoting ventures and activities that are dedicated to responsible, sustainable tourism principles. Many visitors are attracted to the islands by eco-resorts that use natural energy and supply organic fruit and vegetables and to continue attracting these tourists, Fiji's natural resources need to be respected and maintained. Promoting sustainable tourism results in long-term economic, social and environmental benefits and will ensure the islands of Fiji remain as pristine as they are today.
