Best for poverty reduction
An organisation that acts to reduce poverty among communities.2011
Winner: Robin Pope Safaris, Zambia and Malawi
"20 years of commitment to grass roots sustainable community development, like the successful Kawaza Village Tourism Project in Zambia, have distinguished Robin Pope Safaris as a pioneer in responsible tourism. Their contribution to local livelihoods in South Luangwa through education and business development has established an inspiring model that even now is being rolled out to Malawi, with the promise of similar laudable effect."
Highly commended:
Feynan Ecolodge, Jordan
Previous winners
2010
Winner: Nihiwatu, Indonesia
"Over 20,000 people living in 400 villages on the Indonesian island of Sumba benefit from Nihiwatu being their neighbour. 500 guests donating $400,000 annually at this remote 14-room resort support the Sumba Foundation in its remarkable work. Malaria has been reduced by 85% with at least 53 lives saved, five clinics looking after 18,000 people have been opened, and specialists have been brought onto the island to perform 263 life changing eye and 168 cleft palate surgeries. 14 primary schools are supported and the foundation has been able to bring clean water to the Sumbanese community as well as start a malnutrition project - with 327 children having benefitted so far."
Highly commended:
Kaliandra Foundation, Indonesia
2009
Winner: Guludo Beach Lodge, Mozambique
The work of Guludo Beach Lodge, through their charitable foundation ‘Nema’ has had an unprecedented and undeniably positive impact on the immediate community, working towards major improvements in children’s health care and education conditions. Their portfolio of projects in the local area is exhaustive, having improved school attendance by 350 per cent, providing access to safe drinking water for 15,000 people, supplying over 10,000 women and children with mosquito-nets, and working closely with the local community for the sustainable continuation of their projects by providing water committee training, hygiene and sanitation workshops and much more.
Highly commended:
Tribal Voice Communications, Kenya
Rekero, Kenya
2008
Winner: Gambia is Good Project, The Gambia
For demonstrating that it is possible for local farmers, 1,000 growers, 90% of them women, to produce 20 tonnes of vegetables and fruit in the tourism season to supply the tourism hotels and make a real contribution to the reduction of poverty in The Gambia – this is a local project of international significance.
Highly commended:
Jungle Bay Resort & Spa, Dominica
Stormsriver Adventures, South Africa
2007
Winner: Borana, Kenya
For making a sustainable contribution to the alleviation of poverty through generating employment, improving school facilities, funding a mobile clinic which reaches thousands of people and for innovative initiatives like “Hide and Sheep” which adds value to local products for the benefit of the economically poor.
Highly commended:
Guludo Beach Lodge, Mozambique
communitychallenge, UK
2006
Winner: The Ol Malo Lodge and Trust, Kenya
The Ol Malo Lodge and Trust is helping to eradicate trachoma in the Ol Malo area in Samburuland, where it affects over 80% of adults over the age of 30. Not only have they funded operations they are also training Kenyan ophthalmologists to undertake the operation themselves.
Highly commended:
Guludo Beach Lodge, Mozambique
Shinta Mani Hotel and Institute of Hospitality, Cambodia
The Blue Yonder, Kerala
2005
Winner: Association of Small Scale Enterprises in Tourism (ASSET)
ASSET has 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
Tourism in Ethiopia for Sustainable Future Alternatives
2004
Winner: The Calabash Trust
The Calabash Trust provides township tours in Port Elizabeth, South Africa and has brought significant benefits to township communities through tourism.
Highly Commended:
Makasutu Cultural Forest
Kahawa Shamba
Santa Lucia eco-lodge
Sponsored by Tourism KwaZulu Natal
Tourism KwaZulu-Natal is tasked by the Province to not only facilitate tourism programmes that meet the demands of the tourism visitor but also to grow tourism in a way that will bring economic benefits to all its stakeholders throughout the Province.
We believe that companies such as the eventual winner of this year's Responsible Tourism 'Best for poverty reduction' Award should be recognised as heroes and rolemodels for the future of our industry because they are the ones that contribute most to the transformation process and bring the benefits of tourism to the far flung communities and previously disadvantaged people on whom it can have the greatest positive and transformative impact.
