Best in responsible tourism writing
Awarded for an article or piece of writing making a unique and inspiring contribution to understanding issues in responsible tourism. Commenting on the decision to introduce the category in 2011, Alexander Lyons, Manager of the Responsible Tourism Awards said:
"The writing category provides an opportunity for our Judges to recognise the great wealth of writing making substantial contributions to the way we understand responsible tourism. Increasingly, the role of literature, journalism, and writing online are playing a big part in sharing ideas about responsible tourism and inspiring us to change the way we travel. We're excited to have the chance to celebrate some of the most inspirational and innovative pieces of writing taking our message into the mainstream."
2012
Winner: At home with the Himba by Emma Thomson
The judges particularly liked Emma Thomson's account of her homestay with the Himba and the makeover she had while dressed as a Himba woman. A colourful and engaging piece without being preachy, the article explains why this more responsible form of tourism makes such a better tourist experience. On the day before she leaves she is ogled by some tourists, and to quote from her article "for a brief moment, I catch a glimpse of life on the other side of the fence."
Highly commended:
In Search of an Alternative Palestine by Gail Simmons
Salt of the Earth by Caroline Eden
Read more about our 2012 winners in the official Awards newspaper.
2011
Winner: Tourism must tap into the water issue, by Catherine Mack
"Originally appearing as part of her 'Ethical traveller' column in the Irish Times, Catherine Mack's thought-provoking piece impressed the judges for bringing attention to the issue of water consumption for travellers. Something of a rarity in travel journalism, the piece is praised for offering an honest view of an overlooked and yet considerable tourism issue, highlighting it clearly to the travelling mainstream."
Extract: "Water is a human right. In July this year, the United Nations declared that “Safe and clean drinking water and sanitation is a human right essential to the full enjoyment of life and all other human rights”. Not something most of us want to think about on holiday, really. However, with water so very central to tourism, and tourism so very central to world economies, the two are inextricably linked..."
Read the full article on Ethical Traveller. Follow @CatherineMack on Twitter.
Highly commended: Sicily's First Eco Village Blooms, by Gail Virginia Simmons
Extract: "Sant'Ambrogio is tucked away in the crook of a hill behind the city of Cefalù on the north coast of Sicily. It's only five kilometres away from town, but feels like a different century. Cefalù is an ancient fishing port clustered round its great Romanesque cathedral, but it has largely succumbed to bucket-and-spade tourism, with much of its Sicilian character under wraps during the summer. In Sant'Ambrogio, however, life continues much as it has for the past 500 years. Old men still sit in rows on the benches in the little piazza, while their wives gossip on the doorsteps."
Read the full article on the Guardian. Follow Gail Simmons on Twitter.
Highly commended: Telling the stories of their land/World's Oldest Tour Guides, by Nick Haslam
Extract: "But recent state government efforts to increase indigenous involvement in the hospitality sector are beginning to pay off. In 2006, Tourism WA set aside AU$1.5million (£839,000) over five years to train indigenous people in the hospitality and tourism sector throughout the state.
For Jennifer Duffecy, Tourism WA industry development executive director, the training scheme has benefits at several levels: ‘For many Aboriginal people, engagement with the tourism industry means much more than earning an economic livelihood. It builds pride in showing the world a living culture, provides jobs and role models, and maintains cultural and social values. The Aboriginal tourism industry presents great challenges but offers even greater rewards, not only for Aboriginal people, but for the state in the point of difference it offers.'"
Read the full article on Geographical. Follow Nick Haslam on Twitter.
comedian, actor, writer and television presenter
"Getting to know more about each other remains one of the most important hopes for the peaceful future of the planet. If we are really to understand each other better, then we need to be reminded to travel carefully and thoughtfully, listening to people along the way and respecting the world we are privileged to travel through.
The Responsible Tourism Awards are one of the most important ways in which we can understand how to travel better."
television presenter and New York Times bestselling author
"The Responsible Tourism Awards focus attention on travel firms that are providing us all with amazing trips that make a difference to a local community while still protecting the environment and our planet. And they remind us that responsible travel is not only better for our world, it’s also more interesting and memorable. Responsible tourism is the future of travel."
Read the full interview.
travel writer and novelist
"In the past, awards were given for Best Meal, Best View, Most Grovelling Staff, Biggest Ballroom, or whatever. It's encouraging that tourism organisations and individuals are being rewarded for doing something that is ethically right or supporting a position that will help the planet. That's the greatest lesson of travel: it is a very small and easily bruised planet."
Read the full interview.
writer and philosopher
"Over the last few years, we've become painfully aware that tourism isn't just about passively observing a place, it's also about changing it - and usually for the worst. Most often we literally destroy the beauty or interest we have come to witness. It's therefore paramount that we learn to come up with forms of travel businesses that don't destroy their host organisms and The Responsible Tourism Awards sound like an admirable way forward."
author, broadcaster, environmental campaigner and botanist
"...the responsible tourism awards showcase green windows of hope, proving that the industry is pioneering the road towards more caring travel."
Winner: At home with the Himba by Emma Thomson
The judges particularly liked Emma Thomson's account of her homestay with the Himba and the makeover she had while dressed as a Himba woman. A colourful and engaging piece without being preachy, the article explains why this more responsible form of tourism makes such a better tourist experience. On the day before she leaves she is ogled by some tourists, and to quote from her article "for a brief moment, I catch a glimpse of life on the other side of the fence."
Highly commended:
In Search of an Alternative Palestine by Gail Simmons
Salt of the Earth by Caroline Eden
Read more about our 2012 winners in the official Awards newspaper.
Previous winners
2011
Winner: Tourism must tap into the water issue, by Catherine Mack"Originally appearing as part of her 'Ethical traveller' column in the Irish Times, Catherine Mack's thought-provoking piece impressed the judges for bringing attention to the issue of water consumption for travellers. Something of a rarity in travel journalism, the piece is praised for offering an honest view of an overlooked and yet considerable tourism issue, highlighting it clearly to the travelling mainstream."
Extract: "Water is a human right. In July this year, the United Nations declared that “Safe and clean drinking water and sanitation is a human right essential to the full enjoyment of life and all other human rights”. Not something most of us want to think about on holiday, really. However, with water so very central to tourism, and tourism so very central to world economies, the two are inextricably linked..."
Read the full article on Ethical Traveller. Follow @CatherineMack on Twitter.
Highly commended: Sicily's First Eco Village Blooms, by Gail Virginia SimmonsExtract: "Sant'Ambrogio is tucked away in the crook of a hill behind the city of Cefalù on the north coast of Sicily. It's only five kilometres away from town, but feels like a different century. Cefalù is an ancient fishing port clustered round its great Romanesque cathedral, but it has largely succumbed to bucket-and-spade tourism, with much of its Sicilian character under wraps during the summer. In Sant'Ambrogio, however, life continues much as it has for the past 500 years. Old men still sit in rows on the benches in the little piazza, while their wives gossip on the doorsteps."
Read the full article on the Guardian. Follow Gail Simmons on Twitter.
Highly commended: Telling the stories of their land/World's Oldest Tour Guides, by Nick HaslamExtract: "But recent state government efforts to increase indigenous involvement in the hospitality sector are beginning to pay off. In 2006, Tourism WA set aside AU$1.5million (£839,000) over five years to train indigenous people in the hospitality and tourism sector throughout the state.
For Jennifer Duffecy, Tourism WA industry development executive director, the training scheme has benefits at several levels: ‘For many Aboriginal people, engagement with the tourism industry means much more than earning an economic livelihood. It builds pride in showing the world a living culture, provides jobs and role models, and maintains cultural and social values. The Aboriginal tourism industry presents great challenges but offers even greater rewards, not only for Aboriginal people, but for the state in the point of difference it offers.'"
Read the full article on Geographical. Follow Nick Haslam on Twitter.
Support for the awards from well-known writers
Michael Palin
comedian, actor, writer and television presenter
"Getting to know more about each other remains one of the most important hopes for the peaceful future of the planet. If we are really to understand each other better, then we need to be reminded to travel carefully and thoughtfully, listening to people along the way and respecting the world we are privileged to travel through.
The Responsible Tourism Awards are one of the most important ways in which we can understand how to travel better."
Simon Reeve
television presenter and New York Times bestselling author
"The Responsible Tourism Awards focus attention on travel firms that are providing us all with amazing trips that make a difference to a local community while still protecting the environment and our planet. And they remind us that responsible travel is not only better for our world, it’s also more interesting and memorable. Responsible tourism is the future of travel."
Read the full interview.
Paul Theroux
travel writer and novelist
"In the past, awards were given for Best Meal, Best View, Most Grovelling Staff, Biggest Ballroom, or whatever. It's encouraging that tourism organisations and individuals are being rewarded for doing something that is ethically right or supporting a position that will help the planet. That's the greatest lesson of travel: it is a very small and easily bruised planet."
Read the full interview.
Alain de Botton
writer and philosopher
"Over the last few years, we've become painfully aware that tourism isn't just about passively observing a place, it's also about changing it - and usually for the worst. Most often we literally destroy the beauty or interest we have come to witness. It's therefore paramount that we learn to come up with forms of travel businesses that don't destroy their host organisms and The Responsible Tourism Awards sound like an admirable way forward."
David Bellamy
author, broadcaster, environmental campaigner and botanist
"...the responsible tourism awards showcase green windows of hope, proving that the industry is pioneering the road towards more caring travel."
Sponsored by Trinidad & Tobago Tourist Board
To mark the new government and their strong commitment to the focus on sustainable tourism, Trinidad & Tobago is excited to be sponsoring the ‘Best in responsible tourism writing' category at the annual Responsible Tourism Awards 2012, for the second time.
With the government dedicated to driving its initiatives to promote the best tourism experience, the decision to sponsor the Responsible Travel Awards was a natural step for the twin-destination.
Many visitors are attracted to the marine life and rich and colourful water reefs of Trinidad & Tobago. From May-September, sandy palm-fringed beaches of Trinidad & Tobago are the backdrop to leatherback turtles nesting at night in an awe inspiring spectacle, showing the nature at its best.
Trinidad & Tobago pride themselves on being eco-friendly and are home to the oldest protected rainforest (since 1776), in the Western Hemisphere. Along with this, Trinidad & Tobago is the ideal destination for avid bird watchers, with some of the most diverse bird species to be found in one location.
In 2010, Trinidad & Tobago introduced the Green Globe programme, which supports tourism providers in establishing standards and gaining international certification around environmentally sustainable operating practices. In order to qualify, properties take steps to reduce waste and conserve water and energy, and this is just one of the steps being taken by the Tourism Development Company of Trinidad & Tobago to drive long-term sustainable tourism principles.
