 The Responsible Tourism Awards 2004
The Awards recognize companies and organisations in the travel industry that are making a significant commitment to 'responsible' tourism – that is, projects which make a positive contribution to conservation and the economies of local communities, while minimizing the negative impacts that tourism can have.
The Awards, in ten categories, are organized by online travel agent responsibletravel.com, in association with The Times, World Travel Market and Geographical Magazine – the magazine of The Royal Geographical Society. Over 700 nominations – including one from Archbishop Desmond Tutu - were received from tourists who were asked to identify holidays and tourism organisations that provided an enjoyable and a responsible travel experience.
responsibletravel.com thank you for all your nominations and are pleased to annouce... The Winners! |  Overall Winners The Calabash Trust and Exodus | Calabash Trust and Tours – township tours in Port Elizabeth South Africa - are a shining example of how tourism can benefit the poor. Exodus are an outstanding example of how responsible tourism can become part of a companies DNA and run like a thread through all the companies activities. Read more... |
Best Tour Operator Winner: Exodus Travel This was an extremely competitive category, Exodus were chosen for their systematic approach to integrating responsible tourism throughout their entire business, including their supply chain, and thereby setting a model for other businesses to follow. Highly Commended: Intrepid Travel and The Adventure Company. Read more... |
Best Hotel Winner: Casuarina Beach Club, Barbados The winner was selected for its employment of disabled people, initiatives to benefit the poor and outstanding environmental performance. Highly Commended: Hilton Hotels Read more... |
 Best Transport Initiative, sponsored by The Energy Saving Trust Winner: Eurostar Eurostar’s high-speed rail service linking the UK and France has provided a lower emission alternative to flying for 59 million people over 10 years. Read more... |
Best in a Mountain Environment Winner: Kasbah de Toubkal A mountain accommodation situated in the High Atlas Mountains of Morocco , Kasbah de Toubkal has forged an extraordinary partnership between the Berber community and Discover Ltd, leading to the sensitive development of tourism and extensive benefits to the local community . Highly Commended: Guerba World Travel Read more... |
 Best in a Marine Environment, sponsored by the Fiji Visitors Bureau 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 Read more... |
 Best for Poverty Reduction, sponsored by Exodus 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, and the Santa Lucia eco-lodge Read more... |
Best in a Protected Area Winner: The North Moors National Park Authority and their Developing Assets of Protected Areas scheme (DAPA). DAPA was selected for its creation of an effective link between the rural economy and sustainable environmental park management. Highly Commended : Operation Wallacea Read more... |
 Best for Conservation of Endangered Species, sponsored by Friends of Conservation Winner: Naturetrek A UK based tour operator, Nature Trek has made available nature based and wildlife tours to mainstream tourists and exhibits a consistent, diverse and measurable approach to conservation issues worldwide. Highly Commended: Grootbos Private Nature Reserve Read more... |
 Best for Innovation, sponsored by Active Hotels Winner: The Mihai Eminescu Trust A village project based in Viscri, Transylvania, The Trust has turned a poor, remote village, deserted by young people, into a thriving cultural tourism attraction, without spoiling its traditional way of life and beautiful natural surroundings.
Highly Commended: Kahawa Shamba Read more... |
 The person who has contributed most significantly to responsible tourism, sponsored by Intrepid Travel Winner: Adama Bah Adama has worked for 20 years bringing together different stakeholder groups in the Gambia to work together to increase the benefits of tourism to local people and the environment. Highly Commended: Tricia Barnett from Tourism Concern Read more... |
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Read Press Release here
For further information:
Justin Francis, Managing Director, responsibletravel.com, Justin@responsibletravel.com Tel: 07787 555088
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