MEDIA RELEASE - WEDNESDAY NOVEMBER 14th, 2007
The New Forest, UK wins top award at the
Virgin Holidays Responsible Tourism Awards 2007
The New Forest, Southern England, was the overall winner at this year’s Virgin Holidays Responsible Tourism Awards. The organisation also scooped the Best Destination Award and New Forest Tourism Destination Manager, Anthony Climpson OBE, took home the Personal Contribution Award.
The Awards scheme – organised by online travel directory responsibletravel.com in association with World Travel Market, The Times and Geographical Magazine – recognises companies and organisations in the travel industry that are making a significant commitment to responsible tourism.
Launched in 2004, the Awards ask tourists to nominate those tourism ventures that they feel provide outstanding holidays that also benefit local people and the destination. This year, over 1,700 nominations were received.
Justin Francis, co-founder and Managing Director, responsibletravel.com said:
“This is the fourth year of the Awards and every year, it never ceases to amaze me how much thought and innovation has gone into the holidays that we short list. Not only do such ventures offer sensational experiences for travellers, but they aspire to such impressive standards on responsible tourism that just keep getting better every year. I hope the Awards prove an inspiration for many more tourism organisations throughout the world.”
Amanda Wills, Managing Director Virgin Holidays, Headline Sponsor of the Awards said:
“We are delighted to be able to act as headline sponsor of the 2007 Responsible Tourism Awards. Virgin has always been about driving change through successful entrepreneurship. We are passionate about responsible tourism and proud to be associated with awards that provide recognition to those individuals and businesses whose success in pioneering social and environmental responsibility, acts as inspiration to others.
The importance of sustainability in tourism has never been greater. In the words of Sir Richard Branson 'Our generation has inherited an incredibly beautiful world from our parents and they from their parents, it is in our hands whether our children and their children inherit the same world.' And to prove we aren’t all talk, all profits from Virgin Holidays, Atlantic and Trains (estimated to be $3bn over the next 10 years) will be ploughed into research, to develop sustainable sources of energy.”
VIRGIN HOLIDAYS RESPONSIBLE TOURISM AWARD WINNERS 2007
Overall Winner: The New Forest, UK
The judges were unanimous in their praise for The New Forest, a destination which has worked over the last 15 years with visitors, the industry, the community - including commoners and small holders - to look after the environment (the VICE model: Visitor, Industry, Community, Environment) and benefit all interests as well as providing a model for other destinations to follow. This includes the exciting contribution of the New Forest Breakfast to sustainable development, only possible because there are now sufficient local suppliers to meet the demand for local produce from locals and visitors.
Contact details: The New Forest. Anthony Climpson, New Forest Tourism Destination Manager, 023 8028 5464, anthony.climpson@nfdc.gov.uk
Best Tour Operator, sponsored by The Adventure Company
Winner: Gecko’s Adventures, Australia
Chosen for maximising the positive economic and social impacts of their tours, through the use of locally owned accommodation and their employment of local tour leaders who share with travellers their passion for their country’s history, heritage, culture and natural beauty.
Highly commended: KE Adventure Travel, Tribes Travel and Imaginative Traveller
Contact details: Gecko’s Adventures. Jarrod Kyte, UK Manager, 01635 872 338, jarrod@PeregrineAdventures.co.uk
Best Large Hotel / Accommodation (more than 50 rooms), sponsored by Hyatt Hotels & Resorts
Winner: Apex Hotels Ltd, UK
For their efforts in urban regeneration, converting office blocks on brown field sites into hotels and ensuring that they are as environmentally friendly as possible.
Highly commended: Evason Phuket & Six Senses Spa, Thailand and Radisson SAS Hotel, Edinburgh, UK
Contact details: Apex Hotels Ltd. Jo Harbisher, Environmental Director, 0131 666 5121, jo.harbisher@apexhotels.co.uk
Best Small Hotel / Accommodation (less than 50 rooms) sponsored by Tourism Queensland
Winner: Finca Esperanza Verde Ecolodge, Nicaragua
For using tourism to generate local, economic development in a rural area of Nicaragua by improving infrastructure as well as creating employment and enterprise opportunities and demonstrating what a positive difference tourism can make in a local community.
Highly commended: Papillote Wilderness Retreat, Dominica and Lamai Homestay & Guesthouse, Thailand
Contact details: Finca Esperanza Verde Ecolodge. Katie Gifford Laube, Finca Esperanza Verde Manager, 00 505 772 5003, fevmanager@gmail.com
Best Low Carbon Transport & Technology sponsored by Virgin Trains
Winner: Eurostar, UK
For developing the comprehensive ‘Tread lightly’ programme to reduce Eurostar’s negative environmental impacts across the whole business, on the rails and at the terminals; using biodegradable and recyclable disposables; recycling water; reducing energy consumption and setting a whole business example which airlines could follow.
Highly commended: NatureAir, Costa Rica and greentomatocars, UK
Contact details: Eurostar. Gareth Headon, Media Relations Manager, 0207 922 4425 gareth.headon@eurostar.co.uk
Best in a Mountain Environment sponsored by Blacks
Winner: Explorandes, Peru
For developing homestay accommodation with real volume and livelihood activities, kayaking, textiles and culture, through a partnership with a group of thirty families at Llachon on the shore of Lake Titicaca.
Highly commended: Peregrine Adventures, Australia and Shakti Uttaranchal Tours Pvt Ltd, India
Contact details: Explorandes. Miguel Vegas van Oordt, Marketing Manager, +51 1 445 0532 miguel@explorandes.com
Best in a Marine Environment sponsored by Tourism Tasmania
Winner: blue o two, UK
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
Contact details: blue o two. Miss. Natalie Elliott, Sales & Operations Director, 01752 480808, Natalie@blueotwo.com
Best for Poverty Reduction sponsored by Starwood Hotels & Resorts Check Out for Children
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 and communitychallenge, UK
Contact details: Borana. Liz Bean, ebean@bush-and-beyond.com
Best in a Park or Protected Area sponsored by Conservation International
Winner: La Ruta Moskitia, Honduras
For working with four different indigenous communities to create a series of experiences and products which are complementary to each other, avoiding the danger of competition between villages and creating 150 jobs in and around the Rio Plátano Biosphere Reserve in Central America.
Highly commended: Chalalan Ecolodge, Bolivia
Contact details: Elmor Wood, Manager, info@larutamoskitia.com
Best for Conservation of an Endangered Species sponsored by Sri Lanka Tourism
Winner: Grootbos Nature Reserve, South Africa
For conserving 1750 acres of the Cape's threatened fynbos by using 5 hectares for tourism development and for working to engage local communities through football, employment and micro-enterprise opportunities.
Highly commended: Earth, Sea & Sky/Ionian Eco Villagers/Nature World Travel, Greece and Biosphere Expeditions, UK
Contact details: Grootbos Nature Reserve. Florentina Heger, Marketing manager, 0027 283848000, florentina@grootbos.co.za
Best for Conservation of Cultural Heritage sponsored by Jamaica Tourist Board
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 and Intrepid Travel, Australia
Contact details: Andaman Discoveries. Kelly May, Managing Director, 66 (0) 81 243 3848, info@andamandiscoveries.com
Best Volunteering Organisation sponsored by Lonely Planet
Winner: Azafady, UK / Madagascar
For demonstrating real achievements meeting the locally defined needs of communities in Madagascar and for producing detailed reports on impacts and being transparent about where the volunteers’ money goes.
Highly commended: Quest, Camps International and people and places
Contact details: Azafady. Mark Jacobs, Managing Director, 020 8960 6629, mark@azafady.org
Best Destination sponsored by G.A.P Adventures
Winner: The New Forest, UK
For demonstrating how the economic, social and environmental objectives of Responsible Tourism can be achieved with the full participation of all the stakeholders at the destination level. The New Forest has set an example which others are seeking to emulate and surpass.
Highly commended: Arugam Bay, Sri Lanka and Costa Rica
Contact details: The New Forest. Anthony Climpson, OBE, New Forest Tourism Destination Manager, 023 8028 5464, anthony.climpson@nfdc.gov.uk
Best personal contribution sponsored by Canadian Tourism Commission
Winner: Anthony Climpson, The New Forest, UK
For twenty years, long before green became fashionable, Anthony Climpson was developing an integrated approach to managing tourism in the landscape, successfully engaging local communities, local government and tourism businesses in conserving the New Forest.
Highly commended: Dr Cheryl Mvula, Wildlife Conservation and Responsible Tourism Consultant and Charlotte Shigwedha, Managing Director, Mondesa Township Tours, Namibia
Contact details: The New Forest. Anthony Climpson, OBE, New Forest Tourism Destination Manager, 023 8028 5464, anthony.climpson@nfdc.gov.uk
All winners received certificates framed in reclaimed wood, from Brighton's Palace Pier. See Ethical Wood Furnishings.
See www.responsibletourismawards.com for further information and to download a copy of the inspirational, brand new responsible travel magazine: r:travel
-Ends-
Notes to editors
About responsibletravel.com:
responsibletravel.com is an online travel directory - based in Brighton, England - launched in 2001 for travellers who want more real and authentic holidays that also benefit the environment and local people. responsibletravel.com markets carefully pre-screened, handpicked holidays from over 265 specialist operators and over 550 accommodations.
Contact:
Krissy Pentland
press@responsibletravel.com
01273 648 519 or 07717 348368
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