Press release: Madagascar Responsible Tourism Awards

MEDIA RELEASE: 14 January 2009

Winners of the First Ever Madagascar Responsible Tourism Awards (MRTA) Announced

The Office National de Tourisme de Madagascar (ONTM), in collaboration with Conservation International (CI), responsibletravel.com and the Adventure Travel Trade Association (ATTA) are pleased to announce the winners of the first ever Madagascar Responsible Tourism Awards (MRTA) organised to encourage and support good practices in tourism in this conservation hotspot.

Travel Flying Services in Menabe and Eastern Tours in Ankeniheny-Zahamena Corridor (CAZ) are joint winners of the 2009 Awards. According to the judges who visited the finalists in December, both companies “provided innovative itineraries that promote Madagascar’s unique culture and biodiversity, while also providing economic opportunities for rural communities.”

Open to Madagascar based operators, the Awards were judged by a distinguished panel from the United States, the United Kingdom and Madagascar, including the Madagascar Ministry of the Environment, Forests and Tourism, and the President of the Board of the Madagascar National Tourism Office. The Awards were presented at a ceremony attended by ministry representatives in Antananarivo, Madagascar.

The winners of the Awards receive a broad range of marketing support from the sponsors of the event, including face to face meetings with international tour operators from the UK and US, an official Awards logo and free exhibition space at international trade events in 2009. In addition, both ATTA and responsibletravel.com will provide complimentary marketing on their websites, and winners are eligible to apply for funding from CI’s Verde Ventures financing program.

2009 Madagascar Tourism Awards Winners:
Menabe:
Travel Flying Services
tfsmadagascar@moov.mg
+261 33 11 177 70 / +261 32 40 199 90

Ankeniheny-Zahamena Corridor:
Eastern Tours
Fortin.chan@moov.mg
+261 20 53 315 79/ +261 32 11 566 31
www.mananara.net/

Judges:
Justin Francis, responsibletravel.com
Joel Randriamandranto, President of the Board of ONTM
Lanto Razafimahatratra, from Madagascar National Guide Association
Norotiana Mananjean, from Conservation International
Lydie Raberanto, President of the Madagascar’s Association of Professional Tour Operators (TOP)
Lalanirina Ranaivoharisoa , from the Ministry of Environment, Forests, and Tourism
Deborah Aragao, from Verde Ventures
Chris Doyle, from Adventure Travel Trade Association

For additional information, interviews and images, please contact:

Tsitohaina ANDRIAMANOHERA
National Tourism Board of Madagascar
Tel: +261 20 22 661 15
Email: operation@ontm.mg
www.madagascar-tourisme.com

OR

Neel Inamdar
Senior Advisor, Ecotourism, Conservation International
Tel: 703-398-1091
Email: ninamdar@conservation.org
www.conservation.org

About responsibletravel.com:
responsibletravel.com is the world's leading online ethical travel company, selling over 3,000 holidays from over 270 specialist operators and 550 accommodations. All the holidays meet specific responsible tourism guidelines and aim to create better places for people to live and to visit. Launched in 2001 with backing from Dame Anita Roddick, the website is for travellers who want more real and authentic holidays that also benefit the environment and local people. The organisation - based in Brighton, England - also campaigns for positive change in the travel and tourism industry.

Contact:
Krissy Pentland
press@responsibletravel.com
07717 348 368