Responsible tourism awards celebrity supporters

Why do the Awards matter? For the past 13 years, the World Responsible Tourism Awards have helped over 200 organisations, from niche to mainstream, to celebrate and share their unique stories with the world, and create real change in the tourism industry.

Over the years our Awards have attracted support from famous individuals from throughout the world of travel, literature, television and politics, and received nominations from celebrities keen to share their favourite tourism ventures with us. They feel, as we do, that the Awards are integral to the future of tourism.

See what our supporters have to say about us…

Television presenter

"Responsible Travel' has played a vital role over the years helping tour operators and holiday makers ensure their travel has a positive impact on environments and communities. The Responsible Travel Awards, now in their 10th year, celebrate and champion the companies and individuals who have done so much to make travel count."

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."

Explorer

"Tourism can do a great deal of good in destinations – whether it be by bringing economic benefits to local communities; helping with conservation efforts or in placing a value on aspects of cultural heritage. As ‘responsible travellers’ we must all try to do more of the good and less of the negative. Nominating in The Responsible Tourism Awards is a way of showing your support for those incredible individuals and organisations around the world who are working tirelessly to encourage this better way of travelling. This global Responsible Tourism Awards scheme is in my opinion, a celebration of the very best on offer, and an important benchmark for the rest of the travel and tourism industry."

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."

Singer

"“I believe we have a responsibility to support local communities and the environment, and the people who do this well through tourism should be rewarded – that’s why I support these awards. I find my faith in humanity is restored when I meet people from other places around the world, particularly those who live in poorer communities. There is a real sense of self-reliance – using the local environment to sustain the community.

In terms of my tips for responsible tourism - I love cooking at home and exploring foreign supermarkets when I’m on holiday, so I always try to use local ingredients and make my own meals where I can.”

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."

TV presenter, writer and adventurer

"The Responsible Tourism Awards scheme is now widely recognised around the world for leading the way in celebrating individual achievements in responsible tourism. This unique Awards scheme, run by responsibletravel.com, inspires travellers and travel companies to tackle the environmental, social and cultural issues that tourism faces, head on. During my travels in the next few months I’ll be looking out for worthy nominees and encourage all passionate travellers to get on board: dig out those travel journals, tell your travel-mad friends and if you’re on the road, keep your eyes peeled for tourism ventures that are really making a difference. For me, the future of tourism is inextricably linked with this more thoughtful path of travel."

Explorer, broadcaster and writer

"The significance of each single step towards our shared worldwide goal of sustainable tourism is greater than you may imagine – and these hesitant early steps are the most important as with any journey.

Your nominations for those that are our pathfinders are of inestimable value in building everyone’s confidence this really is the direction we must all be heading. Support our pathfinders and multiply the value of their efforts by encouraging others to follow their superlative example."

Television presenter

"Travel is good for the soul, it broadens the mind, and we have become well and truly global with respect to travel, with more people visiting far-flung places than ever before.

If we make the effort to respect our holiday destinations and contribute responsibly to the local economy by staying in local farms or homestays and exploring the local wildlife through eco-tourism, we benefit by getting a real sense of local culture and discovering hidden treasures we could never get from a faceless resort holiday, all the while knowing that we have our done our bit to keep this planet happy and healthy. The Responsible Tourism Awards are doing a fantastic job at reminding us of our duty to travel in this responsible way."

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."