Tui Travel has been shortlisted for the World Travel and Tourism Council’s (WTTC’s) prestigious Tourism for Tomorrow Awards.
Europe’s biggest travel group, Tui Travel joins Central College Nottingham of the UK among the 18 shortlisted finalists.
The awards recognise best sustainable practice in global tourism in six categories.
Tui Travel is on the Business Award shortlist alongside Cathay Pacific and Safari lodge company Asilia Africa.
Abercrombie and Kent (Kenya) has been selected in the Community Award category along with the Arviat Community Ecotourism initiative in Canada and Basecamp Explorer Kenya.
Central College Nottingham has been selected jointly in the People Award category with the Institute of Travel and Tourism of The Gambia (ITTOG) for their partnership programme.
Other finalists include:
- SA College for Tourism (South Africa) and LANITH (Laos) for the People Award;
- Burren and Cliffs of Moher Geopark (Ireland), Temes SA – Costa Navarino (Greece) and Bonito (Brazil) for the Destination Award;
- Great Plains Conservation (Botswana/Kenya), Skyrail Rainforest Cableway (Australia) and Jetwing Vil Uyana (Sri Lanka) for the Environment Award;
- Ecosphere (India), Chepu Adventures Ecolodge (Chile) and Lapland Vuollerim Welcomes You (Sweden) for the Innovation Award.
The winners will be chosen by an international panel of judges following on-site inspections and auditing and announced at the WTTC summit in Hainan, China, in April.
The judges’ panel includes Professor Graham Miller, head of the University of Surrey’s School of Hospitality and Tourism Management.
Tui Travel group head of sustainable development Jane Ashton said: “We’re delighted to have global recognition following a decade of work. There were a huge number of entries.”
The group also become the first tour operator to take a place on the Sustainable Aviation Council this week, with Ashton and head of regulatory affairs Eddie Redfern representing the company.
Sustainable Aviation, set up in 2005, comprises leading UK airlines, airports and aerospace manufacturers.