The Tourism for Tomorrow Awards offer a glimpse of a brighter future, says David Scowsill, WTTC president and chief executive
Our Tourism for Tomorrow Awards ceremony here in Hainan was certainly a night to remember as we gathered to announce and celebrate the six winners’ achievements in embracing sustainable tourism practices.
Making sure that travel and tourism safeguards our planet is one of the greatest challenges of our time. This year’s Tourism for Tomorrow Awards winners are without doubt helping to lead the way forward to a brighter tourism future.
I was particularly proud to announce the winners in our two new categories – the People Award, and the Innovation Award.
Winner of the People Award was Lao National Institute of Tourism and Hospitality (LANITH) who have pioneered a two year Diploma in Tourism and Hospitality to meet demands for a skilled workforce due to the rapid growth of tourism in Laos. The programme began for 300 students in June 2012 and has now been accredited by the Lao Ministry of Education & Sports
The Innovation Award went to social enterprise, Ecosphere in India, which has demonstrated an innovative approach to grassroots tourism development as a way to address poverty alleviation and economic empowerment in the isolated trans-Himalayas region. Using micro-enterprise training, particularly for women, Ecosphere matches 10 per cent of private tourism revenues to invest back into village development and natural resources conservation initiatives.
Our four other Tourism for Tomorrow Awards winners are also incredibly deserving of their achievements. The Business Award went to Asilia Africa who demonstrated that a large hospitality company can be responsible to local people and planet while achieving economic success.
Arviat Community Ecotourism in Canada was the recipient of the Community Award in recognition of how this indigenous group of people in Canada’s remote Arctic territory has successfully harnessed the travel and tourism economy to improve their lives.
The Destination Award was given to Costa Navarino in Greece which has put sustainable tourism into practice by creating bioclimatic architecture, geothermal power, 5000 square metres of green roofs and one of the largest transplantations of native trees in Europe.
Last but not least Jetwing Vil Uyana in Sri Lanka received the Environment Award. This luxury hotel was constructed on land that had previously been totally depleted by slash and burn agricultural processes. Today through sustainable tourism practices and natural habitat restoration, the land surrounding the property has been returned to a healthy, thriving natural ecosystem.
Over the last 10 years WTTC has recognised 126 finalists, 42 of which have been winners. None of this would have been possible without the expert eye and dedication of our judging Chairman, Costas Christ who has been an integral part of these awards.
Costas is now stepping down, but I am delighted to announce that Fiona Jeffery is taking over as Chairman of the Tourism for Tomorrow Awards. Fiona needs no introduction having run WTM for many years, spearheading World Responsible Tourism Day at the event. She is also Chairman of Just a Drop and a member of the World Tourism Organisation’s Ethics Committee.
So here’s to many more years of Tourism for Tomorrow Awards and the long term healthy sustainable growth of our industry.