WTTC Tourism for Tomorrow Awards announces 2016 Finalists

The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) has announced the 15 Finalists for its 2016 Tourism for Tomorrow Awards in the five categories; Community, Destination, Environment, Innovation and People. The 15 Finalists, which were chosen after a rigorous judging process, showcase the highest level of sustainability practices in global tourism.

The Tourism for Tomorrow Awards program celebrates business leadership that works towards a more sustainable future of our sector by educating and inspiring governments, travellers and other tourism businesses.

The 2016 Awards saw applications from 62 countries across all continents. Following the first phase of the three stage judging process all applications have now been carefully evaluated by a committee of independent expert judges against established sustainable tourism criteria, which include community development, preservation of cultural and natural heritage, and innovative solutions for sustainable practices.

The second phase will see on-site evaluation of each Finalist by international sustainable tourism experts, assessing the organisations and the business practices they have highlighted in their application. Following the evaluations the winners of each category will be chosen by a further panel of leading authorities in sustainability. The Winners will be announced during the Tourism for Tomorrow Awards Ceremony at the 16th WTTC Global Summit in Dallas, Texas on 7th April.

Introducing the finalists, Awards Lead Judge, Graham Miller, Professor of Sustainability in Business and Head of School of Hospitality and Tourism Management, The University of Surrey, commented “this year’s finalists reflect the importance of knowledge in creating a more sustainable tourism industry.

“We have organisations who have created carbon calculators, methods of measuring impacts, developed new technology and really thought outside the traditional confines of the sector.

“There is still no shortage of passion and determination to drive forward sustainability, but working smarter through networks, partnerships and high level thinking mark the future for sustainable tourism”.

The Finalists of the 2016 WTTC Tourism for Tomorrow Awards, which is Headline sponsored by AIG Travel, are:

Community Award Finalists, whose organisations are committed to sustainable tourism leadership in local community development, empowerment and cultural heritage
Expediciones Sierra Norte, Pueblos Mancomunados, Mexico
Sapa O’Chau, Vietnam
Yayasan Ekowisata Indonesia (Indonesia Ecotourism Foundation), Indonesia (pictured)

Destination Award Finalists, who show commitment to supporting and delivering sustainable tourism best practices in their destinations:
Parkstad Limburg, Netherlands
Swiss Parks Network, Switzerland
V&A Waterfront, South Africa

Environment Award Finalists, whose organisations and companies achieved environmental best practice through biodiversity conservation, protection of natural habitats, addressing climate change, and green operations:
Alcatraz Cruises, US
Lindblad Expeditions, US and worldwide
Wilderness Safaris, South Africa/Botswana

Innovation Award Finalists, who provided innovative solutions to overcoming the challenges faced by Travel & Tourism in implementing sustainability in practice:
ANVR, the Netherlands
Northsailing, Iceland
PWC, Travel Foundation & TUI Group, United Kingdom
 
People Award Finalists, who are dedicated to the development of capacity building, training and education to build a skilled tourism workforce for the future:
Jus’ Sail, Saint Lucia
Kinyei International, Cambodia
Youth Career Initiative (YCI), United Kingdom

The Winner Selection Committee is chaired by Fiona Jeffery OBE, Chair of the WTTC Tourism for Tomorrow Awards and includes:
Darrell Wade, Co-Founder and Chief Executve, Intrepid Group, Australia (pictured below)
Hugh Riley, Secretary General, Caribbean Tourism Organisation, Barbados
Stephanie Draper, Deputy Chief Executive, Forum for the Future, United Kingdom

Jeffery added “it is great to see the depth and range of achievement the Tourism for Tomorrow Awards are attracting.

“Greater innovation and longer term sustainable practises from right across the globe. We look to stretch the boundaries as an Awards Program recognising and applauding true business leadership.

“It’s so encouraging to see such inspiring work being exemplified in this way as it helps our industry improve and ensure it brings better business practises to a wider community.”

The World Travel & Tourism Council is the global authority on the economic and social contribution tourism. It promotes sustainable growth for the industry, working with governments and international institutions to create jobs, to drive exports and to generate prosperity. WTTC's annual Global Summit brings together over 1,000 delegates to discuss the opportunities, challenges and issues facing the industry. 

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