Responsible Tourism Awards Longlist Announced

Organisations from 30 countries worldwide have been longlisted for the 2016 World Responsible Tourism Awards 2016. Sponsored by the Belize Tourism Board, the Awards cover a diverse range of tourism-related issues including poverty reduction, campaigning and wildlife and habitat conservation. On the night, the tourism industry will honour those who have put in place innovative initiatives and projects to improve the sustainability of tourism.

Justin Francis, managing director of Responsible Travel and founder of the Awards said: “This is an exciting time of year – it’s when we first get our real glimpse into diversity of the stellar work being done in responsible tourism worldwide.

“There are a few things which have really got me excited this year and one is seeing representatives from destinations such as Dubai, places we don’t usually associate with responsible tourism, included in the longlist for the first time. For me this is a clear indication that the wider tourism industry is really recognising the importance and benefits of operating in a responsible way.”

Representing a huge diversity of work in 30 countries worldwide, the longlist includes: a hotel in Dubai rescuing, rehabilitating and re-releasing turtles and educating guests and local children about conservation; an association of hotels and restaurants in Kerala working together to ensure food isn’t wasted and that no-one in their community goes hungry; a tour operator in India making heritage sites, street food markets and festivals accessible to all through sensory tours and tailored assistance; a campaign to stop child abuse in tourism in Cambodia; and a hotel offering employment, training and empowerment to refugees in Austria.

Chair of the Awards judging panel, Professor Harold Goodwin, said: “We have an extremely strong field across all five categories and our judging panel will have some difficult decisions to make later this year. Each of the 75 longlisted organisations will now be invited to complete an in-depth review, and provide us with evidence and references to support the impact their work is having.” He adds “It is going to be harder than ever to win this year”.

The 2016 winners will be announced in a special ceremony as part of World Responsible Tourism Day at the World Travel Market London. Simon Press, Awards Judge and Senior Exhibition Director at World Travel Market, said: “The 2016 Longlist is a real indication of the calibre of winners we will have this year. I’m looking forward to celebrating 10 years of World Responsible Tourism Day in November by sharing the stories of some of the most innovative, inspirational and effective responsible tourism initiatives we’ve ever seen”.

The full longlist is available here.

The 2016 list of finalists will be released in August, with the winners announced in a special ceremony at World Travel Market London during World Responsible Tourism Day on Tuesday 8 November 2016.