World Responsible Tourism Awards 2015 winners

Founded in 2004 by Responsible Travel, the World Responsible Tourism Awards are open to any organisation anywhere in the world. The vision is to surprise and inspire tourists and the tourism industry by what it is possible to achieve with Responsible Tourism, and to shine a light on the best of the best.

Read all the winners’ stories here.

Best for Poverty Reduction – Sponsored by Tobago House of Assembly. One gold winner and three silver winners awarded.

Gold award: Agri Tourism Development Company Pvt Ltd
Silver award: Grootbos Private Nature Reserve
Silver award: OneSeed Expeditions
Silver award: Uakari Floating Lodge

Best Animal Welfare Initiative – Supported by Born Free Foundation. Two gold winners and two silver winners awarded.

Gold award: Campaign Against Canned Hunting (CACH)
Gold award: Hetta Huskies
Silver award: Lotus Travel
Silver award: The Donkey Sanctuary

Best innovation for carbon reduction – Sponsored by Visit Gozo. One gold winner and two silver winners awarded.

Gold award: TUI UK and Ireland
Silver award: Airport Authority, Hong Kong
Silver award: North Sailing

Best for beach tourism – Sponsored by Jersey Tourism. Two gold winners and two silver winners awarded.

Gold award: Loola Adventure Resort
Gold award: Soneva Fushi, Maldives
Silver award: & Beyond
Silver award: Turtle Bay Beach Club

Best hotel for local sourcing – Sponsored by Colorado Tourism Office. One gold winner and two silver winners awarded.

Gold award: Atlas Kasbah Ecolodge
Silver award: Matava, Fiji
Silver award: Shangri-La’s Villingili Resort & Spa

Best cultural heritage attraction – Sponsored by Wightlink. One gold winner and two silver winners awarded.

Gold award: Loop Head Peninsula Heritage Trail
Silver award: Bushmans Kloof
Silver award: Cnoc Suain

Best for engaging people & culture – Sponsored by Audley Travel. One gold winner and two silver winners awarded.

Gold award: Urban Adventures
Silver award: Connemara Wild Escapes
Silver award: Felin Talgarth Mill

Best accommodation for disability access –  Sponsored by Enable Holidays. Two gold winners and one silver winner awarded.

Gold award: Endeavour Safaris
Gold award: Scandic Hotels
Silver award: RuralSuite Hotel Apartamentos****

Best destination for responsible tourism – Sponsored by Visit Norway. One gold winner and two silver winners awarded.

Gold award: Gansbaai
Silver award: Aruba
Silver award: Cyprus

Best for wildlife conservation – Sponsored by Florida Keys & Key West Tourism Development Council. One gold winner and three silver winners awarded.

Gold award: Honko Mangrove Conservation & Education
Silver award: Coral Cay Conservation
Silver award: North Island Seychelles
Silver award: Tiger Trails Jungle Lodge

Best sea or river cruise – One gold winner awarded.

Gold award: Ullswater Steamers

Best responsible tourism blog –  Sponsored by Fair Trade Tourism. One gold winner and one silver winner awarded.

Gold award: Uncornered Market
Silver award: Travel for Wildlife

People’s choice in responsible tourism – Sponsored by Catalan Tourist Board, and in association with National Geographic Traveller (UK) Magazine.

Winner: World Animal Protection