World Responsible Tourism Awards 2016 Finalists Announced

Responsible Travel on Wednesday announced the 13 finalists in the 2016 World Responsible Tourism Awards at WTM London sponsored by the Belize Tourism Board, with a strong focus on innovation reasserting the Awards’ position as the leading scheme for responsible tourism in the world.

Included among a particularly innovative list this year is one of India’s largest hotel  chains making the employment of people with disabilities and socially excluded groups a core part of its business model; an tour operator democratising tourism by pioneering the ‘Buy one, Give one’ concept in travel; one of the world’s most iconic hotels with a successful program to rescue, rehabilitate and re-release adult sea turtles; and a tourism business offering migrant-led city tours to foster greater understanding between locals, tourists and migrant groups.

The 2016 finalists are: !Xaus Lodge, South Africa; Burj Al Arab Aquarium, United Arab Emirates; Bushman’s Kloof Wilderness Reserve and Wellness Resort, South Africa; East African Safari & Touring Company, Tanzania; Elevate Destinations, USA; Friends International – Childsafe Movement, Cambodia; Lemon Tree Hotels, India; Misool Eco Lodge, Indonesia; Sam Veasna Centre, Cambodia; Sapa O’Chau, Vietnam; Tren Ecuador, Ecuador; Viaggi Solidali, Italy; and World Cetacean Alliance.

The 13 finalists now need to wait until the Awards ceremony at World Travel Market in London on Tuesday, November 8, to discover who will be crowned the 2016 overall winner.

Over 500 tourism professionals, tourism ministers and media representatives are expected to attend the awards ceremony.

World Responsible Tourism Day this year will be held on November 8 at WTM London.

The Awards ceremony is hosted by World Travel Market, the leading global event for the travel industry, during World Responsible Tourism Day, the world’s largest event for responsible tourism.

“Once again the World Responsible Tourism Awards will be a key part of the opening of World Responsible Tourism Day at WTM London”, WTM London, Senior Exhibition Director, Simon Press said.

“The stories of the winners and their achievements will be even more poignant this year as we celebrate the tenth anniversary of World Responsible Tourism Day – the largest day of responsible tourism action in the world.”

In their 13th year, the World Responsible Tourism Awards were founded in 2004 to celebrate the most inspiring stories in responsible tourism.

This year, the Awards feature 5 categories covering a variety of topics, which reflect the hottest issues currently debated in the world or responsible and sustainable tourism.

The Awards are organised by Responsible Travel and ICRT (International Centre for Responsible Tourism).

WTM London will run November 7 – 9.

The Greek Travel Pages (GTP) is an official media partner of WTM London 2016.