Apply for a WTM Responsible Tourism Award, which this year has gone global. I am delighted that António Buscardini, Founder & CEO of Travel Tomorrow, will be one of our judges this year.
Last week I wrote about Booking.com’s research, which reveals such a clear trend: travellers and holidaymakers want to travel more sustainably. As John Swarbrooke, the academic with destination management experience, who wrote the seminal text on Sustainable Tourism, has pointed out, “there is no shortage of examples of ‘greenwashing’, which confuses tourists or makes them sceptical about sustainable tourism as a whole.” John argues that “ many businesses seem to have seen sustainable tourism simply as a marketing-led corporate social responsibility opportunity, focusing on media-friendly activities around wildlife and supporting local charities in destinations, rather than tackling the impacts of their own businesses on destinations and their contribution to climate change.”
Some businesses have stood out from the crowd. They have looked at the issues that matter in the neighbourhoods they operate in, identified where they can make a difference through tourism, and taken responsibility. They have made a difference explaining what they have done and why and reported the difference they have made. They have not ignored the issues that have global impacts, greenhouse gas emissions and plastic waste.
Many of these businesses and destinations have been recognised in the Responsible Tourism Awards, which have been presented at WTM London since 2004. The Awards have recognised those businesses and destinations, large and small, which have taken responsibility and found solutions that they have implemented and tested and made tourism better. Better for the natural and cultural environment, for livelihoods and social inclusion, creating more meaningful connections for hosts and guests.
Next week WTM will launch a Platform for Change, offering tried and tested solutions to businesses and destinations using Award winners as examples – doubtless, some of this year’s winners will feature there too. Be one of them.
2 businesses explain why they applied for the Responsible Tourism Award
Applications and nominations for the Responsible Tourism Awards are now open, and this time they’re global, with four regional awards and Global Awards selected from the Gold winners in the regional awards. They’re free to enter, and the deadline is August 31st 2021.
Categories:
- Decarbonising Travel & Tourism,
- Sustaining Employees and Communities through the Pandemic,
- Destinations Building Back Better Post-COVID,
- Increasing Diversity in Tourism: How inclusive is our industry?
- Reducing Plastic Waste in the Environment and
- Growing the Local Economic Benefit.
You can apply for an Award or encourage a business or destination to do so by nominating them.
