Back in June, I wrote about the nominations for the Virgin Holidays Responsible Tourism Awards 2008. Well, the panel of expert judges have been clucking over more than 1900 nominations, which have now hatched, and we have award winners. And the winners are…

Overall Winner - New Zealand, for developing and implementing a national strategy which uses tourism to help make better places to live and to visit.

In the individual categories, the award for best tour operator went to Explore, UK. Amongst hotels, the best large hotel award went to Kingfisher Bay Resort, Fraser Island, Australia, while the best small hotel was judged to be the Nkwichi Lodge, Mozambique.

Community Action Treks & Community Action Nepal, UK/Nepal was best in a mountain environment, while Ecoventura, Ecuador  ruled the waves with the award for best in a marine environment. The Holland America Line, USA was declared the best cruise, and Bycyklen - The Foundation City Bikes in Copenhagen, Denmark got the Best low carbon transport & technology award.

Gamewatchers Safaris & Porini Camps, Kenya was tops for conservation of endangered species or protected area, while the Shigar Fort - Palace Restoration Project, Pakistan won the award for conservation of cultural heritage. Gambia is Good Project was declared the Best for poverty reduction, and Camps International, UK as the Best volunteering organisation. The Best Personal Contribution award has two joint winners - Jane Ashton - Head of Sustainable Development - TUI Travel PLC, and Diana McIntyre-Pike - Chair/CEO - Countrystyle Community Tourism Network.

Visit www.responsibletourismawards.com/  for more details. Nominations for the 2009 awards will commence in April next year.

Posted on November 16th, 2008 by PLing
Filed under: Sustainable Travel