Innovators and pioneers working in tourism are being encouraged to enter this year’s WTM World Responsible Tourism Awards.
The six categories, chosen to highlight those companies, organizations and destinations leading the way in addressing some of the biggest challenges facing the travel industry and society have now been unveiled.
Professor Harold Goodwin, responsible tourism advisor to WTM London, and chair of the judges, said, “The ambition of the WTM World Responsible Tourism Awards is to find and recognize examples of tourism businesses and organizations which are taking responsibility by reducing negative impacts and increasing the positive ones.”
Professor Goodwin noted that, “Recognition is important for those who are making a difference, and through the awards we seek to inform, educate, inspire and challenge others to step up and take responsibility; do more to make tourism better for communities and their natural and cultural environment; make better places for people to live in and to visit.”
A panel of expert judges will select a longlist of finalists from across the six categories. The overall winners are to be announced at WTM London on Nov. 6 as part of WTM World Responsible Tourism Day.
The 2019 categories include:
- Wildlife and Nature Conservation
- Carbon & Greenhouse Gases
- Benefiting Local People
- Transparent Reporting
- Plastics
- Coping with Success
Each category has a separate application questionnaire, all of which can be download from https://responsibletourism.wtm.com/awards.
The closing date for applications is July 29. The judges will be announced soon.
WTM London, senior director, Simon Press said, “I am delighted to be launching the WTM World Responsible Tourism Awards 2019. I always enjoy judging the awards as it highlights the best responsible tourism practice in the industry.”
Press said that: “The awards are a firm fixture of WTM World Responsible Tourism Day — the largest Day of responsible tourism action in the world — and I look forward to celebrating the success of the winners and finalists on [Nov. 6].”
Entries are open on April 2 and further information is available at https://responsibletourism.wtm.com/awards/ .
