World Responsible Tourism Awards At WTM London “Harder To Win Than Ever” As 2016 Long list Revealed

Responsible Travel has recently announced the select 75 organisations long listed for the 2016 World Responsible Tourism at WTM London sponsored by the Belize Tourism Board.
Organisations in the running for the most rigorously judged awards for responsible tourism in the world cover a diverse range of issues from campaigning and innovation to poverty reduction and the inclusion of marginalised people, from hotels with exemplary employment initiatives to wildlife and habitat conservation.

Representing a huge diversity of work in 30 countries worldwide, the long list includes; a hotel in Dubai rescuing, rehabilitating and re-releasing turtles and educating guests and local children about conservation; an association of hotels and restaurants in Kerala working together to ensure food isn’t wasted and that no-one in their community goes hungry; a tour operator in India making heritage sites, street food markets and festivals accessible to all through sensory tours and tailored assistance; a campaign to stop child abuse in tourism in Cambodia; and a hotel offering employment, training and empowerment to refugees in Austria.

Justin Francis, managing director of Responsible Travel and founder of the Awards says “This is an exciting time of year – it’s when we first get our real glimpse into diversity of the stellar work being done in responsible tourism worldwide.

“There are a few things which have really got me excited this year and one is seeing representatives from destinations such as Dubai, places we don’t usually associate with responsible tourism, included in the long list for the first time. For me this is a clear indication that the wider tourism industry is really recognising the importance and benefits of operating in a responsible way”.

Commenting on the standard of the entries, Chair of the Awards judging panel, Professor Harold Goodwin, says “We have an extremely strong field across all five categories and our judging panel will have some difficult decisions to make later this year. Each of the 75 long listed organisations will now be invited to complete an in-depth review, and provide us with evidence and references to support the impact their work is having.” He adds “It is going to be harder than ever to win this year”.

Simon Press, Awards Judge and Senior Exhibition Director at World Travel Market London, where the 2016 winners will be announced in a special ceremony as part of World Responsible Tourism Day is looking forward to celebrating the eventual winners “The 2016 Long list is a real indication of the calibre of winners we will have this year. I’m looking forward to celebrating 10 years of World Responsible Tourism Day in November by sharing the stories of some of the most innovative, inspirational and effective responsible tourism initiatives we’ve ever seen”.

The 2016 list of finalists will be released in August, with the winners announced in a special ceremony at WTM London during World Responsible Tourism Day on 8th November 2016.

The 2016 Long list

• !Xaus Lodge – South Africa
• African Adventures – UK
• All Out Africa – Swaziland
• Authenticitys – Spain
• Bahia Bustamante Lodge – Argentina
• Basecamp Explorer Kenya – Kenya
• Better Volunteering Better Care – UK
• Blood Lions – South Africa
• Bodhi Surf School – Costa Rica
• Buffalo Tours – UK
• Burj Al Arab Aquarium – UAE
• Bushmans Kloof Wilderness Resort & Wellness Retreat – South Africa
• ChildSafe Movement – Cambodia
• China Highlights International Travel Service Co., LTD – China
• Dyer Island Cruises – South Africa
• Edirisa – Uganda
• Education For All Morocco – Morocco
• Elevate Destinations – USA
• Es Convent d’Ariany – Spain
• Exodus Travels – UK
• explorIndya – India
• ExploRussia – Russia
• Fogo Island Inn – Canada
• Banyan Tree – Seedlings Phuket – Thailand
• Great Plains Conservation – South Africa
• Grootbos Nature Reserve/Grootbos Foundation – South Africa
• Guludo Beach Lodge – Mozambique
• Heritage Tours – India
• High Places – UK
• Ilha Blue Lda – Mozambique
• Kabani Community Tourism & Services (p) ltd – India
• Kerala Hotel & Restaurant Association – Kozhikode – India
• Kerala Tourism – India
• Kibale Association for Rural and Environmental Development (KAFRED) – Uganda
• La Loma Jungle Lodge and Chocolate Farm – Panama
• magdas HOTEL – Austria
• Mara Naboisho Conservancy – Kenya
• Marine Dynamics – South Africa
• Misool – Indonesia
• National Department of Tourism, South Africa – South Africa
• Nimmo Bay Wilderness Resort – Canada
• Nkwichi Lodge – Mozambique
• Ol Pejeta Conservancy – Kenya
• Oxalis Company Limited – Vietnam
• Oyster Worldwide – UK
• Planet Abled – India
• Reef Conservation International – Belize
• Robinson Club – Morocco
• Sam Veasna Centre – Cambodia
• Sapa O’Chau – Vietnam
• Serena Hotels – Kenya
• Shangri La Barr al Jissah Resort – Oman
• Shinta Mani – Cambodia
• Simien Lodge PLC – Ethiopia
• Spier – South Africa
• Stormsriver Adventures Pty Ltd – South Africa
• Taste Belize Tours – Belize
• The Blue Yonder – India
• The East African Safari and Touring Company Ltd. – Tanzania
• The Haven, Uganda – Uganda
• The Lemon Tree Hotel Company – India
• Tiger Mountain Pokhara Lodge – Nepal
• Tongabezi Lodge – Zambia
• Tourism Vancouver – Canada
• Tren Ecuador – Ecuador
• TUI UK & Ireland – UK
• Viaggi Solidali – Italy
• Village Ways – India
• Welcome To My Yard – Nepal
• Wilderness Collection on behalf of Segera – Kenya
• Wilderness Safaris – South Africa
• World Animal Protection – UK
• World Cetacean Alliance – UK
• World Expeditions – UK
• Youth Career Initiative [YCI] – UK

Source: www.responsibletravel.com