Global Responsible Tourism award winners announced

The winners have been unveiled at the Global Responsible Tourism Awards sponsored by Sabre, in London. 

The six Global Responsible Tourism Award winners have all already fought off competition to win gold in their respective regional awards held in Africa, Latin America, the Indian subcontinent, Southeast Asia and a rest of the world category.

The 33 gold regional winners then qualified to compete for a global accolade.

This is the 20^th year of the awards.

Harold Goodwin, founder of  International Centre for Responsible Tourism global said, “Too often the term sustainable is used only in an abstract sense. Responsible Tourism requires us to say what we are doing to make tourism better and to be transparent about what we achieve.”

That’s why all the award winners we are celebrating are evidence-based, replicable, innovative and are actively influencing and inspiring others.”

Tess Longfield, Sabre head of sustainability communications and award sponsor added: “Judging the Global Responsible Tourism Awards has once again left me in awe of the extraordinary work being done, day in and day out, by our finalists.”

The Global Responsible Tourism Award winners for 2024 are:

The Grootbos Private Nature Reserve, Lodge and Foundation in South Africa wins a Global Responsible Tourism award for employing and upskilling local communities. Grootbos Lodge is an ecolodge set in 3,500 hectares of wilderness and has been conserving a growing part of the fynbos overlooking Walker Bay since 1994. The Lodge upskills, trains and mentors its staff and supports and promotes local producers. Its Green Futures College covers the training costs, uniforms, transport, food, stipends and childcare for between 20 and 24 unemployed people each year. www.grootbos.com/en

Tour operator TUI UK and Ireland wins a Global Responsible Tourism Award for making tourism inclusive. TUI UK and Ireland serves more than six million holidaymakers a year. Its dedicated Accessible Holidays Strategy team has partnered with AccessAble to survey hotels and develop detailed access guides which are now available online. It has also partnered with Sign Live to provide interpreting services for British sign language users via video relay. The judges were pleased to see a major tour operator address the needs of those with access needs and hope that others will follow. Assisted Travel with TUI

Jetwing Hotels, Sri Lanka wins the Global Responsible Tourism Award for climate action. Jetwing hotels currently secures 60% of its energy from renewable sources, from biomass, solar PV, solar thermal, and biogas. In 2023, Jetwing Hotels generated 1069 MWh of solar energy across its properties, equivalent to providing power for about 13,490 households www.jetwinghotels.com

Crees Manu in Peru wins the Nature Positive Global Responsible Tourism Award for its work including  running tours and volunteering opportunities as both internships and learning experiences in the Manu Biosphere Reserve.  Crees works to “promote sustainable alternatives that respect human rights, intergenerational rights, biodiversity rights, and the rights of its species to ensure long-term sustainable economic development.” It has reduced greenhouse gas emissions, conserved over 600 hectares of forest in the buffer zone of Manu National Park and works with educational programmes to benefit the local people and conserve biodiversity. www.crees-manu.org

Sivatel Bangkok Hotel wins the Global Responsible Tourism Award for creating local sourcing and creating shared value. The hotel sources 70% of its ingredients organically and is aiming for 100% by 2030.  It achieved zero food waste to landfill in 2023, is striving for zero overall waste by 2024 and plans to integrate renewable energy by 2025. It partners with more than 50 local farmers through the “Sivatel’s Farmer Friends Network and with local producers through the “Sivatel Sustainable Market,” The “From Kitchen to Chicken” program is a closed-loop system, diverting food scraps to feed black soldier fly larvae, which are then used as protein for organic chickens at Tankhun Organic Chicken Farm. Uniforms are designed by Folkcharm, a local sustainable fashion brand. www.sivatelbangkok.com

Rajasthan Studio in India wins the Global Responsible Tourism Award for championing cultural diversity. It curates art experiences with master artisans in Rajasthan, contributing to the preservation of the state’s local traditional crafts and culture. Travellers can connect and interact with the artist. Tourists can understand the history and traditional practices of a specific art form, making a significant contribution to promoting, preserving and propagating art heritage which the judges felt was highly replicable. www.rajasthanstudio.com

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