Kiwis take top green award

New Zealand has become overall winner of the global Virgin Holidays Responsible Tourism Awards handed out at World Travel Market.

The country also clinched the best destination award for its national, strategic approach to responsible tourism.

The judges hailed New Zealand for demonstrating what national government can achieve in working with the private sector, local communities and local government to harness tourism to benefit their people and their environment.

“If more national governments followed their example, tourism would make a much more positive contribution around the world,” the judging panel added.

 A further 13 awards were handed out, with Explore judged to be the best tour operator and First Choice highly commended.

Jane Ashton, TUI Travel’s head of sustainable development, was joint winner of the best personal contribution award, shared with Diana McIntyre-Pyke, CEO of the Countrystyle Community Tourism network in Jamaica.

Holland America Line was judged to be the best cruise or ferry operator, a new category in the awards.

The best large hotel was named as Kingfisher Bay Resort, Fraser Island in Australia, while the best small hotel was Nkwichi Lodge in Mozambique.

The Foundation City Bikes in Copenhagen took the award for best low carbon transport and technology. Community Action Treks & Community Action Nepal was best in a mountain environment and best in a marine environment went to Ecoventura in Ecuador.

Gambia is Good Project won the award for poverty reduction and Kenya-based Gamewatchers Safaris was best for conservation of endangered species.

Shigar Fort-Palace restoration project in Pakistan was best for conservation of cultural heritage and the best volunteering organization was judged to be UK-based Camps International.

Awards organiser Justin Francis, managing director of responsibletravel.com, said: “What inspires me is the efforts that businesses and destinations are making to ensure that responsible tourism lies at the heart of their strategies and plans.

“Without a doubt this is the only way to plan for the future – responsible travel is not a passing fad or niche trend for marketing purposes. It is an entire, holistic approach to tourism operations.”

Virgin Holidays managing director Amanda Wills said: “It’s in the doing not the saying that we as an industry will make a difference, the winners lead the way.”

by Phil Davies