Major ITB stage for massive top100 sustainable destinations event

2018 Award ceremony – "Sensational"

Award ceremony to include new ITB Earth award – short list announced

After its major success last year at the Paleis Stage, the Top100 Sustainable Destinations ‘Best of the Best’ awards will take centre stage again this year – even bigger and even  better!

Once again, ITB Berlin is hosting the most prestigious Awards Ceremony for Sustainable Destinations. This event is dedicated to recognise innovation and good practices in tourism management: islands, towns, regions and whole countries.

The Awards presentation, 6 March 2019 4pm, will be hosted by ITB Berlin, the world’s leading travel and trade show. 44 Sustainable tourism success stories have been submitted by the 100 top-sustainable destinations, available on www.sustainabletop100.org.

The award winners have been selected by a Jury representing 12 international organisations. The Jury will announce the Best of Cities, the Best of Communities & Culture, the Best of Nature, the Best of Seaside, the ITB Earth Award (combating climate change and environmental degradation), and also the Best of the Planet (Best of Africa, Best of Asia-Pacific, Best of Europe & Best of the Americas).

ITB Earth Award: Destination showing global leadership in combatting climate change and environmental degradation.

Best of Culture & Communities: Global leadership in protecting culture and tradition, involving local communities, and avoiding overtourism.

Best of Cities:  City showing global leadership in urban sustainability and avoiding disruptive mass tourism (overtourism).

Best of Nature: destination showing global leadership in protecting wildlife, natural habitats and landscapes.

Best of Ecotourism: destination showing global leadership in offering responsible ecotourism opportunities

Best of Seaside:  coastal or island destination showing global leadership in offering sustainable water-related tourism and leisure opportunities

Best of the Planet: the best green destination of each continent.

SHORT LIST:

AND THE SHORT LIST IS…

2019 Sustainable Top 100 Destination Award Winners

Best of Cities: city showing global leadership in urban sustainability and avoiding disruptive mass tourism (overtourism).

•  Ljubljana, Slovenia
• Vancouver, Canada
• Taiping, Malaysia

Best of Culture & Communities: global leadership in protecting culture and tradition, involving local communities.

• Petra Archeological Park, Jordan
• Berguedà, Catalunya, Spain
•  Gozo, Malta

Best of Nature: destination showing global leadership in protecting wildlife, natural habitats and landscapes.

• Sani Isla (Sucumbíos and Orellana Prov.), Ecuador
• Jackson Hole-Yellowstone (Wyoming), USA
• Bison Land, Romania
• QualityCoast Delta, the Netherlands
• Lake Tahoe, USA

Best of Ecotourism: destination showing global leadership in offering responsible ecotourism opportunities.

•  Sierra Gorda, Mexico
• Guyana
• Tmatboey, Cambodia

Best of Seaside

• Villasimius & Capo Carbonara M.P.A, Italy
• Torroella de Montgrí L’Estartit, Spain
• Baiona, Galicia, Spain
• Lindesnesregionen, Norway

ITB Earth Award: destination showing global leadership in combatting climate change and environmental degradation.

• To be announced

Best of Africa

• Loisaba Conservancy, Kenya
• Felicité island, Seychelles
• Kahuzi Biega National Park, D.R. Congo
• Chumbe Island, Tanzania

Best of Asia-Pacific

• The Red Centre, Australia
• High Pamirs, Tajikistan
• Bhutan
• Lio Tourism Estate, Philippines
• Turgen Gorge Trekking Camp, Ile-Alatau NP, Kazakhstan
• Bardia National Park, Nepal

Best of The Americas

• Thompson Okanagan, Canada
• Puerto Natales, Chile
• Galapagos National Park, Ecuador

Best of Europe

• Terres de l’Ebre, Catalunya, Spain
• Lagos
• County Down
• Pafos
• Norderney
• Portugal
• Bled, Slovenia
• Mali Losinj, Croatia
• Idrija, Slovenia
• Agueda, Portugal
• Cogne, Valle d’Aosta, Italy
• Koper, Slovenia
•  Lyngenfiord region, Norway
• Town of Drniš, Croatia
• Rogaška Slatina, Slovenia

And the event will present the first selection of the 2019 Top 100 list. Nominations http://greendestinations.org/2019-top100-awards/ for the full 2019 Top 100 selection are open until May 1st, 2019.

This is an opportunity for local governments and protected areas to showcase "green destinations" to the travel sector and the media.

Being recognized at ITB Berlin, the world’s leading Travel Trade Show, is key for destinations to bring their story to the general public but also to tour operators aiming to improve sustainability or their offer. Therefore, the event will also host the Travelife Award Ceremony highlighting the role of tour operators in greening the tourism supply chain.

At the end of the Awards event, the organisers will unveil the World’s Top 10 Sustainable Destinations leading the way towards quality, attractiveness and sustainability in tourism. These destinations provide best practice experience for destination managers to involve their local communities in tourism, and to avoid overtourism problems as we have seen in many iconic places.

More info: http://sustainabletop100.org/

Valere Tjolle

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