Nominations requested for BA Tourism for Tomorrow awards

Thursday, 02 May, 2002 0

British Airways is now inviting nominations for this year’s Tourism for Tomorrow awards.

The annual awards aim to raise the awareness of the world’s role models for sustainable tourism. There are categories which fit across a range of industry sectors, such as hotels, resorts, cruise ships, theme parks, camps, tour companies, national parks, old and new buildings and wildlife attractions.

The judges are looking for projects which benefit the local community, protect the natural and cultural heritage, control energy and water use, educate local people and visitors and also contribute towards a better life for future generations.

Past winners include The Wetland Centre in Barnes, Taybet Zaman Village Hotel and Resort in Jordan, Skyrail in Australia, Karimabad and Baltit Project Development in Pakistan, the Aspen Skiing Company in Colorado, USA, Coral Cay Conservation in Belize, a Himalayan conservation project in Nepal, a community project in Hawaii, Vale do Lima in Portugal and Chumbe Island Coral Park in Zanzibar.

Eleanor Carter, project manager of previous winner, Chumbe Island Coral Park, said: “When we received the British Airways Global Tourism for Tomorrow Award, at first we had no idea of the impact it would have on our project. It took only one month for our bookings to more than double, as people from around the world heard about Chumbe Island through magazines, newspapers, radio and TV. Winning the award has taken the Chumbe Eco-lodge from being a small, struggling conservation, education and eco-tourism initiative to becoming a globally recognised example of tourism of the future.”

Professor David Bellamy, chairman of the British Airways Tourism for Tomorrow global judging panel said: “If you know of, or have visited somewhere in the world which you think is using tourism to contribute to its local environment, and could be used as a role model to other tourism organisations, please let the British Airways Tourism for Tomorrow awards know the details.”

Closing date for entries is 1 July 2002. For details about the awards and an entry form, visit the Tourism for Tomorrow Awards website or contact: British Airways Tourism for Tomorrow Awards, Australasia House, Waterside (HBBG), PO Box 365, Harmondsworth, UB7 OGB. Tel: 020 8738 6500; Fax: 020 8738 9850.