Sisterhood of Nepalese survivors, tech park, treetop walk, honoured

Sisterhood celebrates

Sustainable tourism initiatives recognized by the UNWTO Awards

The Itaipu Technological Park (Brazil), the Treetop Walking Path (Lithuania), the Sisterhood of Survivors Program (Nepal) and Re-Inventing the Government in Tourism (Indonesia) were the winners of the 12th UNWTO Awards for Excellence and Innovation in Tourism.

The projects were selected among more than 100 candidates from 30 countries.

Said UNWTO Secretary-General Taleb Rifai: "The UNWTO Awards aim to honor those that everyday work for the benefit of host communities, supporting the livelihoods of local people and protecting our environment and our culture for future generations."

"All 16 finalists are an example to all of us of how the principles of the UNWTO Global Code of Ethics for Tourism and the objectives set in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) can inspire sustainable tourism"

The UNWTO Ulysses Awardees for Innovation, distinguished in the four categories, were:

UNWTO Award for Innovation in Public Policy and Governance

• Winner: Re-Inventing the Government in Tourism, Pemkab Banyuwangi, Indonesia
• First Runner-up: East Africa Tourism Platform, Kenya
• Second Runners-up: Green Certifications Program, Puerto Rico Tourism Company, Puerto Rico Responsible Tourism and Free of Crime in Medellín, Alcaldía de Medellín, Colombia

UNWTO Awards for Innovation in Enterprises

• Winner: Treetop Walking Path, Anykš-iai Regional Park Direction, Lithuania
• Runners up: Bali Beach Clean-Up, Garuda Indonesia, Indonesia, World´s First 100% Electric Tour Bus, Switzerland Explorer Tours, Switzerland
• Second Runners-up: Plentifulness Project, Projeto Fartura, Brazil, First Professional Experience Project, Meli Hotels International, Spain

UNWTO Award for Innovation in Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs)                                                                                

• Winner: Sisterhood of Survivors (SOS) Program, Samrakshak Samuha Nepal (Sasane), Nepal
• First Runner-up: Coral Reef Reborn, Yayasan Karang Lestari, Indonesia
• Second Runners-up: The Child safe Movement, Friends-International, Cambodia, Children in the Wilderness, South Africa

UNWTO Award for Innovation in Research and Technology

• Winner: Itaipu Touristic Complex, Fundação Parque Tecnológico, Brazil
• First Runners-up: Mobile Application Bike Rijeka, Rijeka Tourist Board, Croatia, Korea Medical Tourism Online Platform, Korea Tourism Organization, Republic of Korea

Valere Tjolle

@ValereTjolle [email protected]