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Social innovation refreshes the pool at WTM
You need to watch this HERE
Cathy Mack: SockMob: Roros: New names, inspiration and social inclusion get to the fore at this years WTM
Joint overall winners of the Responsible Tourism Award was SockMob Tours – who?
“Want to challenge your view of what it means to be a person living in London? Then come on our alternative walking tours and discover one of the world’s most vibrant and paradoxical cities as you’ve never seen it before!”
“Inspired by The Sock Mob, a volunteer network engaging with London’s homeless, our Unseen Tours bring you an entertaining and poignant walk with professionally coached homeless guides, offering you historical but also unexplored glimpses of the city, as perceived through the lens of homelessness. Uniquely, the tours interweave our homeless guides’ own stories and experiences, introducing a new social consciousness into commercial walking tours.”
Sockmob: http://sockmobevents.org.uk/
Ever ready to confront the big issues, Cathy Mack deservedly won ‘Best in responsible tourism writing’ for her article Tourism must tap into the water issue,
Originally appearing as part of her 'Ethical traveller' column in the Irish Times, Catherine Mack's thought-provoking piece impressed the judges for bringing attention to the issue of water consumption for travellers. Something of a rarity in travel journalism, the piece is praised for offering an honest view of an overlooked and yet considerable tourism issue, highlighting it clearly to the travelling mainstream.
And a mining town turned holiday resort in Norway bagged the ‘Best Destination’ prize: Destination Røros, Norway
This former mining-town in Norway may have been named a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1980, but it's been preserving traditions as a tourist destination for over 85 years. Attracting over one million visitors each year, the town of just 3700 inhabitants maintains its sense of place through a 'local knowledge' programme run for over 90 businesses, local food safaris and much more.
Destination Roros: http://www.roros.no/?set_lang=en
See the rest of the winners at: http://www.responsibletravel.com/awards/winners/2011.htm
Valere Tjolle
Valere is editor of the Sustainable Tourism Report Suite 2011 Get your copy at a special offer price: HERE
Valere
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