VESTAS Countdown to ITB awards unveiled

Deadline extended to 31 January due to large number of submissions

The countdown to the Vision and Destinet Sustainable European Tourism Awards has been announced.

Due to the enormous number of submissions and requests for more time to submit applications the initial deadline has been extended until 31 January.

In February the panel of experts will make the initial selection for the short lists. During this time all the submitted entrants will be showcased in Vision on Sustainable Tourism and other media.

In March, at the ITB all entrants will be presented and the winners of the awards will be announced.

VESTAS are the sustainable tourism ‘Award of Awards’ Entrants are only accepted from the European award-giving or certifying organizations.

The VESTAS: Vision-Destinet European Sustainable Tourism Awards: have now announced how participants can enter the new award and details of the judging process:

The award will initially be based on four territorial areas in Europe: Coastal, Urban, Rural, Protected. As the categories overlap, participants need to select the type of area that best reflects the setting of the proposed entrant. In each area interested stakeholders can enter places, products or services in the following categories:

1. Most Sustainable/Responsible Carrier Including all types of transport services in the sub-categories ´rail`, ´road`, ´air` or ´water.`
2. Most Sustainable/Responsible Accommodation including the sub-categories hotels (1-50 beds, 50 plus beds), bed & breakfast, group accommodation, holiday houses, camping sites or resorts.
3. Most Sustainable/Responsible Attraction including the sub-categories “culture” (e.g. museums, monuments), “nature” (e.g. visitor centres, zoos, beaches), “leisure” (e.g. outdoor sport areas, holiday parks).
4. Most Sustainable/Responsible Tour Package These can be offered by local or international tour operators & travel agents.
5. Most Sustainable/Responsible Destination The scale here should be either villages, towns, cities or county-level (NUTS 3 or smaller according to European Nomenclature. Regions and larger destinations cannot be included for verification purposes. The destination must have a clearly defined principal destination management organization (e.g. local council, partnership, company, etc).
6. There is also to be a ‘Rusty Nail” award and a special award for Peace from Tourism.

Organisations from the following countries may participate:
Albania, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Belgium, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Denmark, England, Estonia, Finland, France, FYR Macedonia, Germany, Georgia, Greece, Guernsey, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Jersey, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Moldova, Netherlands, Northern Ireland, Norway, Palestine, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Scotland, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, Ukraine and Wales

Information in detail at: destinet.ew.eea.europa.eu/tools/fol703514/fol588962/travelmoledestinet-sustainable-tourism-awards/further-details-categories/

Valere Tjolle

Valere Tjolle is editor of the Sustainable Tourism Report Suite 2011 – latest news on the suite at
 www.travelmole.com/stories/1145712.php