VESTAS to VISTAS: Global rollout begins

VISTAS now to roll out globally starting with Asia Pacific

The 2011 VESTAS were announced to a packed audience and 12 sustainable tourism initiatives got chosen as Best of the Best of the Best.

SEE PICTURES BY DEEPIKA UNNI HERE

Followed by a great Burundi dance and drum ensemble.

Nominations were showcased for sustainable tourism, unsustainable tourism (the “Rusty Nail Award”) and Peace in Tourism (an effort for the 2012 Olympic Games supported by Lord Coe)
After Herbert Hamele of Ecotrans outlined the reasoning behind the awards, the judging process, the categories and the judges, the first years’ VESTAS ‘Outstanding Examples’ of European

Sustainable Tourism were announced:

Destination Outstanding Examples :

• Pielachtal Austria www.pielachtal.info/default.asp

Transport Outstanding Examples:

• Asker ag Baerum O-Taxi Norwaywww.0-taxi.no/

Attractions Outstanding Examples:

• Bournemouth Seafront  England www.bournemouth.gov.uk/
• Høve Støtt Hallingdal  Norway www.hovestott.no

Tour Operator Outstanding Examples:

• Rabbie’s Trail Burners Scotland www.rabbies.com/

Accommodation Outstanding Examples:

• Basecamp Oulanka  Finland www.basecampoulanka.fi/page.asp
• Bio-Hotel Kenner’s Landlust Germany www.kenners-landlust.de/
• Creativhotel Luise Germany www.hotel-luise.de/
• Gutshaus Stellshagen  Germany www.gutshaus-stellshagen.com
• Naturressort Schindelbruch Germanywww.schindelbruch.de/
• Treshnish and Haunn Cottages Scotland www.treshnish.co.uk/

Judging was carried out in individual topics by recognised specialist experts:

• Natural and Cultural Heritage :
• Climate Change, Energy & Resource Efficiency:
• Sustainable Transport & Travel:
• Sustainable Supply Chain Management:
• Destination Management & Good Governance:
• Knowledge Networking, Training & Education:
• Quality Assessment, Certification & Marketing:
• Sustainable Consumption and Production & Tourism

Experts were: Marion Hammerl, Francesca Conti, Ghislain Dubois, Karl Reiner, Naut Kusters, Richard Denman, Mikael Backman, Herbert Hamele and Gordon Sillence

The 95 nominees will now be published on the DestiNet ‘Atlas of Excellence’ www.destinet.eu/marketplace

And in TravelMole.com

To showcase sustainable tourism worldwide, the VESTAS (Vision European Sustainable Tourism Awards} will now morph into the VISTAS (Vision International Sustainable Tourism Awards).

Gopinath Parayil VISTAs & The Blue Yonder (Global Co-ordinator), Herbert Hamele Ecotrans, Valere Tjolle TravelMole/Vision on Sustainable Tourism, Gordon Sillence Destinet

Regional events will be held during 2011 and 2012 in:

• North America
• Caribbean & Latin America
• Europe    
• AsiaPacific
• Middle East    
• Africa

For full details and to get the VESTAS ITB presentation pdf visit:VESTAS

Valere Tjolle
Valere Tjolle is editor of the Sustainable Tourism Report Suite. Special Offer on Sustainable Tourism Marketing Guide CLICK HERE Special Offer on Sustainable Tourism Ministers Briefing CLICK HERE