The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) last night announced the winners of the 2007 Tourism for Tomorrow Awards at the Gala Dinner for the 7th Global Travel & Tourism Summit. The Awards recognize and promote the best practices in tourism development all over the world. The winners of the four categories are:

Destination Award - Great Barrier Reef, Australia

Conservation Award - Aspen Skiing Company, USA

Investor in People Award - Nihiwatu Resort, Indonesia

Global Tourism Business Award - Lindblad Expeditions, USA & Global

 

The winners were selected by a panel of five judges, chaired by Costas Christ, world expert in sustainable tourism. The judging process included on-site evaluation visits of all award finalists by a team of sustainable tourism experts around the world. The panel of judges consisted of:-

 

Costas Christ, Judging Chairman, Tourism for Tomorrow Awards, UK

Graham Boynton, Group Travel Editor, The Telegraph Media Group, UK

The Hon John Briceño, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Natural Resources, Local Government and the Environment, Belize

Fiona Jeffery, Managing Director, World Travel Market, UK

Hitesh Mehta, Director of Ecotourism, EDSA Landscape Architects, Planners & Graphic Designers, USA

WTTC Chairman Geoffrey Kent applauded the work of the winners and finalists of this year’s Awards and commented, “Over the past few years, we have witnessed a positive growth in environmentally sustainable business activity not only among the Travel & Tourism industry but also beyond. Consumer consciousness has encouraged companies, and especially WTTC companies, to engage in sustainable programs by delivering environmentally friendly products.” He added, “While there remains a need to generate profit, the Tourism for Tomorrow Awards are helping demonstrate that companies can balance business and economic growth with ethics and sustainability.”

 

During the official ceremony, Costas Christ said, “The 2007 Tourism for Tomorrow Awards winners represent a major turning point in the global tourism industry. Gone are the days when there were only a handful of ecolodges or a few small tour operators who were doing sustainable tourism successfully. Today’s best practice models also represent major tourism destinations and global tourism companies that are helping to protect cultural and natural heritage and support the well being of local peoples.”

 

The awards are sponsored Adventure in Travel Expo, British Airways, Esp’rito Santo Tourism, Fairmont Hotels & Resorts, Opodo, Reed Travel Exhibitions and TAP Portugal. Media partners include 4hoteliers, BBC World, ETurboNews, National Geographic Adventure, Newsweek, Simon & Baker Travel Review, The Telegraph Media Group, TravelDailyNews, the Travel Channel, TravelMole, Travel Weekly, TTN Middle East and WOW.travel.
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