The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) is inviting tourism businesses, organisations, and destinations worldwide to apply for its 2012 Tourism for Tomorrow Awards.

Each year, WTTC recognises best practices in sustainable tourism - its Tourism for Tomorrow Awards are one of the highest accolades in the global travel and tourism industry.

Applicants should illustrate how they are demonstrating sustainable tourism practices and management, including maximising social and economic benefits for local people, reducing negative impacts to the environment, and supporting the protection of cultural and natural heritage.

There are four award categories: Global Tourism Business, Conservation, Community Benefit, and Destination Stewardship.

Interested Award applicants can submit their entries online here until December 1st 2011.

WTTC president David Scowsill said: “The Tourism for Tomorrow Awards are unique with their rigorous three-step judging process that includes an expert on-site evaluation.

“Finalists are carefully chosen by an international team of approximately 20 judges representing a wide range of professional backgrounds and sustainable tourism expertise in the Travel & Tourism industry. 

“I am delighted that over the past years the Awards, which recognise sustainable tourism practices, have grown immensely.

“WTTC is proud to honour and celebrate its winners at this year’s WTTC Global Summit in Tokyo from April 16th-19th 2012.”

Winners will meet government and industry leaders at the prestigious Tourism for Tomorrow Awards Ceremony, receive outstanding international media exposure and are invited to submit case studies to WTTC’s website.

“An emerging global green economy is now underway, with sustainable tourism helping to chart the way forward.  Each year, the Tourism for Tomorrow Awards recognise the highest levels of innovation and leadership in sustainable tourism best practice from around the world, transforming the travel and tourism industry in positive ways for local people and the planet,” explained Costas Christ, chairman of Judges.

In 2011 Alpine Pearls won in the Destination Stewardship category, Guludo Beach Lodge won the Community Benefit Award and Singita Pamushana won the Conservation Award.

Strategic partners for the 2012 Tourism for Tomorrow Awards are Travelport and the Travel Corporation’s Conservation Foundation.

“Winning a Tourism for Tomorrow Award is like winning an Oscar or Emmy - it’s a big deal in the travel industry.

“I’m personally very proud of our win because it recognises a goal that we have been committed to since day one of Intrepid,” said 2011 Global Tourism Business Awards winner Geoff Manchester, Intrepid Travel’s general manager & co-founder.