New Zealand wins top award at the Virgin Holidays Responsible Tourism Awards 2008

At a ceremony hosted at World Travel Market (WTM), Docklands, London, the Awards were handed out by Justin Francis, managing director of responsibletravel.com, organizers and founders of the Awards, and Amanda Wills, managing director of Virgin Holidays, headline sponsor of the Awards.

The judges declared New Zealand the overall winner for proving that it is possible to develop a national strategy which uses tourism to help make better places to live and to visit. New Zealand has implemented many of the principles of the Cape Town Declaration on Responsible Tourism in Destinations and demonstrated what national government can achieve – working with the private sector, local communities and local government – by harnessing tourism to benefit their people and their environment. If more national governments followed their example, tourism would make a much more positive contribution around the world.

The judges said: “New Zealand has implemented many of the principles of the Cape Town Declaration on Responsible Tourism in Destinations and demonstrated what national government can achieve – working with the private sector, local communities and local government – by harnessing tourism to benefit their people and their environment. If more national governments followed their example, tourism would make a much more positive contribution around the world.”

An additional 13 awards were presented in a range of categories which included Best for Poverty Reduction, Best Volunteering Organisation, Best Personal Contribution, Best Large Hotel and new for 2008 – Best Cruise or Ferry Operator. The winners and highly commended organizations’ details are outlined below.

Justin Francis, founder of The Responsible Tourism Awards and managing director, responsibletravel.com, organisers of the Awards said: “In this, the fifth year of the Awards, the bar has been raised for responsible tourism yet again. What inspires me is the efforts that businesses and destinations are making to ensure that responsible tourism lies at the heart of their strategies and plans. Without a doubt, this is the only way to plan for the future – responsible travel is not a passing fad or a niche travel trend for marketing purposes. It is an entire, holistic approach to tourism operations.”

Amanda Wills, managing director, Virgin Holidays, headline sponsor of the Awards said: “As headline sponsor for a second year, I have been both moved and inspired by the winners this year. Certainly there is much to learn from them, and it was a privilege to recognise and celebrate their efforts in this arena. It’s in the doing not the saying that we as an industry will make a difference, the winners lead the way.”

Launched in 2004, the Awards are run in association with partners World Travel Market, The Daily Telegraph, Geographical Magazine and BBC World News.

More winners

• Best Tour Operator, sponsored by The Adventure Company – Winner: Explore, UK
• Best Large Hotel / Accommodation (more than 50 rooms), sponsored by Hyatt Hotels & Resorts – Winner: Kingfisher Bay Resort, Fraser Island, Australia
• Best Small Hotel / Accommodation (less than 50 rooms) sponsored by VisitBrighton – Winner: Nkwichi Lodge, Mozambique
• Best Low Carbon Transport & Technology sponsored by Maison de la France – Winner: Bycyklen – The Foundation City Bikes in Copenhagen (Denmark)
• Best in a Mountain Environment sponsored by Exodus – Winner: Community Action Treks & Community Action Nepal, UK/Nepal
• Best in a Marine Environment sponsored by Royal Caribbean – Winner: Ecoventura, Ecuador
• Best Cruise or Ferry Operator sponsored by The Passenger Shipping Association – Winner: Holland America Line, USA
• Best for Poverty Reduction sponsored by PromPeru – Winner: Gambia is Good Project, The Gambia
• Best for Conservation of Endangered Species or Protected Area sponsored by South Australian Tourism Commission – Winner: Gamewatchers Safaris & Porini Camps, Kenya
• Best for Conservation of Cultural Heritage sponsored by Jamaica Tourist Board – Winner: Shigar Fort – Palace Restoration Project, Pakistan
• Best Volunteering Organisation sponsored by Intrepid Travel – Winner: Camps International, UK
• Best Destination sponsored by Conservation International – Winner: New Zealand
• Best personal contribution sponsored by Tourism Ireland – Joint winner: Jane Ashton – Head of Sustainable Development – TUI Travel PLC, Joint winner: Diana McIntyre-Pike – Chair/CEO – Countrystyle Community Tourism Network

About The Virgin Holidays Responsible Tourism Awards
The Awards are the most prestigious and competitive of their kind in the world and are a collaboration between online travel directory responsibletravel.com, UK media partners The Daily Telegraph, Geographical Magazine and BBC World News, and World Travel Market who host the event. Now in their fifth year, the central tenet of the Awards is that all types of tourism – from niche to mainstream – can and should be operated in a way that respects and benefits destinations and local people. This year a record 1,976 nominations were received from travellers around the world voting for tourism ventures that provide outstanding holidays that also benefit local people and destinations.

About responsibletravel.com
responsibletravel.com is the world’s leading online ethical travel company, selling over 3,000 holidays from over 270 specialist operators and 550 accommodations. All the holidays meet specific responsible tourism guidelines and aim to create better places for people to live and to visit. Launched in 2001 with backing from Dame Anita Roddick, the website is for travellers who want more real and authentic holidays that also benefit the environment and local people. The organisation – based in Brighton, England – also campaigns for positive change in the travel and tourism industry.