Ecocamp Patagonia tours win big for Responsible Tourism

Read more about: awards, ecotourism, Hotels, London, responsible tourism, responsibletravel.com, Virgin Holidays, World Travel Market (WTM)

The Ecocamp Patagonia tour company has won high honors at this year’s Virgin Holidays Responsible Tourism Awards 2009 for “Best in a Mountain Environment.” The awards, run by responsibletravel.com since 2004, are run in association with World Travel Market (WTM), The Daily Telegraph and Geographical Magazine.

The awards were handed out at a ceremony hosted WTM in London.

“Working our way through this year’s long lists, we were impressed by the willingness of so many organizations to take responsibility and to do what they can to help make better places for people to live in and better places for people to visit,” said Dr. Harold Goodwin, Director, International Center for Responsible Tourism. “Despite the economic difficulties being faced by the travel and tourism industry, responsible tourism continues to move ahead and I’m continually impressed as more is achieved by more people. As judges we are all very aware of the great work that is being done by so many and our decisions are often very difficult and sometimes long debated.“

Cutting edge ecotourism

Ecocamp Patagonia is at the forefront of modern of environmental practices. The organization has designed and developed a highly-innovative, 4 star geodesic dome tented hotel – an almost entirely portable hotel that can be dismantled and removed without leaving a trace in the richly biodiverse National Park.

Taking environmental responsibility even further, the company employs a fully comprehensive Environmental Management System that incorporates a multitude of “green” practices, ranging from hydroelectric turbines and wind generators, to composting devices and solar panels.

“In this, the sixth year of the Awards,” said Justin Francis, founder of The Responsible Tourism Awards and managing director of responsibletravel.com, “I have been particularly impressed to see that despite this year’s recession, organizations continue to come up with innovative ideas around responsible tourism that ensure local communities and environments benefit from tourism as much as possible. The money may have dried out a little in the past year but the passion, ingenuity and creativity certainly hasn’t.”

“In our third year as headline sponsor, the inspiration from the winners, pioneers in the crucial arena, continues to grow,” commented Amanda Wills, managing director of Virgin Holidays, a headline sponsor of the Awards. “As we all strive to get our own businesses in order, taking valuable and creative lessons from this year’s roll call of innovators will certainly play a key part. I am delighted to be part of an event that sees our industry walk the walk…and not just talk the talk.”

For details on the awards and to see other finalists, visit www.responsibletourismawards.com. And, don’t forget to check ou Ecocamp Patagonia at www.ecocamp.travel.

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