WTTC launches 'Call for Entries' for 2010 Tourism for Tomorrow Awards

The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) is now inviting tourism companies and organisations from around the world that can demonstrate best practice in sustainable tourism development to submit their applications for the 2010 Tourism for Tomorrow Awards. The deadline for applications is Wednesday 2 December 2009.

To quote Jean-Claude Baumgarten, President & CEO of WTTC: "The Awards, now in their sixth year under WTTC's stewardship, exemplify the Council's multi-stakeholder vision set out in the Blueprint for New Tourism that looks beyond short-term considerations and focuses on benefits not only for the people who travel, but also for people in the communities they visit, and for their respective natural, social and cultural environments."

"The Travel & Tourism industry as a whole has radically changed the way it views sustainability, moving it from the sidelines to centre stage," says Costas Christ, Chairman of Judges of the Tourism for Tomorrow Awards.
The finalists and winners will:

* be publicly recognised and will meet government and industry leaders at the Awards ceremony which takes place at WTTC's annual Global Travel & Tourism Summit
* receive outstanding, international media exposure thanks to WTTC's extensive media partnerships
* be endorsed by a panel of judges comprising internationally acclaimed experts in sustainable tourism.

The Awards are known for their rigorous judging process that follows a three-step approach. To quote Costas Christ: "They are the only global accolade in the field of sustainable travel practices that includes an on-site verification process. This is really the signature key of these Awards."

The Awards are determined in four categories, including:

* Destination Stewardship Award: This award goes to a destination - country, region, state, or town - which comprises a network of tourism enterprises and organisations that show dedication to, and success in, maintaining a programme of sustainable tourism management at the destination level, incorporating social, cultural, environmental and economic aspects as well as multi-stakeholder engagement.
* Conservation Award: Open to any tourism business, organisation or attraction, including lodges, hotels, or tour operators, able to demonstrate that their tourism development and operations have made a tangible contribution to the conservation of natural heritage.
* Community Benefit Award: This award is for a tourism initiative that has effectively demonstrated direct benefits to local people, including capacity building, the transfer of industry skills, and support for community development.
* Global Tourism Business Award: Open to any large company from any sector of Travel & Tourism - cruise lines, hotel groups, airlines, tour operators, etc - with at least 200 full-time employees and operating in more than one country or in more than one destination in a single country, this award recognises best practices in sustainable tourism at a large company level.

The Tourism for Tomorrow Awards are endorsed by WTTC Members, as well as other organisations and companies. They are organised in association with two Strategic Partners:Travelport and The Leading Travel Companies' Conservation Foundation. Other sponsors/supporters include: Adventures in Travel Expo, BEST Education Network, the Daily Telegraph, Friends of Nature, Rainforest Alliance, Reed Travel Exhibitions, Sustainable Travel International, Travesias, USA Today and the World Heritage Alliance.

For further information about the Tourism for Tomorrow Awards or for details on how to apply, please contact Susann Kruegel, Manager e-Strategy and Tourism for Tomorrow Awards at info@tourismfortomorrow.com or by phone on +44 (0) 20 7481 8007, or visit our website at www.tourismfortomorrow.com

Presenters announced for conference on responsible tourism

On October 19th to the 23rd, 2009 the Third International Conference on Responsible Tourism in Destinations will be carried out in Belmopan City, Belize. Delegates from all around the world will convene to witness, discuss, and share presentations and their professional hindsight on some pressing issues of the Global Tourism Industry.

Our list of presenters includes Dr. Harold Goodwin, ICRT-UK; Adama Bah ICRT-West Africa; Ron Mader, Planeta.com; Sharon Pererra, Protected Areas Conservation Trust; Guido Bauer, Green Globe International; Andrea Gough, World Heritage Alliance; Dr. Bill Eishbaum, World Wildlife Fund; Dr. Martha Honey, CESD; Dr. Robert Richardson, Michigan State University, and the list of respected experts in the Tourism and Sustainable Development field continues.

These panelists will be expounding on topics that include Tourism and Local Economic Development; Tourism Impacts on Climate Change; The Impacts of Cruise Tourism; Second Homes and Condominiums and their impact on local communities; Tourism Impacts on Marine and Coastal Zones; and Tourism Planning for Natural Disaster and Pandemics.

The Co-directors and team at ICRT-Belize and the country of Belize, invites all to visit and participate in this grand one-week event. For more information, please feel free to contact info@icrtbelize.org or abil@icrtbelize.org.