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WTTC's 2005 Tourism for Tomorrow Awards |
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8 April 2005, New Delhi, India - The World Travel & Tourism Council
today announced the winners of the 2005 Tourism for Tomorrow Awards.
The awards, until last year under the auspices of British Airways, recognize
and promote best practice in tourism development all over the world.
The winners are:-
Costas Christ, a world expert on sustainable tourism, said �Protecting the places that matter most to us is vital. The Earth�s cultural and natural heritage must be maintained if future generations are going to benefit economically and socially from Travel & Tourism. The winners of the 2005 Tourism for Tomorrow Awards are demonstrating that business success and responsible tourism practices can go hand in hand.� Jurassic Coast, United Kingdom � Destination Award Winner A partnership between more than 200 local, national and international stakeholders, Jurassic Coast has worked hard to bring the principles of sustainable tourism to the Dorset and East Devon Coast of England. This includes designation as a World Heritage Site and successful protection of both cultural and natural heritage of the region. Jurassic Coast is showing the world how successful destination stewardship through careful tourism planning can lead to economic development and cultural revitalization for rural and urban communities. Damaraland Camp, Namibia � Conservation Award Winner Part of the Wilderness Safaris groups of lodges in Southern Africa, Damaraland Camp was among the first in Namibia to successfully link tourism, community partnership and conservation. The result is an 180,000 hectare protected area established and managed by the local communities who directly benefit economically through tourism as partners in Damaraland Camp. In the ten years of the project, wildlife populations in the Nature conservancy area have doubled and the model of private sector/community partnership, successfully pioneered by Damaraland Camp, has spread to other areas of Namibia and southern Africa, helping to achieve vitally important conservation of natural areas as well as community economic development. Haciendas del Mundo Maya, Mexico � Investor in People Award Winner The Haciendas del Mundo Maya are found in Mexico�s Yucatan Peninsular and represent outstanding architecture, historical preservation and one of the world�s most unique and luxurious travel experiences. The partnership between the Grupo Plan company, Starwood Hotels and Resorts and the Foundation Haciendas del Mundo Maya represents the true meaning of travel and tourism being an Investor in People. Working closely with local Mayan communities, the Haciendas del Mundo Maya have played a key role in poverty alleviation and Myan cultural heritage preservation. They have brought literacy training and micro enterprise development workshops, revived traditional handicraft making and helped to secure legal land ownership for thousands of Mayan villagers. The Haciendas del Mundo Maya are showing how responsible tourism can be a successful business strategy and directly help to alleviate poverty at the same time. As an example of this, the Mayan villagers they work with today own and manage their own businesses that operate in partnership with the Haciendas. Casuarina Beach Club, Barbados � Global Tourism Business Award Winner It�s hard to book a room at the Casuarina Beach Club because they have one of the highest occupancy rates in the Caribbean. They also have one of the most advanced environmental hotel management systems in the world. This goes well beyond asking guests to reuse their towels to help protect the environment. Rather, Casuarina Beach Club has water and energy saving devices throughout their entire 10 acre property and staff are trained in all aspects of environmentally sensitive hotel operations. In addition, Casuarina educates its guests about sustainable tourism practices. Their efforts prove that you can be a profitable hotel business and also a leader in protecting the environment. About WTTC
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The World Travel & Tourism Council Richard Miller 1 646 338 0300 www.wttc.org |