Award winners combine ethics and success

Joint winners of the World Responsible Tourism Awards 2014 showcased examples of key themes this year – accessible tourism and animal welfare.

Brazil-based Campo and Parque dos Sonhos and the South African Animal Sanctuary Alliance were awarded in front 500 industry professionals, tourism ministers, officials and press, at the event sponsored by the Sultanate of Oman Ministry of Tourism.

Campo and Parque dos Sonhos was chosen for leading the way in enabling families and groups of friends to holiday together, and participate in the same activities whether able-bodied or not – with accessible tourism featured in the awards programme for the first time in 2014.

All adventure activities, zip lines, canopy tours, bicycles, hiking trails, carriage rides and more have been adapted for all to use, created by founder Jose Fernandes Franco.

Operational procedures have been adapted and all staff are trained to be able to welcome and assist fully able guests as well as those with a huge range of disabilities – mental, developmental and physical.

Ten years ago in Brazil, people with disabilities were restricted to their homes until a law passed to allow access to public spaces within four years.

The Awards judges, led by Professor Harold Goodwin of the ICRT, said they were impressed by how far beyond the basic criteria demanded by this law that Campo and Parque dos Sonhos had gone, providing a model for accessible tourism internationally.

The South African Animal Sanctuary Alliance (SAASA) was recognised for its efforts to successfully use tourism to fund sanctuaries where previously abused, captive primates, big cats and birds can live in protected habitats, leading normal and healthy lives.

Daniel Turner, spokesperson for the Born Free Foundation, sponsor of the ‘Best for Animal Welfare’ category said earlier this year: "This award acknowledges that there are many tourist activities that are detrimental to animals and encourages practices that ensure higher standards in animal care around the world. Animals should not be caged, tethered, ridden, or chased just to entertain unwitting tourists on holiday."

The judges said: "Both winners demonstrate that it is possible to address the rights agenda, to swim against the tide, and be commercially successful."

Other winners were:

Best for Animal Welfare – supported by the Born Free Foundation

Gold winners: South African Animal Sanctuary Alliance and World Animal Protection

Best Aviation Programme for Carbon Reduction – sponsored by Visit Gozo

Gold winner: Thomson Airways

Best for Beach Tourism – sponsored by Jersey Tourism

Gold winner: Chole Mjini Conservation & Development Co. Ltd, Tanzania

Silver winner: Casa de las Olas, Mexico

Best City Hotel – sponsored by Los Cabos Tourism Board

Gold winner: Hotel Verde, Cape Town, South Africa

Silver winners: ITC Grand Chola, Chennai, India and Jurys Inn, Brighton, UK

Best Cultural Heritage Attraction – sponsored by Wightlink

Silver winner: Festivals of Puebla, Mexico

Best Destination – sponsored by Visit Norway

Gold winner: V&A Waterfront, Cape Town, South Africa

Best for Engaging People & Cultures – sponsored by New York State Division of Tourism

Gold winner: Kutch Adventures, India

Silver winner: Footsteps Ecolodge, The Gambia

Best for People with Disabilities – sponsored by Enable Holidays

Gold winner: Campo and Parque dos Sonhos, Brazil and Cavan Town & Environs, Ireland

Silver winner: NATIVE Charming Hotels & Accessible Tourism, Spain

Best for Poverty Reduction – sponsored by Tobago House of Assembly

Gold winner:  Adventure Alternative, UK

Silver winner: Lewa Wildlife Conservancy, Kenya

Best for Wildlife Conservation – sponsored by Discover Dominica Authority

Gold winner: Echidna Walkabout Nature Tours, Australia

Silver winners: Chambal Safari Hotels Pvt Ltd, India and On Track Safaris, South Africa

Best Short Film for Responsible Tourism – sponsored by Fair Trade Tourism

Gold winner: Travel Oregon: Communities Powered by Travel – John Day River Territory, Oregon, USA

Silver winners: GLP Films: Basecamp Foundation – Pioneering Sustainable Tourism in Kenya’s Masai Mara and WWF – The Guardians

People’s Choice in Responsible Tourism – sponsored by Spirit Slovenia

Winner: Nam Nern Night Safari, Lao PDR

Stories and images from each of the winners can be found at http://www.worldresponsibletourismawards.com