Green tourism to be recognised in awards
The rise in green tourism are being reflected in the second annual Sustainable Tourism award as part of the Tourism ExSEllence Awards 2007 for South East England.
Visitor attractions are being encouraged to enter the awards run by regional tourist board Tourism South East.
The awards recognise quality facilities, customer service and innovation across Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire, Hampshire, Surrey, Sussex, the Isle of Wight and Kent.
The sustainable tourism category is open to all businesses including hotels, bed and breakfast establishments and other accommodation providers, visitor attractions and other tourism products and services.
“All entrants must demonstrate outstanding quality, customer service excellence and innovation across their operation,” a spokesman said.
Joint winners last year were the Old Chapel Forge B&B in Lagness near Chichester and the Ashdown Forest Llama Park.
Tourism South East managing director Bob Collier said: “In an increasingly competitive travel market, there are growing numbers of ‘green conscious’ consumers looking for holidays which minimise their environmental footprint.
“As an industry which employs 250,000 people in the South East and contributes more than £10 billion to the regional economy annually, we are committed to becoming a fully sustainable sector. Therefore, it is right that we should reward and celebrate those businesses which are setting the standards.”
Overall categories include Large (50,000+ visitors per year) and Small (fewer than 50,000 visitors) Visitor Attractions, Best Tourism Experience (also open to festivals, annual events and other tourism products and services), and awards for Outstanding Customer Service and Best Website.
Loseley Park at Guildford, Surrey, earned the accolade of the region’s best small visitor attraction in 2006, beating joint runners-up The Hawk Conservancy Trust in Hampshire and Maidstone Museum & Bentlif Art Gallery. Ascot Racecourse won last year’s Large Visitor Attraction Award, ahead of Blenheim Palace.
Judges consider not just the facilities, exhibitions, new visitor features and service (from booking processes to face-to-face welcome and customer care) but also criteria such as investment in training and development, sales and marketing initiatives and effectiveness, accessibility, and commitment to sustainability.
Winners are announced at an awards ceremony in October and go on to represent the South East in the national Enjoy England Awards for Excellence. The closing date for entries is July 20.
by Phil Davies
Phil Davies
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