Innovative tourism rewarded
Professor Kaye Chon
UNWTO announces 2011 Ulysses Prize and Awards winners
A company offering guided tours through Canada for people with disabilities and a discovery trail of the ancient Moche civilization of Northern Peru are among the winners of this year’s UNWTO Ulysses Awards.
The UNWTO Ulysses Awards reward initiatives and projects undertaken by public tourism institutions, tourism enterprises and non-profit institutions that have made a significant contribution to the advancement of tourism through innovation, in line with the United Nations Millennium Development Goals.
The prestigious UNWTO Ulysses Prize will be awarded to Professor Kaye Chon, Dean and Chair Professor of the School of Hotel and Tourism Management at the Hong Kong Polytechnic University, for his outstanding contribution to tourism knowledge.
The 2011 UNWTO Ulysses Awards winners are as follows:
For Innovation in Governance:
- China Tourist Satisfaction Index – China Tourism Academy (China)
- Development of the ‘Ruta Moche’ as a Tourism Destination – Ministry of Foreign Trade and Tourism (Peru)
- Environmental Certificate "Friend of the Environment Establishment” – Madeira Regional Secretariat for Tourism and Transport (Portugal)
For Innovation in Enterprises:
- The Artemisa project: transforming organic waste into biofuel for more sustainable tourism – Ingelia (Spain)
- Mayakoba Tourism Resort Mexico: sustainable and responsible tourism development – OHL Desarrollos (Mexico)
- TravelSat Competitive Index: global survey benchmarking international tourists’ satisfaction and trip quality – TCI Research (Tourism Competitive Intelligence) (Belgium)
For Innovation in Non-Governmental Organizations:
- Connecting People with the Environment, W James Whyte Island Reserve: tourists volunteering to protect biodiversity – Conservation Volunteers (Australia)
- Development of Accessible Tourism in Slovenia (PREMIKI): accessible tourism for those with special needs – SENT Slovenian Association for Mental Health (Slovenia)
- La route accessible (The Accessible Road): guided tours for people with disabilities – KÉROUL (Canada)
Special Jury Awards to:
- Cultural Villages Development Project – Alghat Cooperative Association (Saudi Arabia)
- UruguayNatural.tv – Ministry of Tourism and Sport (Uruguay)
- European Cemeteries Route – Association of Significant Cemeteries in Europe (Italy)
More information:
UNWTO Algarve Forum: www.fe.ualg.pt/conf/unwtoforum
Valere Tjolle
Valere Tjolle is editor of the Sustainable Tourism Report Suite Special Offer HERE
Valere
Vegas’s Billion-Dollar Secrets – What They Don’t Want Tourists to Know
Visit Florida’s New CEO Bryan Griffin Shares His Vision for State Tourism with Graham
Chicago’s Tourism Renaissance: Graham Interviews Kristin Reynolds of Choose Chicago
Graham Talks with Cassandra McCauley of MMGY NextFactor About the Latest Industry Research
Destination International’s Andreas Weissenborn: Research, Advocacy, and Destination Impact
Graham and Don Welsh Discuss the Success of Destinations International’s Annual Conference
Graham and CEO Andre Kiwitz on Ventura Travel’s UK Move and Recruitment for the Role
Brett Laiken and Graham Discuss Florida’s Tourism Momentum and Global Appeal
Graham and Elliot Ferguson on Positioning DC as a Cultural and Inclusive Global Destination
Graham Talks to Fraser Last About His England-to-Ireland Trek for Mental Health Awareness
Kathy Nelson Tells Graham About the Honour of Hosting the World Cup and Kansas City’s Future
Graham McKenzie on Sir Richie Richardson’s Dual Passion for Golf and His Homeland, Antigua
ADS PRO 
Airbnb eyes a loyalty program but details remain under wraps
Airlines suspend Madagascar services following unrest and army revolt
Qatar Airways offers flexible payment options for European travellers
Air Mauritius reduces frequencies to Europe and Asia for the holiday season
Major rail disruptions around and in Berlin until early 2026