Intrepid Travel takes joint top Responsible Tourism Award
Intrepid Travel has shared the overall First Choice Responsible Tourism Award with Kenya’s Ol Malo Lodge & Trust.
The company was also named Best Tour Operator and while the Ol Malo Lodge also took the award for Best for Poverty Reduction in the ceremony at World Travel Market.
Aspen, Colorado was Best Destination and the creator of website seat61 Mark Smith was named as the person who has made the greatest contribution to responsible tourism.
The Orchid Hotel, Mumbai, was named Best Large Hotel (more than 50 rooms) while the ll N’gwesi Community Lodge in Kenya was Best Small Hotel (less than 50 rooms).
Norfolk-based Bittern Line Community Rail Partership took the Best Transport Initiative award. Canada’s Whistler Blackcomb Mountain Resorts was named Best in a Mountain Environment, Wakatobi Dive Resort, Indonesia was Best in a Marine Environment.
The Napo Wildlife Centre was named Best Protected Area and Best for Conservation of an Endangered Species went to the Tswalu Kalahari Reserve in South Africa.
Cape Town-based Bicycling Empowerment Network was named Best for Innovation/Technology while Biosphere Expeditions UK was Best Volunteering Organisation.
Justin Francis, CEO of responsibletravel.com, an organiser of the awards, said: “Since we introduced the awards three years ago, we have seen a significant increase in entries – over 1,200 this year as opposed to 700 in 2005.”
Report by Phil Davies
Phil Davies
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