To celebrate 2017 as the International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development, World Travel Market London is focusing World Responsible Tourism Day – including the WTM Responsible Tourism Awards – on the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
The WTM Responsible Tourism Awards will be presented at World Travel Market London on World Responsible Tourism Day, November 7th 2017.
The awards categories are centred on the UN’s Sustainable Tourism Goals, with a focus on businesses, destinations and organisation which can clearly demonstrate their contribution to sustainable development
At WTM London 2016 a number of businesses described in some detail what development impacts they were making by following the SDGs.
The Awards will look for examples of businesses and organisations that have taken responsibility and can demonstrate what they have achieved.
There are five categories this year – the first four are open only to those who have won gold or silver in the last three years in the global, African, Indian or Irish Responsible Tourism Awards. The fifth category is for organisations new to the awards.
The Awards categories are:
- SDG8: Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all.
- SDG 12: Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns, tourism that creates jobs, promotes local culture and products.
- SDG 3: Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development through the sustainable management of tourism on and in the oceans.
- Remaining SDGs: Businesses and tourism organisations that can demonstrate their contribution to one of the other 14 SDGs
- Newcomers: Businesses and tourism organisations which can demonstrate a contribution to one of the SDGs but which have not won Responsible Tourism Awards in the last three years.
WTM London, Responsible Tourism Advisor, Emeritus Professor Harold Goodwin, said:
“We are looking for businesses and tourism organisations that can demonstrate their positive sustainable development impact. We recognise that smaller companies will have smaller impacts. However, smaller businesses and organisations are no less worthy of an award and should not be deterred from applying.”
WTM London is working with the Responsible Tourism Partnership to deliver the awards. Emeritus Professor Goodwin will chair the panel of Judges.
The WTM Responsible Tourism Awards are open for applications on May 2nd and close August 31st.
If you would like to register to receive details of the Awards and the nomination forms on May 1st please email: wtmrtawards@reedexpo.co.uk.
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About World Travel Market
World Travel Market (WTM) portfolio comprises of six leading B2B events across four continents generating more than $7bn of industry deals. The six events are;
WTM London, the leading global event for the travel industry, is the must-attend three-day exhibition for the worldwide travel and tourism industry. Around 51,500 senior travel industry professionals, government ministers and international media embark on ExCeL – London every November generating around £2.5 billion of travel industry contracts. http://london.wtm.com/. Next event: 6-8 Nov 2017.
Arabian Travel Market (ATM) is the leading international travel and tourism event in the Middle East for inbound and outbound tourism professionals. ATM attracts around 40,000 industry professionals, agreeing deals worth US$2.5bn over the four days. http://arabiantravelmarket.wtm.com/. Next event: 24-27 April 2017.
World Travel Market Latin America now in its fifth edition attracts about 9,000 unique senior executives. The event generated US$ 370 million of new business in 2016. Taking place in Sao Paulo Brazil, this show attracts a global audience to meet and shape the direction of the travel industry. More than 7,000 unique visitors attend the event to network, negotiate and discover the latest industry news http://latinamerica.wtm.com/.
Next event: 3-5 April 2018.
World Travel Market Africa launched in 2014 in Cape Town, South Africa. Nearly 5,000 travel industry professionals attend Africa’s leading inbound and outbound travel and tourism market. WTM Africa delivers a proven mix of hosted buyers, media, pre-scheduled appointments, on-site networking, evening functions and invited travel trade visitors. http://africa.wtm.com/ Next event: 19-21 April 2017.
WTM Connect Asia facilitates more than 1,800 quality meetings bringing together pre-qualified Chinese, South East Asian and international travel buyers with suppliers of South East Asian and international travel product. The event’s pod format allows for an exclusive one-to-one ratio closed community experience for exhibitors and Hosted Buyers who do business in and around South East Asia. http://connectasia.wtm.com/. Next event 17-19 May 2017 –Penang, Malaysia.
International Golf Travel Market (IGTM) now in its 20th edition, is the meeting place for the global B2B golf travel community. More than 600 golf tourism suppliers join 350 pre-qualified buyers and 100 international press for four days of unmissable pre-scheduled appointments, exclusive networking opportunities and invaluable industry and trend updates. Taking place in a different destination every year, IGTM brings together 1,400 golf tourism professionals from over 65 countries. http://igtm.wtm.com/. Next event: 11-14 Dec 2017 – Cannes.