Recognising those who have taken responsibility and addressed the challenge of COVID-19.

The ambition of the family of WTM World Responsible Tourism Awards has always been to recognise businesses and destinations which are making tourism better and to spread good practice – to educate, inspire and challenge others to do likewise or do more.

In this year when the world faces a global pandemic, it seemed inappropriate to continue with the World Responsible Tourism Awards as usual. It is not business as usual, and the crisis is likely to continue for some time, in different parts of the world at different times.

This year the judges have decided to commend businesses and destinations which are taking responsibility and addressing the challenge of COVID-19.

This year there will be Highly Commended and Commended certificates and logos which can be used in print and online. This is an opportunity to recognise those who have taken responsibility and addressed the many challenges of the pandemic. Many will, of course, have addressed more than one challenge. We would like to shine the spotlight on those whose actions have enhanced their reputation for taking responsibility.

This year we shall be taking recommendations from anyone keen to tell us about destinations, businesses and other organisations or individuals which are using tourism, or tourism facilities, to address the challenge of COVID-19.

In 2020 we are not announcing categories, the judges will categorise those we are commending and the commendations will be published on World Responsible Tourism Day 2nd November, with presentations made at WTM London. If there are significant numbers of worthy entries from particular parts of the world – the Americas, Caribbean, Africa, Europe, Asia, the sub-continent or Australasia the judges may recognise some regional efforts.

The Awards this year are about recognising those in the travel and tourism sector who have made a real effort to address the impacts of COVID-19 and used their resources and facilities to make things at least a little better.

Ways in which the tourism sector might be helping to address the challenges include:

• Addressing the needs of neighbours and employees in the face of COVID-19 – finding ways of sustaining business to keep local people employed or using their facilities to help their neighbours cope with COVID-19;
• Decarbonising travel and tourism- this remains a real priority for the sector;
• Supporting wildlife and habitat in a year when tourism earnings for wildlife and conservation have been very substantially reduced;
• Building or maintaining ‘meaningful connections’ through Responsible Tourism value-led marketing and social media engagement;
• Fundraising for people, wildlife or heritage;
• Developing Domestic Tourism – looking for examples of businesses & destinations which have refocused on attracting a more local market, encouraging staycations or localisation when it is safe to do so.

This list is not exhaustive and some initiatives will meet more than one of these challenges.

Remember the judges can only recognise the destinations, businesses and other organisations or individuals that are nominated.

Please make your recommendation(s) by 3rd August 2020. Do not be embarrassed to recommend yourself or your own business, destination or organisation. You are welcome to make more than one recommendation.

Make your recommendations here

You might also be interested in…

• COVID-19 isn’t all bad
• Emergence Of Niche Travel Post Covid-19
• Will 2020 define the future of tourism?