This year, 42 projects have competed in eight categories and the winners have officially been announced and congratulated on their results by Skal International Vice Presidents, David Fisher and Susanna Saari.
The fifteen annual Skal Sustainable Tourism Awards has taken place on Sunday 30 October 2016 in the frame of the Opening Ceremony of the 77th Skal World Congress held at the Grimaldi Forum in Monaco.
The initial awards were presented in 2002 following the United Nations declaration of 2002 as the Year of Ecotourism and the Mountains, to highlight and acknowledge best practices around the globe. The awards were launched to highlight best practices in tourism around the world and also serve the purpose of acquainting the world with this new concept that puts emphasis on the importance of the interaction of the physical, cultural and social environment the traveller's responsibility and the need for active community participation for Sustainability.
This year, 42 projects have competed in eight categories and the winners have officially been announced and congratulated on their results by Skal International Vice Presidents, David Fisher and Susanna Saari.
Skal International selects a panel of three distinguished experts in sustainability to evaluate the projects independently. The primary criteria for the evaluation are based on:
- Contribution to the conservation of nature
- Cultural heritage conservation
- Community involvement and benefits
- Educational features and benefit
- Business viability and economic growth
- Innovation and creativity
- Marketing value generation (brand enhancement)
- Health, safety and wellbeing of employees and guests
Winners of the Skal International Sustainable Tourism Awards
Categories:
Tour Operators
ANDAMAN DISCOVERIES, Thailand
Award collected by Robert Sohn, President Skal International Asia, on behalf of Andaman Discoveries.
Urban Accommodation
HOTEL VERDE, South Africa
Award collected by Samantha Annandale, CEO & General Manager, Hotel Verde
Rural Accommodation
SIMIEN LODGE,Ethiopia
Simien Lodge Community Projects
Award collected by Mikre Azmeraw, General Manager, and Greta Iori, Sales Manager, Simien Lodge
Countryside and Wildlife
BIOSPHERE EXPEDITIONS, United Kingdom
Award collected by Kathy Gill, Strategy Adviser, Biosphere Expeditions
Marine
PENNICOTT WILDERNESS JOURNEYS,Australia
Award collected by David Reed, President, and Alfred Merse, Past President, Skal International Hobart, on behalf of Pennicott Wilderness Journeys
Community and Government Projects
AMIGOS DE SIAN KA'AN, Mexico
Award collected by Gonzalo Merediz Alonso, Executive Director, Amigos de Sian Ka'An, Zendy Celeste Euan Chan, Secretariat of the Community Tourism Network of the Maya Area, Bardo Avelar, President, Skal International Mexico, and Jane Garcia, President, Skal International Cancun.
Major Tourists Attractions
ASSINIBOINE PARK CONSERVANCY, Canada
Award collected by, John Van Houdt, President, Skal International Winnipeg, on behalf of Assiniboine Park Conservancy.
Educational Insitutions / Programmes and Media
CAPILANO UNIVERSITY, Canada
Community Based Tourism Vietnam
Award collected by, Jase Williams, Tourism Management Program, Capilano University
Theodore is the Co-Founder and Managing Editor of TravelDailyNews Media Network; his responsibilities include business development and planning for TravelDailyNews long-term opportunities.
