2005 Responsible Tourism Award winners

2005 winners

Overall winner:

Tribes Travel

One of the first tour operators (if not the first in the UK) set up specifically to promote vacations which benefit local people, wildlife and environment - particularly community tourism. Their outstanding contribution has been to show that it really is possible to make a valid and successful business in tourism whilst promoting local community tourism products.

Best Tour Operator

Winner:

Tribes Travel Ltd

Chosen for their all round commitment to responsible tourism and in particular for their work in community based tourism

Highly commended:

Explore Worldwide Ltd
Traidcraft Meet The People Tours

Best Hotel

Winner:

Nihiwatu Resort, Indonesia

Selected for its exceptional relationship with the local community.

Highly commended:

Bird Island, Seychelles
The Boat Landing Guesthouse, Laos

Best Mode of Transport or Initiative

Winner:

Sustrans

Sustrans has been very successful in getting people out of their cars and in reducing CO2 emissions. It’s national Cycle Network reached 10,000 miles in September 2005.

Highly commended:

The National Trust Greenway Garden

Best in a Mountain Environment

Winner:

Guerba

Recognised for their employment of local guides, and their porter protection policies in Kilimanjaro and the Inca Trail.

Highly commended:

Neilson
The Black Sheep Inn, Ecuador

Best in a Marine Environment

Winner:

The Venus Company

A leading beach cafe and shop operator. They have won this category by living up to their mission to be the greenest beach cafe and shop operator in Europe.

Highly commended:

Ionian Eco Villagers, Zakynthos Greece

Best for Poverty Reduction

Winner:

Association of Small Scale Enterprises in Tourism (ASSET)

ASSET has increased the income of poor Gambians by enabling them to become more productively involved in the tourism industry.

Highly commended:

Koiyaki Guiding School & Wilderness Camp, Kenya
Tourism in Ethiopia for Sustainable Future Alternatives.

Best in a Protected Area/National Park

Winner:

Basecamp Mara, Kenya

Selected for its contribution to conservation and local communities, but in particular for the Maasai arts and crafts project empowering disadvantaged local Masai women to produce and sell traditional designs and materials

Highly commended:

South Hams District Council for Life into Landscape
The Lake District Tourism and Conservation Partnership

Best for Conservation of Endangered Species

Winner:

Discovery Initiatives

A UK based tour operator who have actively used ecotourism to fund and support conservation worldwide.

Highly commended:

The Snow Leopard Conservancy
Himalayan Homestays

Best for Innovation Award

Winner:

Whitepod

Whitepod provide alternative means to explore the Swiss Alps. They have pods (dome shaped tents) pitched on raised wooden platforms and offer low impact accomodation in a pristine environment.

Best use of Technology

Winner:

The Centre for Alternative Technology (CAT)

CAT won for their commitment to 'inspire, inform and enable' people to live more sustainably.

Highly commended:

3 Rivers Ecolodge, Dominica
Greenwood Forest Park (Green Dragon rollercoaster)

Best Volunteering Programme

Winner:

Rural Organisation for Social Elevation (ROSE)

ROSE have enhanced the health, education and quality of life for the rural poor in India by means of their volunteer based tourism programme.

Highly commended:

Azafady

Best personal contribution

Winner:

Jo Pope from Robin Pope Safaris in Zambia

Jo has worked tirelessly to promote responsible tourism in South Luangwa National Park in Zambia, in particular to support the local community and Kawaza village.