why the Responsible Tourism Awards matter
Getting to know more about each other remains one of the most important hopes for the peaceful future of the planet.
If we are really to understand each other better, then we need to be reminded to travel carefully and thoughtfully, listening to people along the way and respecting the world we are privileged to travel through.
The Responsible Tourism Awards are one of the most important ways in which we can understand how to travel better.
Michael Palin
Photograph by Basil Pao
The Responsible Tourism Awards focus attention on travel firms that are providing us all with amazing trips that make a difference to a local community while still protecting the environment and our planet. And they remind us that responsible travel is not only better for our world, it’s also more interesting and memorable. Responsible tourism is the future of travel.
Simon Reeve
Photograph courtesy of Simon Reeve
Travel is good for the soul, it broadens the mind, and we have become well and truly global with respect to travel, with more people visiting far-flung places than ever before.
If we make the effort to respect our holiday destinations and contribute responsibly to the local economy by staying in local farms or homestays and exploring the local wildlife through eco-tourism, we benefit by getting a real sense of local culture and discovering hidden treasures we could never get from a faceless resort holiday, all the while knowing that we have our done our bit to keep this planet happy and healthy.
The Responsible Tourism Awards are doing a fantastic job at reminding us of our duty to travel in this responsible way.
Liz Bonnin
In the past, awards were given for Best Meal, Best View, Most Grovelling
Staff, Biggest Ballroom, or whatever. It's encouraging that tourism organisations
and individuals are being rewarded for doing something that is ethically
right or supporting a position that will help the planet. That's the greatest
lesson of travel: it is a very small and easily bruised planet.Paul Theroux
The Responsible Tourism Awards scheme is now widely recognised around the world for leading the way in celebrating individual
achievements in responsible tourism. This unique Awards scheme, run by responsibletravel.com, inspires travellers and travel companies
to tackle the environmental, social and cultural issues that tourism faces, head on. During my travels in the next few months I’ll be looking out for worthy nominees and encourage all passionate travellers to get on board:
dig out those travel journals, tell your travel-mad friends and if you’re on the road, keep your eyes peeled for tourism ventures
that are really making a difference. For me, the future of tourism is inextricably linked with this more thoughtful path of travel.
Ben Fogle
The significance of each single step towards our shared worldwide goal of sustainable tourism is greater than you
may imagine – and these hesitant early steps are the most important as with any journey.
Your nominations for those that are our pathfinders are of inestimable value in building everyone’s confidence this really is the direction we must all be heading. Support our pathfinders and multiply the value of their efforts by encouraging others to follow their superlative example.
Pen Hadow, Explorer
Photograph courtesy Pen Hadow
Over the last few years, we've become painfully aware that tourism isn't just about passively observing a place,
it's also about changing it - and usually for the worst. Most often we literally destroy the beauty or interest we have come to witness.
It's therefore paramount that we learn to come up with forms of travel businesses that don't destroy their host organisms
and The Responsible Tourism Awards sound like an admirable way forward.Alain de Botton, Writer & Philosopher
Photograph by Charlotte de Botton
The Responsible Tourism Awards is now the largest and most prestigious Awards scheme of its kind in the world.
More and more destinations, travel ventures (both large and small), tourist boards and travellers around the globe,
are signing up to the concept of responsible tourism. Not only is it a more enjoyable and authentic way to travel but it is also the only way forward if travel is to have a sustainable future.
Our Awards aim to recognise and encourage the passionate pioneers who are helping to bring about real, positive and lasting change in the tourism industry.
Justin Francis, Managing Director, responsibletravel.com
"I’m a huge fan of The Responsible Tourism Awards. The scheme rewards and recognises those companies that are helping to give people choices in the way that they travel. It shows people that it really is possible to travel responsibly in ways which benefit the country they are visiting, its wildlife and the local people."
Rosie Boycott, author and broadcaster
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