winners of the First Choice Responsible Tourism Awards 2005
Overall winner: Tribes Travel Ltd
One of the first tour operators (if not the first in the UK) set up specifically to promote holidays 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.
Contact details: Tribes Travel Ltd, Amanda Marks, Managing Director, 01728 685971, Amanda@tribes.co.uk
Best Tour Operator sponsored by Intrepid Travel
Given to the operator who has been deemed to act most responsibly towards the environment and local people.
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 and Traidcraft Meet The People Tours
Contact details: Tribes Travel Ltd, Amanda Marks, Managing Director, 01728 685 971, Amanda@tribes.co.uk
Explore Worldwide Ltd, Fran Hughes - RT & Special Groups Manager, 01252 760 200, franh@explore.co.uk
Traidcraft Meet The People Tours, Paul Snedker, Director Saddle Skedaddle, 0870 444 1774, Paul@skedaddle.co.uk
Best Hotel sponsored by Active Hotels
Winner: Nihiwatu Resort, Indonesia
Selected for its exceptional relationship with the local community.
Highly commended: Bird Island, in the Seychelles and The Boat Landing Guesthouse, Laos
Contact details: Nihiwatu Resort, Claude Graves - Owner and Managing Director of Nihiwatu Resort and Founder and Managing Director of The Sumba Foundation, (62) 361 - 757 149, claude@nihiwatu.com
Bird Island, Guy Savy - Managing Director, 00248 323322, bird@seychelles.net
The Boat Landing Guesthouse, Bill Tuffin, Marketing Director, +856-86-312-398, theboatlanding@yahoo.com
Best Mode of Transport or Initiative sponsored by Rough Guides
Winner: Sustrans
Sustrans has been very successful in getting people out of their cars and in reducing CO2 emissions. Its national Cycle Network reached 10,000 miles in September 2005.
Highly commended: The National Trust Greenway Garden Contact details:
Sustrans, Joanna Hall, Marketing Manager, 0117 915 1017, joannah@sustrans.org.uk,
The National Trust Greenway Garden Robyn Brown, Property Manager, 01803 661901, robyn.brown@nationaltrust.org.uk
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 and The Black Sheep Inn, Ecuador
Contact details: Guerba, Ian Ripper - Director 01373 828302 ian@guerba.co.uk
Neilson. Nancy Brock Responsible Business Coordinator nancy.brock@neilson.com
The Black Sheep Inn. Andrés Hammerman & Michelle Kirby, Owners 593-3-281-4587 info@blacksheepinn.com
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
Contact details: The Venus Company. Michael Smith 01803 770343 melverley@venuscompany.co.uk
Ionian Eco Villagers. Madeleine Doggett & Yannis Vardakastanis 0871 7115 065 maddy@relaxing-holidays.com
Best for Poverty Reduction sponsored by Exodus
Focuses on poverty reduction initiatives that help local communities in developing countries and provided a huge range of nominations from all over the globe.
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 and Tourism in Ethiopia for Sustainable Future Alternatives.
Contact details: Association of Small Scale Enterprises in Tourism (ASSET). Geri Mitchell, Chair of ASSET 00 220 4497675 geri@gamspirit.com
Koiyaki Guiding School & Wilderness Camp. Ronald de Planta Beaton, Consultant & Facilitator 0735 408815 rekeroexpeditions@swiftkenya.com
Tourism in Ethiopia for Sustainable Future Alternatives. Mark Chapman, Consultant to TESFA +251 1 14 05 83 / 23 38 40 chapman@ethionet.et
Best in a Protected Area/National Park sponsored by Airport Parking & Hotels
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 and The Lake District Tourism and Conservation Partnership
Contact details: Basecamp Mara, Dr Lars Lindkvist, Executive Chairman, +254722321409, lars@basecampexplorer.com
Life into Landscape, Keith Rennells, Programme Manager, 01803 861456, keith.rennells@southhams.gov.uk
The Lake District Tourism and Conservation Partnership, Claire Stott, Partnership Manager, 015394 34630, Claire@lakespartnership.org.uk
Best for Conservation of Endangered Species
sponsored by Peregrine Adventures
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
Contact details: Discovery Initiatives, Julian Matthews, Managing Director, 01285 643333, julian@discoveryinitiatives.com
The Snow Leopard Conservancy & Himalayan Homestays, Dr. Rodney Jackson, Director, 001-707-935-3851, rodjackson@mountain.org
Best for Innovation Award
Given to a business that shows particular innovation or entrepreneurship in responsible tourism.
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.
Contact details: Whitepod, Sofia de Meyer, +41 79 744 62 19, sofia@whitepod.com
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 and Greenwood Forest Park (Green Dragon rollercoaster)
Contact details: The Centre for Alternative Technology (CAT), Alex Randall, Funding and Development, 01654 704959, alex.randall@cat.org.uk
3 Rivers Ecolodge, Jem Winston - owner / manager, 1 767 446 1886 jem@3riversdominica.com
Greenwood Forest Park, Stephen Bristow - Managing Director, 01248 671493, sbristow@greenwoodforestpark.co.uk
Best Volunteering Programme sponsored by The Imaginative Traveller
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
Contact details: Rural Organisation for Social Elevation (ROSE), Mr Jeevan Lal Verma, Founder and Director, 91 5963 241081, 241097, jlverma_rosekanda@yahoo.co.in
Azafady, Mal Mitchell, Education & Fundraising Coordinator, 020 8960 6629, mal@azafady.org
Best personal contribution sponsored by Expert Africa
This award goes to a person who has contributed significantly to responsible tourism
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.
Contact details: Jo Pope, +260 6 246090/91/92, jo@robinpopesafaris.net
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