Responsible Tourism Awards – World Travel Market 2013

Responsible Tourism Awards – World Travel Market 2013

Posted by Leanne Sturrock on 8th Nov 2013

Yesterday was a great day here at The Great Projects, as we discovered that we had received a 'Highly Commended' certificate at the World Responsible Tourism Awards. The category in which we were recognised was the 'Best for Responsible Wildlife Experiences', and it's something that we're really proud to be recognised for.

Now in their tenth year, the awards are, in the words of Michael Palin, regarded as "one of the most important ways in which we can understand how to travel better". We couldn't agree more, and it's an honour to have been nominated, particularly in this category as we work tirelessly to ensure that all of our wildlife projects are as responsible as possible.

The category completely complements our ethos as a company, and out of the fourteen shortlisted nominees, we managed to gain a place in the top three. This is particularly exciting given the calibre of the awards, which as Justin Francis, the Managing Director of ResponsibleTravel.com, states is the "toughest of all sustainably-themed tourism awards in which to win".

As a company, we pride ourselves on offering the best experience to our participants, on maintaining strong relationships with local communities to ensure the preservation of local customs, and on contributing to the welfare of endangered, mistreated and injured animals through our sustainable conservation schemes. Here are a few words from our Managing Director, Michael Starbuck:

"We were so happy to have been nominated alongside so many fantastic companies and initiatives. It was a great day, and really helps in the long run to not only push the importance of responsible tourism as an emerging field but also to spread the word about animal welfare in tourism."

We currently have thirty projects in four different continents that adhere to our strict principles, and we're always looking to expand our global range. Keep your eyes peeled for future updates!


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