BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, (Sept 22, 2022) - The Caribbean Tourism Organization is inviting individuals, groups, and other business and government entities to submit entries for its Sustainable Tourism Awards Competition, returning this year following a two-year break due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
These Awards, last held in 2019, recognise individuals and organisations from CTO Member Countries who have developed innovative tourism-related products and initiatives guided by sustainable tourism practices. These initiatives must have been operational for at least one year prior to submission of entry.
This year, the Awards will comprise of five categories: Excellence in Sustainable Tourism Award, Destination Stewardship and Resilience Award, Health and Safety Award, Community-Based Tourism Award and the Tourism Education and Training Award.
For the Excellence in Sustainable Tourism Award, applicants must demonstrate how the initiative has contributed to an improved quality of life in the destination, and an enhanced tourism product offering. To be eligible for the Destination Stewardship and Resilience Award, applicants must illustrate how they have responded to the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic or other crises and disasters through new initiatives.
The Health and Safety Award requires persons or entities having innovative tourism products and services related to health and wellness, while the Community-Based Tourism Award is applicable to tourism enterprises, communities or countries that have excelled in tourism management for the long-term benefit of the destination.
For the Tourism Education and Training Award, countries and businesses should highlight training and awareness programmes which have been initiated to drive capacity and knowledge-building, as well as skill-enhancement.
“Resilience and recovery are two areas which have taken on an even deeper meaning in light of the last two years, when the Caribbean tourism product has found itself severely tested by the difficulties created by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic,” said Amanda Charles, CTO’s Sustainable Tourism Specialist.
“Therefore, the resumption of the Sustainable Tourism Awards is of critical importance as they not only seek to reward tourism excellence across the sector amidst challenging times, but also serve to keep important issues such as environmental management, disaster risk reduction, community engagement and health & safety at the centre of the regional tourism discourse.”
An Award Selection Committee, comprising a panel of experts representing various areas of the tourism sector, will be assembled to judge submissions. The Committee will compile a shortlist, with one winner in each category selected based on the criteria outlined.
The deadline for entries is October 16 and applications should be completed and submitted online at the following link: https://1.shortstack.com/jN69Dr .
Only CTO Allied Members, Affiliate Members and Member Countries are eligible to enter.