Botswana Finalist in ‘Tourism for Tomorrow Award’ under ‘Destination Stewardship’ category
Tourism for Tomorrow
Congratulations to the Botswana Tourism Board and to Wilderness Safaris as both are finalist in the 2010 Tourism for Tomorrow Awards presented by the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC). The Tourism for Tomorrow Awards, now in their sixth year under WTTC’s stewardship are aimed at recognising best practice in sustainable tourism within the Travel & Tourism industry worldwide. Given the growing concern about natural and cultural resources, these Awards are particularly important to WTTC and provide the Council with the opportunity of promoting and partnering with the industry leaders in responsible tourism, highlighting the prime examples of best practice.
The Tourism for Tomorrow Awards focus on four key categories. These categories were carefully selected to show how destinations can guide their tourism development according to sustainable tourism principles, to recognize best practices that are helping to protect rare and endangered species and safeguard nature; and how tourism, carefully planned and managed, can make a positive contribution to poverty alleviation, local economic development, and cultural heritage preservation while providing an excellent overall guest experience. One category – Global Tourism Business Award – is focused exclusively on sustainable tourism at the larger corporate level to further demonstrate that best practices can encompass small, medium, and also large businesses.
The WTTC announced the 12 finalists for the 2010 Tourism for Tomorrow Awards. Under WTTC’s stewardship since 2003, the prestigious Awards recognize best practice in sustainable tourism in four different categories – Destination Stewardship, Conservation, Community Benefit and Global Tourism Business. Over 160 entries were received this year from over 45 countries. Winners will be announced on May 26, 2010.
The 2010 Finalists are:
The 12 finalists were selected by an international team of independent judges in each of the four award categories for having successfully demonstrated sustainable tourism practices, including the protection of natural and cultural heritage, social and economic benefits to local people, and environmentally friendly operations.
Destination Stewardship Award
- Botswana Tourism Board – www.botswanatourism.co.bw
- Country of Montenegro, Ministry of Tourism – www.montenegro.travel
- Mount Huangshan Scenic Site, China – www.chinahuangshan.gov.cn
Conservation Award
- Emirates Hotels & Resorts, UAE – www.emirateshotelsresorts.com
- Inkaterra Perú SAC – www.inkaterra.com
- Singita Grumeti Reserves, Tanzania – www.singita.com
Community Benefit Award
- Namibia’s Communal Conservancy Tourism Sector / NACSO -www.nacso.org.na
- Tourindia, India – www.tourindiakerala.com
- Whale Watch Kaikoura Ltd, New Zealand – www.whalewatch.co.nz
Global Tourism Business Award
- Accor, France & Global – www.accor.com
- Banyan Tree Holdings, Singapore & Global – www.banyantree.com
- Wilderness Safaris, South Africa & Global – www.wilderness-safaris.com
The following is the press release info on the Botswana Tourism Board’s nomination:
Learn more at www..botswanatourism.co.bw/
The Okavango Delta Ramsar Site (ODRS) is a unique 55,374 km2 water- and game-rich area within Botswana’s desert environment. It includes the Tsodilo Hills (a UNESCO World Heritage Site), the Moremi Game Reserve, Wildlife Management Areas and community lands.
As a developing country, and faced with the challenge of using the ODRS sustainably and equitably, Botswana developed a model incorporating fewer tourists at lower densities and higher tariffs. A legislative framework was put into place to manage this approach and ensure that bed and vehicle densities were set at conservative levels, utilisation was geographically spread, all stakeholders benefited, alternate threats to the area were managed, and accountability of stakeholders was clear.
Tourism is now the second largest contributor to Botswana’s GDP and the ODRS is the premier tourist attraction and primary employer in northern Botswana. According to the Okavango Delta Management Plan it is: “A carefully managed, well-functioning ecosystem that equitably and sustainably provides benefits for local, national and international stakeholders.”
Judges’ Verdict
Botswana’s approach to tourism is based on a ‘low-volume – high-yield’ strategy, which was devised and supported through a series of legislations promulgated by the country’s government. The core of this strategy is the setting of conservative limits to bed and vehicle density. This is what now makes the ODRS a unique destination. It comprises 9.5% of Botswana’s total land area. Through the management of the Botswana Tourism Board, a unique partnership between state, private sector and rural communities has been established. Some 34% of the adult population in ODRS now work in tourism and wildlife, contributing to the conservation of fragile habitat and a number of IUCN red-listed threatened species (based on the assessment of the International Union for Conservation of Nature), as well as generating income and employment in the region. In 2002 Botswana established a National Ecotourism Strategy which led to the publication of an Ecotourism Best Practice Manual in 2008. Operators and tourism suppliers within the ODRS have taken Botswana’s tourism vision to heart and have created world-class facilities allowing for lower-impact and higher-tariff tourism.
”The award means a lot to us in Botswana and is an indication that the world recognises our efforts in preserving our environment and developing the sector for the benefit of communities with high regard for the environment. It also challenges and motivates us to continue to compete on best practices and product offerings globally.”
Myra Sekgororoane, Chief Executive Officer, Botswana Tourism Board
Also of note, Wilderness Safaris, an important provider of safari adventures in Botwsana was named a finalist in the Global Tourism Business category.
I first learned of Wilderness Safaris through Andy Biggs. His highly regarded photo safaris into Savuti and the Okavango Delta are in conjunction with Wilderness Safaris. Through this interaction, I met Grant Atkinson, who is a guide for Wilderness Safaris and an accomplished photographer. The following press release information was provided relative to Wilderness Safaris:
Wilderness Safaris is first and foremost a conservation organisation. Secondly, we are a responsible ecotourism operator on more than three million hectares in seven southern African countries, since we firmly believe that this is the most effective and practical means of ensuring the viability and sustainability of African conservation in the modern era.
Screen Capture of Wilderness Safaris' web page
Our conservation aims are: ensuring sustainable protection of carbon sinks and biodiversity through the creation of viable ecotourism businesses, either within state-protected areas or on community or privately owned land; ensuring that ecotourism remains the chosen economic alternative to less sustainable industries such as mining, agriculture, hydroelectric schemes and others that irrevocably damage biodiversity, wilderness and ecosystem processes; and creating a profitable, ethical and responsible business that others imitate and implement in regions where we are not active or cannot make a difference ourselves.
Judges’ Verdict
Wilderness Safaris has been operating sound and sustainable ecotourism in southern Africa for 26 years. Its portfolio comprises some 70 safari camps complimented by walks and tour activities to explore the African wilderness. It employs nearly 3,000 people, 1,800 of whom work in its safari camps, and with an 85% share from local communities. In every region in which Wilderness Safari operates, it employs an environmental team that starts with an Environmental Impact Assessment before any tourism product is introduced. At the same time, Wilderness Safaris ensures cultural heritage preservation with a local rather than standardised approach. The company currently employs a full-time PhD researcher to assess community impacts in the regions within which it operates.
The company has an ongoing record of setting high benchmarks and re-assessing its work – internally, through environmental officers and, externally, through well-established relationships with universities and academics. Its solid financial model builds the basis for the company’s long-term viability allowing it to incorporate non-profit branches such as the Wilderness Wildlife Trust and Children in the Wilderness programme.
“Wilderness Safaris is thrilled at its inclusion as one of 12 finalists in the 2010 Tourism for Tomorrow Awards. We believe we are a company that has built a sustainable business model that does not compromise environmental principles and which provides jobs, training, skills, careers, adjusted horizons, hope and a realistic alternative to less sustainable development options. The idea of building sustainable conservation economies in Africa is our prime ideal – and being chosen as a finalist in such prestigious awards as the Tourism for Tomorrow Awards is both hugely rewarding and also hugely humbling.”
Andy Payne, Managing Director, Wilderness Safaris