SKAL World Congress Presents Ecotourism Awards

The 5th Annual Skal International Ecotourism Awards were presented by the President of Skal International, Jan Sunda, and PR and media director Hulya Aslantas during the opening ceremony of the 67th Skal World Congress held in Pattaya, Thailand.

Skal, founded as an international association in 1934, is the largest organization of travel and tourism professionals in the world, embracing all sectors of the travel and tourism industry, in five continents, 87 countries and at over 500 locations, with 22.000 members from hoteliers to travel agents, airlines, tourism media and tourism scholars.

Skal International is aiming at quality in tourism and values sustainable development in Tourism as the key to the industry’s future success and considers Ecotourism but one area of the various components of sustainable development and responsible tourism.

To encourage the conservation of the environment and help to promote the development of responsible and sustainable tourism, Skal International initiated an awards program in 2002, during “The Year of Ecotourism and the Mountains” as declared by United Nations.

While the purpose of these awards was to highlight best practices in ecotourism around the world, they were also created with the aim of acquainting the world with this new concept that puts emphasis on the importance of the interaction of the physical, cultural and social environment, the traveler’s responsibility and the need for active community participation for Ecotourism.

In their fifth year the awards have received continued support worldwide and this year 51 entries were received originating from 28 Countries; 16 from Asia, 15 from Americas, eight from Europe, seven from Africa and five from Oceania.