UNWTO Awards for Excellence and Innovation to Be Presented at FITUR 2017
The UNWTO has announced the shortlist of the thirteenth edition of the UNWTO Awards for Excellence and Innovation in Tourism. The twelve finalists were chosen from among 139 candidates from 55 countries.
The winners will be disclosed on 18 January 2017 during the UNWTO Awards Ceremony, staged for the fourth consecutive year in collaboration with the Madrid International Tourism Trade Fair organized by IFEMA from 18 to 22 January of next year at Feria de Madrid.
The UNWTO Awards pay tribute to excellence and innovation in the tourism industry in four categories: 1) Public Policy & Governance; 2) Enterprises; 3) Non-Governmental Organizations; and 4) Research & Technology.
“The UNWTO Awards reflect the efforts done worldwide by the tourism community to foster innovation and the need of the sector to advance towards a more sustainable and responsible future”, said UNWTO Secretary-General Taleb Rifai. “In the last decade, the Awards have shown the sector’s high commitment to this goal, which this year has a special meaning as we celebrate the International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development 2017”, he added.
The shortlist includes initiatives from Belgium, Costa Rica, Egypt, Spain, India, Italy, Jordan, Mexico, Netherlands, Portugal and Dominican Republic. The winners will be announced on 18 January 2017.
The shortlist of the thirteenth edition of the UNWTO Awards for Excellence and Innovation in Tourism
1. UNWTO Award for Innovation in Public Policy and Governance
– Innovative use of electronic tourism / Egypt’s Strategy 2020, Advisory Council of the Ministry of Tourism (Egypt)
– Invat.tur, Valencian Region Tourism Board (Spain)
– Social progress index in tourist destinations in Costa Rica, National Tourism Chamber (Costa Rica)
– Strategies for development of sustainable tourism in Guanajuato, Tourism Secretariat of Guanajuato State (Mexico)
2. UNWTO Award for Innovation in Enterprises
– Adding color to life, Carlos Rezidor Hotel Group (Belgium)
– Ecobnb: the community of sustainable tourism (Italy)
3. UNWTO Award for Innovation in Non-Governmental Organizations
– Cultural heritage: tools for sustainability of a world heritage site, Petra National Trust (Jordan)
– Inclusion of micro- and small companies in the sustainable tourism supply chain, Tropicalia Foundation (Dominican Republic)
– Govardhan Eco Village (India)
4. UNWTO Award for Innovation in Research and Technology
– Carmacal, carbon calculator for travel packages, Dutch Association of Travel Agents and Tour Operators (Netherlands)
– Encyclopaedia of Tourism, Ulysses Foundation (Spain)
– IP Tourism 4.0, Turismo de Portugal (Portugal)
The twelve finalists will share their expertise and experiences at the UNWTO Awards Forum on 16 January 2017 in Madrid. Two days later, on 18 January, the names of the winners in each category will be announced at the awards presentation ceremony and gala dinner.
