PATA inspires with new awards

BANGKOK Pacific Asia Travel Association will launch Tourism InSPIRE Awards 2015 to recognise organisations that demonstrate excellence in social, environmental, and economic sustainability in tourism.
The deadline to submit applications is 16 October. There is no entry fee and the awards are open to non-PATA member companies.
Supported by EU-SWITCH-Asia RPSC (Regional Policy Support Component), the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the award criteria is based on sustainable consumption and production principles and existing, internationally recognised sustainable tourism standards such those developed by the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC), and by the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN).
inside no 5PATA CEO Mario Hardy said: “This joint initiative celebrates best practices in tourism by recognising those organisations that demonstrate leadership in sustainable tourism.”
Entries are now welcome from a broad range of travel and tourism businesses and organisations in the 19 designated countries (list below).
The awards categories cover accommodation providers, tour operators, destinations, and community-based tourism initiatives.
Winners in each category will be sponsored to attend the awards presentation ceremony in Legazpi, Albay, Philippines as part of the programme for the PATA New Tourism Frontiers Forum, 27 November.
Applications must be submitted online at http://sustain.PATA.org/tourism-inspire-awards-application/ by 16 October.
For further information, visit sustain.PATA.org/InSPIRE or email [email protected].
View or download the brochure at http://sustain.pata.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/TourismInSPIREAwards.pdf.
List of eligible countries:
Organisations representing the seven award categories based in the 19 countries in EU SWITCH-Asia RPSC mandate are qualified to participate. These countries are Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, China, DPR Korea, India, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Maldives, Mongolia, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Thailand, and Vietnam.

sourced:ttrweekly.com