PATA celebrates the winners of the Tourism InSPIRE Awards in Legazpi City, Albay, Philippines

BANGKOK - Winners of the inaugural Tourism InSPIRE Awards attended a special awards dinner on Friday, November 27, 2015 in Legazpi City, Albay, Philippines hosted by the Tourism Promotions Board Philippines as part of the PATA New Tourism Frontiers Forum 2015. The awards were presented by Mr Mario Hardy, CEO, PATA and Ms Loraine Gatlabayan, Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific, United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).

The awards programme was organised by the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) on behalf of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the SWITCH-Asia Regional Policy Support Component (RPSC) managed by UNEP and funded by the European Union. PATA was engaged to implement the awards programme of behalf of UNEP.

The six winners are based in Malaysia, Sri Lanka and The Philippines. Companies based in Thailand, India and Vietnam received Honourable Mentions.

This new programme identifies and commends excellence in sustainable tourism by granting awards to travel and tourism organisations that demonstrate superior practices and performance within the three pillars of sustainability. The criteria for these awards is based upon sustainable consumption and production principles and existing internationally recognised sustainable tourism standards such as those developed by the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) and by ASEAN. The Tourism InSPIRE Awards 2015 recognise six organisations and businesses that have demonstrated excellence in social, environmental and economic sustainability in tourism.

Mr Mario Hardy, CEO, PATA said: “We are proud to celebrate the accomplishments of all the winners that demonstrated leadership in sustainable tourism at the Tourism InSPIRE Awards Presentation Ceremony in Legazpi City, Albay, Philippines. I hope all the delegates who attended the event were inspired to make a sustainable and lasting impact in their own community.”

Mr Sabin Basnyat, Asia-Pacific Resource Efficiency Regional Coordinator, United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), added, “On Behalf of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the SWITCH-Asia Regional Policy Support Component (RPSC), managed by UNEP and supported by the European Union, I congratulate all nominees and winners of the inaugural Tourism InSPIRE Awards. May these frontrunners, chosen as the Industry’s Sustainability Practitioners Inspiring Responsibility and Excellency, serve as inspiration to all stakeholders of the tourism sector by demonstrating their outstanding practices and performance by shifting towards sustainability adopting life-cycle approach in tourism design and operations, while engaging consumers and communities in actively promoting the shift towards more sustainable consumption and production patterns."

Tourism InSPIRE Awards 2015 winners:

Best Community-Based Tourism Initiative
Bojo Aloguinsan Ecotourism Association (with the support of Grassroots Travel)
The Philippines

Best Responsible Tourism Destination
Borneo Rainforest Lodge
Malaysia

Best Marine and Wildlife Tourism Provider
Cinnamon Hotels & Resorts
Sri Lanka

Best Branded Accommodation
Ten Knots Development Corporation/El Nido Resorts
The Philippines

Best Cultural & Heritage Tourism Provider
Siddhalepa Ayurveda Health Resort
Sri Lanka

Best Independent Accommodation
Sukau Rainforest Lodge
Malaysia

Honourable mentions

Best Community Based Tourism Initiative
Ban Rai Gong King Community-Based Tourism Club
Thailand

Best Community Based Tourism Initiative
CBT Vietnam
Vietnam

Best Cultural & Heritage Tourism Provider
The Blue Yonder
India

View the Tourism InSPIRE Awards 2015 - Winners e-Booklet here or watch the Tourism InSPIRE Awards 2015 Winners video here.

Photo caption: Mr Priyantha Ratnayake, Resident Manager, Siddhalepa Ayurveda Health Resort, Sri Lanka; Mr Joselito R Costas, Project Consultant and Community Organiser, Bojo Aloguinsan Ecotourism Association, The Philippines; Mr Andrew Jones, Vice Chairman, PATA and Guardian, Sanctuary Resorts, Hong Kong SAR (receiving the award on behalf the Blue Yonder, India and CBT Vietnam); Mr Mario Hardy, CEO, PATA; Ms Loraine Gatlabayan, Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific, United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP); Mr Somsak Inthachai, Head of Ban Rai Gong King Community-Based Tourism Club, Thailand; Ms Mariglo I. Laririt, Director of Environment of Sustainability, Ten Knots Development Corporation/El Nino Resorts, The Philippines; Mr Chitral Jayatilake, Head of Eco-Tourism at Cinnamon Hotels & Resorts and Vice President, John Keells Group, Sri Lanka; Mr Henry Llames, Operation Manager, Borneo Rainforest Lodge, Malaysia; and Mr Baton Bijamin, General Manager, Sukau Rainforest Lodge Malaysia.

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