Four Asian endeavours reach Nat GEO finals

BERLIN  Five winners of the 2017 National Geographic World Legacy Awards were announced Thursday during an awards ceremony held at the Palais am Funkturm, the new official awards venue of ITB Berlin.

For the first time four of the 15 finalists that reached the awards stage at ITB Berlin, this year, were from Asia.

It indicates a growing recognition in Asia that tourism must abide by sustainable tourism principles and be part of the solution to save the environment.

Thailand’s Andaman Discovery a community project in South Thailand was a finalist in the Engaging Communities category.

Cambodia’s Chambok Community-based eco tourism in Baitong was also a finalist in the same category.

India’s ITC Hotel group was named a finalist in the Earth Changers category and Misool in Indonesia in the Conserving the Natural World category.

The World Legacy Awards, a partnership between National Geographic and ITB Berlin, recognises leading travel and tourism companies, organisations and destinations. They  honour those who are driving sustainable tourism transformation of the global travel industry.

More than 100 entries, representing 45 countries across six continents, were submitted for these prestigious travel awards.

They were whittled down to 15 finalists by an international panel of 26 judges led by Costas Christ, an internationally recognised sustainable tourism expert and award-winning National Geographic travel writer.

The judges scored each entry according to globally recognised sustainable tourism criteria. All 15 finalists underwent a rigorous on-site inspection.

Judging-panel leader Chosta Christ said: “Sustainable tourism development is crucial for the future of travel …  The travel and tourism industry is based on promoting and selling culture and nature holiday experiences and as such, needs to take a bigger role in protecting the very resources that their business.”

National Geographic famed for its exploration, conservation efforts and storytelling established the World Legacy Awards to celebrate the people, places and experiences that exemplify a mission in the global travel industry.

The 2017 National Geographic World Legacy Awards winners and finalists were:

Earth Changers — recognising cutting-edge leadership in environmentally friendly business practices and green technology, from renewable energy and water conservation to zero-waste systems and carbon-emission reduction.

WINNER:

Cayuga Collection, Costa Rica and Nicaragua — This innovative hotel collection combines state-of-the art sustainability with experiential travel at eight properties in Central America. Reduction and monitoring of energy, water, waste, composting, recycling, and other earth-friendly initiatives inspire staff and guests to make green practices part of their own lives. Innovative practices also include eliminating plastic waste (at Cayuga, even drinking straws are reusable bamboo), and guests join popular behind-the-scene tours to learn how sustainability directly touches their vacation experience.

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