WTM Invites Destinations to Enter World Responsible Tourism Awards 2022

Photo source: WTM London

The World Travel Market (WTM) is inviting destinations and businesses that wish to showcase their sustainable credentials to enter the WTM World Responsible Tourism Awards 2022.

Launched in 2004, the awards recognize and reward businesses and destinations which are contributing to a more sustainable and responsible tourism industry. Winners are chosen by a group of industry experts, who meet online to enable the judging panel to be internationally diverse.

The judging panels are led by Harold Goodwin, WTM’s responsible tourism advisor.

The 2022 awards are split into four regions, with the winner of each region going forward to compete in the Global Awards – and those global winners will be announced at WTM London 7-9 November 2022.

Entries are now closed for Africa and Latin America, as those regions are being judged first, and the winners will be announced at regional WTM shows in Latin America (5-7 April) and Africa (11-13 April).

However, entries can still be made for India until 30 June 2022 and rest of the world until 31 August 2022.

The 10 categories for 2022 reflect the relationship between tourism, responsibility and Covid-19:

• Decarbonising travel & tourism
• Sustaining employees and communities through the pandemic
• Destinations building back better post-Covid
• Increasing diversity in tourism: How inclusive is our industry?
• Reducing plastic waste in the environment
• Growing the local economic benefit
• Access for the differently-abled: as travellers, employees and holidaymakers
• Increasing tourism’s contribution to natural heritage and biodiversity
• Conserving water and improving water security and supply for neighbours
• Contributing to cultural heritage

World Travel Market London 2021, ExCeL.

Businesses can enter on their own behalf or be nominated by partners, peers or customers. Gold and silver awards are given to the first and second placed entries in each category in each region.

The judging panel will also name one business in each category and region as “one to watch”.

Each region also has a discretionary “judges’ award” available for businesses whose area of expertise falls between the categories or who have been previous winners.