The eight winners of the Sabre Global Responsible Tourism Awards have been announced:
- Best for nature-positive tourism: Wildlife Act, South Africa – Offers genuine conservation experiences for up to 500 volunteers per year, actively involving them in wildlife monitoring, rescuing animals, and combating wildlife poaching. They promote education and awareness of conservation in Africa. Website: www.wildlifeact.com
- Best for meaningful connections (joint winner): Uthando, South Africa – Provides authentic and culturally sensitive philanthropic education excursions around Cape Town, connecting visitors with community development projects and raising funds for various initiatives. They focus on building early development centres using innovative materials. Website: www.uthandosa.org
- Best for meaningful connections (joint winner): Soar Excursions, Ahmedabad, Gujarat – Offers meaningful and responsible tourism experiences in Gujarat, catering to various clients such as pleasure tourists, researchers, and craft professionals. They provide custom slow travel options and immersive tours connecting visitors with local communities. Website: www.soarexcursions.com
- Best for diversity and inclusion: The Batuc Network, Brazil – Brings together marginalized communities, including Afro-Brazilian, indigenous, and agricultural communities, promoting sustainable and regenerative tourism as an instrument of resistance and transformation. They focus on social justice initiatives for these communities. Website: https://viajarverde.com.br/conheca-a-rede-batuc-turismo-comunitario-da-bahia-em-movimento/
- Best for local sourcing, craft, and food (joint winner): Ngwenya Glass, Estwatini – Repurposes old bottles into handmade glass ornaments and tableware, attracting international tourists who can witness glassmaking and purchase locally produced art and craft. They collaborate with other Swazi handcraft producers and promote fair trade. Website: www.ngwenyaglass.co.sz
- Best for local sourcing, craft, and food (joint winner): Kerala Responsible Tourism Mission, Government of Kerala – Connects visitors directly with craft workers and promotes traditional foods to generate additional income for households participating in tourism. They also connect small-scale farmers to the tourism industry, ensuring local availability of fresh agricultural products. Website: https://www.keralatourism.org/responsible-tourism/
- Best for tackling plastic waste: Lemala Camps and Lodges, Tanzania – Removes single-use plastic from its camps and upcycles waste plastic into school desks and chairs. They have donated recycled desks to local schools and use biodegradable and plastic-free lunch boxes made from dried banana leaves. Website: www.lemalacamps.com
- Best for addressing climate change: Weeva – A data-driven software that measures sustainability based on conservation, community, commerce, and culture. Businesses can manage their carbon footprint and track resource use. Weeva provides an accessible starting point for businesses to adopt sustainable practices. Website: https://weeva.earth/
The Global Responsible Tourism Award judges for 2023 were: Adama Bah ICRT West Africa & The Institute of Travel and Tourism of The Gambia (ITTOG), Kerry Carmichael Future Compass, Aditi Choudhary ICRT India and Indian Institute of Tourism and Travel Management, Harold Goodwin Responsible Tourism Partnership (Chair of Judges), Debbie Hindle Chief Executive Travel, Four Agency Worldwide, Tess Longfield Head of Communications – England/Sustainability, Sabre Corporation, Glynn O’Leary ICRT Southern Africa and CEO Transfrontier Parks Destinations, Manisha Pande ICRT India and CEO Village Ways, Gustavo Pinto Founder and director at Turismo Responsável. Founding member at Muda! Brazilian Collective for Responsible Tourism.
