The 7th Annual Skål International Ecotourism Awards were presented last Monday, October 13th 2008.
Skål, founded as an international association in 1934 is the largest organization of travel and tourism professionals in the world, embracing all sectors of the travel and tourism industry in five continents, 90 countries and at over 500 locations, with 20,000 members from hoteliers to travel agents, airlines, tourism media and tourism academies, etc.
Skål International is aiming at quality in tourism and values sustainable development in tourism as the key to the industry’s future success and considers ecotourism but one area of the various components of sustainable development and responsible tourism.
To encourage the conservation of the environment and help to promote the development of responsible and sustainable tourism, Skål International initiated an awards program in 2002, during “The Year of Ecotourism and the Mountains” as declared by United Nations. While the purpose of these awards was to highlight best practices in ecotourism around the world, they were also created with the aim of acquainting the world with this new concept that puts emphasis on the importance of the interaction of the physical, cultural and social environment, the traveler’s responsibility and the need for active community participation for ecotourism. In their seventh year, the awards have received continued support worldwide, and this year 53 entries were received from 24 countries - nine from Asia, 18 from the
The applications were evaluated by three independent judges and the scores, given by each separately, are added up to find the winners. The primary criteria for the evaluation is based on points such as, contribution to the conservation of nature and cultural heritage, community involvement, educational features, business viability and innovation.
Among the winners for 2008 are two of the European Geoparks !
In the category of General Countryside: THE LESVOS PETRIFIED FOREST GEOPARK, GREECE
In the category of Educational Programs - Media: EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS OF THE GEOPARK NATURTEJO MESETA MERIDIONAL - UNESCO EUROPEAN AND GLOBAL GEOPARK, PORTUGAL
For further information please see the links
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