Saturday, March 23, 2024
Since its inception in 2013, the WTM Latin America event has prioritized discussions around ethical tourism, aiming to encourage the travel and tourism industry to adopt sustainable practices. This dedication to fostering sustainable tourism expanded with the introduction of an extensive program featuring lectures, panels, and debates, further enriched by the establishment of an award to honor exemplary sustainable practices among Latin American enterprises.
Introduced in 2019, the Responsible Tourism Award had its inaugural ceremony conducted online in 2021, spotlighting numerous initiatives by various organizations and associations throughout the region. With the event’s kickoff just 45 days away, WTM Latin America recently unveiled the 22 contenders from 10 countries vying for the award’s fourth iteration across six diverse categories. This year, the awards have embraced new categories reflecting the unique tourism aspects of the region, such as indigenous tourism and tourism in traditional communities, along with the inclusion of specialized strategic partners from across different nations. The finalists are listed in alphabetical order:
| ORGANIZATION | COUNTRY |
|---|---|
| Apata Colombia | Colombia |
| Asociación de Guias de Turismo Comunitario Explorando el Valle – ASOGTURC | Guatemala |
| EcoGuerreros SC de RL de CV | Mexico |
| Favela Santa Marta Tour | Brazil |
| Fundación Agua y Tierra | Panama |
| Grande Reserva Mata Atlântica | Brazil |
| Grupo Cataratas | Brazil |
| Guyana Tourism Authority | Guyana |
| Impulse Travel | Colombia |
| Instituto Superior Indígena Raúl Karai Correa | Argentina |
| Mama Uma Travel S.A.S. | Ecuador |
| Manakin Nature Tours | Colombia |
| Mujeres a la Cumbre | Chile |
| Parque Nacional de Jericoacoara, Instituto Chico Mendes de Conservação da Biodiversidade | Brazil |
| Programa de Descarbonização do Grupo Tauá de Hotéis e Resorts | Brazil |
| Rainforest Expeditions | Peru |
| Rota da Liberdade | Brazil |
| Rutas Ancestrales Araucarias | Chile |
| San Luis Capital – Dirección de Turismo Municipal de SLP | Mexico |
| Say Hueque Argentina Journeys | Argentina |
| Sociedad Comercial Budi Lafken SPA | Chile |
| Travolution Internacional | Colombia |
This year, a remarkable increase of over 40% brought the total to more than 150 submissions, all thoroughly scrutinized by a distinguished jury. This panel, boasting representatives from across Latin America, included travel professionals, association leaders, public sector voices, media figures, and influential opinion leaders, alongside six notable organizations committed to advancing sustainable tourism across the region. The culmination of this rigorous evaluation process will see the winners unveiled on April 16 at 6 p.m. during the WTM Latin America 2024’s Transformation theater event.
Evaluated on the grounds of innovation, scalability, and the tangible impact of their sustainable solutions, finalists not only gain prestigious recognition but also benefit from expert insights and the chance to elevate their profile among consumers and industry peers in a highly competitive landscape.
The fourth installment of the Responsible Tourism Awards will honor achievements in six critical areas: 1) Conservation of biodiversity; 2) Advancement of diversity, equity, and inclusion within the tourism sector; 3) Enhancement of social and economic development and the fostering of peace through tourism; 4) Outstanding efforts in networking to bolster sustainable tourism practices in destinations; 5) Exceptional contributions to tourism involving indigenous and/or traditional communities; 6) Innovative approaches to combating climate change.
Saturday, April 27, 2024
