Entries for RTA awards open

Entries for the 2017 Responsible Tourism Awards (RTA) in the Tourism Accommodation Establishments and Tour Operators categories have opened.
The winners of the awards that are hosted by the Namibia Media Holdings will be announced at the Namibia Tourism Expo taking place from 17 to 21 May 2017 and the three winners in each category stand to win prizes in editorial and advertorial coverage. The prizes are N$250 000, N$150 000 and N$100 000 for the first, second and third places respectively.
This year, the winners in the category of Tourism Accommodation were Nkasa Lupala Tented Lodge, Wolwedans Boulders Camp and Gondwana’s Etosha Safari Camp. In the Tour Operators category, the winners were: Sense of Africa (Tourvest), Ultimate Safaris and Pack Safari.
In order to qualify for the awards, all entrants must be registered with the Namibia Tourism Board as an individual entity.
Each entity, competing for the prestigious awards, must provide evidence of excellent performance, measured against the principles of sustainable tourism.
The criteria include: Sustainable management, natural resources, waste handling, building and landscaping, staff, safety and legal compliance and social responsibility initiatives targeting poverty eradication.
Proof of a successful routine assessment by Eco Awards Namibia (achieving at least four Eco-Flowers) will be the minimum entry requirement. If an establishment or operator has not yet been audited, an assessment needs to be arranged and completed by mid- September 2016.
Finalists in each category will then be selected for a more extensive evaluation, where the criteria will include ‘Awareness of Safe Transportation,’ the theme for 2017 Tourism Expo.
Entries for Tour Operator awards are open until 31 October 2016, while entries for Accommodation Establishment awards are open until 30 September 2016.
The judging of entries will take place from August 2016 to February 2017 and the three finalists in each category will be announced in February/March 2017.
More information regarding the Eco Awards Assessment can be obtained from Hazel Milne, Programme Coordinator at Eco Awards Namibia:
[email protected]
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