Ecotourism Spotlight Award 2009

ECOTOURISM SPOTLIGHT AWARD

PLANETA.COM

2009

2009 Nominees

  Quito Visitors' Bureau   Responsible Tourism Guide to the Mekong   Ecotourism Laos   Failte Ireland   Mexico's National Commission of Natural Protected Areas.

2009 Winner

  Quito Visitors' Bureau   Responsible Tourism Guide to the Mekong   Ecotourism Laos   Failte Ireland   Mexico's National Commission of Natural Protected Areas.

BACKGROUND

 Government websites that engage locals and potential visitors about ecotourism and responsible travel are eligible to win Planeta.com's annual Ecotourism Spotlight Award.

OBJECTIVES

  The Ecotourism Spotlight Award was developed to create incentives for communication, opportunities for conversation and a reward for participation among government leaders working toward ecotourism and responsible travel.

WORLD TOURISM

  The winner is announced in celebration of World Tourism Day (September 27) to spotlight best practice in responsible travel and ecotourism.

BENEFITS

 All nominees receive links and promotion from Planeta.com.

 Winners receive international recognition and bragging rights.

NOMINATIONS

 Municipal, regional, national and international government websites are eligible.

 Only the managers of government websites can nominate their own sites. Nominations were accepted April 1 - June 30, 2009.

SELECTION CRITERIA

 Websites that demonstrate innovative practices in spotlighting sustainable practices will be featured as nominees once the sites add a link and logo to the Ecotourism Spotlight Award.

VOTING

 Voting took place via popular count from July 20 to the end of August. Respondents will be asked to review all the sites and choose their favorite. Multiple votes will not be permitted. Honesty counts!

ANNOUNCEMENT

  The results are tabulated and the winner announced in advance of World Tourism Day (September 27).

TIPS

Websites are encouraged to …   1) Converse with locals and visitors.   2) Create an informative, content-rich website that

provides detailed information for visitors seeking eco-friendly, people-friendly and place-friendly travel. Provide direct links to local operations.

  3) Add the logo and link for the Ecotourism Spotlight Award on your website.

LOGO

Nomination Form

A SHORT HISTORY OF THE ECOTOURISM SPOTLIGHT AWARD

PLANETA.COM

ORIGIN

 During the 2006 Communication and Sustainable Tourism E-Conference we proposed "there could be an award for National Tourism Boards websites that illustrate a country's sustainable tourism practices.

DEVELOPMENT

  In developing the Ecotourism Spotlight Award, we opened nominees to any government initiative, including tourism and conservation institutions and expanded the range of nominees to include municipal, regional, national and international institutions.

2007-2009

  Ecotourism Laos won the Spotlight Award in 2007, 2008 and 2009.

ron mader www.planeta.com twitter.com/ronmader

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