Last call for responsible tourism award entries

Organised by the Federated Hospitality Association of Southern Africa (FEDHASA) in conjunction with Absa, the National Department of Tourism, Eskom, the Industrial Development Corporation, the Department of Water Affairs and Don't Waste Services, the awards are open to any type of tourism and hospitality business.

FEDHASA CEO, Brett Dungan, says the awards are in line with the responsible tourism guidelines for the South African hospitality industry and the UN World Tourism Organisation's code of ethics and are supported by the Heritage Environmental Rating Programme.

Imvelo has created significant awareness of environmental management issues in the tourism industry. "Over the years the awards have found and recognised world-class examples of responsible tourism practice," he says.

Categories

• Best social involvement programme
  
• Best practice - economic impact
  
• Best overall environmental management system
  
• Best single resource management programme - for water, energy and waste
  
• Most empowered tourism business
  
• Investor in people

An overall Imvelo winner will be selected and a chairman's award could be made at the discretion of the FEDHASA chairman to any Imvelo entrant or any other organisation in the tourism industry that made a significant contribution to responsible tourism over the past year.

A panel of specialists in responsible tourism practice will judge entries and finalists will be visited personally to verify and evaluate their entries.

For more information, go to www.imveloawards.co.za.