2011 Imvelo Responsible Tourism Awards open for entries

FEDHASA CEO Brett Dungan says Imvelo has become the benchmark for responsible tourism practice in South Africa, having created significant awareness of environmental management issues in the tourism industry. A record number of 219 category entries were received last year.

According to Dungan 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. They are supported by the Heritage Environmental Rating Programme.

Awards 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.

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.

Entrants may enter in more than one category but entries must stipulate the category/categories that apply.

Entries should reach the organisers by 31 August 2011. They will be judged by a panel of specialists in responsible tourism practice and finalists will be visited personally to verify and evaluate their entries.

Winners will receive their awards at an awards ceremony to be held in Johannesburg on World Responsible Tourism Day, 9 November.

For more information, visit www.imveloawards.co.za.