South West Tourism and the Tourism for Tomorrow

The World Travel and Tourism Council have announced the winners and finalists of their annual Tourism for Tomorrow Awards.
The awards include four very different categories: the Destination Stewardship Award, the Conservation Award, the Community Benefit Award and the Global Tourism Business Award. As the only finalist from the UK, South West Tourism was exceedingly proud to be in the final twelve across the four categories and the final three in the Destination Stewardship Award.
Neil Warren, Sustainability Strategist for South West Tourism said: “We were surprised and delighted to make it so far and while a little disappointed that we didn’t win, it was further than I ever anticipated we would get when I sent the application in.”
Leap are very proud to be associated with South West Tourism and were more than happy to say so to the award judges, Matt said: “I was asked to meet with the judges to discuss Leap’s working relationship with SWT and what we do ourselves.”
Even though they didn’t win, Neil remains positive: “One of the best outcomes from the process was that the judging visit reminded me just how many great partners we are fortunate to work with. I’d like to thank them all again for their support in recent years, for their help with the judging in February and I look forward to continuing our work together in the future.”
The eventual winner of the Destination Stewardship Award was Grupo Puntacana from the Dominican Republic. The group own and run a Resort and Club, international airport, a community and an ecological foundation. Like a modern day Bourneville or Voltaire the group employs 1,700 people and provides all their educational and health related needs whilst sustainably developing the local infrastructure.
Neil said: “Congratulations to Grupo Puntacana on what looks like fantastic work in the Dominican Republic.”