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DESTINATION RØROS WON PRESTIGIOUS TOURISM AWARD

03/02/2012 00:00:00
Destination Røros has won the Best Destination category at this year’s Virgin Holidays Responsible Tourism Awards organised by responsibletravel.com. The award was presented at World Travel Market in London which is the second largest annual event for the travel industry.

Since 2004, responsibletravel.com has presented their globally renowned Responsible Tourism Award at the WTM. The awards are won by individuals, organizations and/or destinations who make outstanding contributions to local livelihoods, cultural heritage and the environment by offering fantastic holidays that conserve cultural traditions, create sustainable livelihoods, and connect travelers with the pace and rhythm of local ways of life.

At a ceremony hosted at World Travel Market (WTM), Docklands, London, on Wednesday 09th November, the Awards were handed out by Justin Francis, managing director of responsibletravel.com, organisers and founders of the Awards, and Amanda Wills, managing director of Virgin Holidays, headline sponsor of the Awards.

Destination Røros was awarded because of the destination‟s work on sustainable development. Hilde Bergebakken is the project manager of the destination‟s national pilot on sustainable tourism. The region has a history of sustainable development of the World Heritage Site and the national parks in the region. In recent years, the destination has worked with an extensive knowledge- and service educational program, sustainable waste handling, environmental policy and environmental certification. Destination Røros works according to a sustainability policy and also offers a sustainable business development program to its members.

“This former mining-town in Norway may have been named a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1980, but it‟s been preserving traditions as a tourist destination for over 85 years. Attracting over one million visitors each year, the town of just 3700 inhabitants maintains its sense of place through a „local knowledge‟ program run for over 90 businesses, local food safaris and much more.”

Hilde Bergebakken accepted the award. She is Acting Destination Manager and project manager of Destination Røros‟ Sustainable Tourism program. Bergebakken states that this is an important and prestigious acknowledgement for Destination Røros. She says that this award goes to everyone working within the travel industry in the region and says the key to success is cooperation. This is a great honor, she concludes.

Justin Francis, founder of The Responsible Tourism Awards and managing director, responsibletravel.com, organisers of the Awards said:
"Right now it‟s tough times for business – industries the world over are facing difficult questions from a public who want to know if business can be a force for good. Tourism is no exception, and thankfully our winners are on hand with the answers. Where travellers ask for authenticity, our winners are there with genuine experiences. Where destinations ask „what‟s in it for me‟, our winners share the benefits.”

Amanda Wills, managing director, Virgin Holidays, headline sponsor of the Awards said: “For the fifth year running, Virgin Holidays is honoured to be involved in celebrating the humbling and hugely inspiring winners of these awards. Everyone in the travel industry can and should learn from them and seek ways we can work together to make a meaningful and ongoing commitment to responsible travel. The example set by the winners shows that fairness in travel can be good for us, good for our customers and suppliers, and most of all good for the communities and destinations with which we work.” For a full list of finalists, see www.responsibletourismawards.com

This year, travellers can read the winners‟ inspiring stories as well as other news and holiday ideas in the world‟s first app for green, responsible tourism: r:travel, in association with the South Australian Tourism Commission. Visit www.responsibletravel.com/awards/app (free of charge).