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Safe & Sustainable Tourism Awards 2021 Launched

October 13, 2020

Birdseye view of Navagio Beach (Shipwreck Beach) on Zakynthos island in Greece

IMAGE: Julius Silver

Sustain Europe is proud to announce the launch of the Safe & Sustainable Tourism Awards 2021.

 

These independent awards will recognise the safest and most sustainable European travel destinations and hotels, rewarding genuine efforts to change for the better and celebrating excellence in the MICE and tourism industry.

 

It will reward winners not just for implementing sensible and stringent COVID-19 protocols, but also for keeping sustainability at the forefront of their leisure, hospitality and conference offerings and operations throughout the pandemic crisis.

 

Background to the Awards

 

The COVID-19 pandemic has had devastating and global effects on a world already struggling to meet the challenge of the climate crisis and undergoing rapid social, cultural and technological change. The leisure, hospitality and tourism sector, including the MICE industry, has been among the hardest hit.

 

As with any crises, this has seen communities, countries and corporations respond in both the best and worst of ways. While some have risen to meet the new, added challenges posed by the pandemic, using the crisis as an opportunity to take stock and plan for a greener recovery add future, others have denied or deferred responsibility for tackling those challenges—and ignored the need and opportunity for pivotal, sustainable change.

 

The main aim of the Safe & Sustainable Tourism Awards is to be an independent benchmark and reward scheme that’s free of any bias or sponsorship. Our winners will be destinations and providers who have kept sight of their aspirational, actionable sustainability goals while also being instrumental in COVID-19 crisis recovery and prioritising the health of tourists, consumers and staff.

 

Award Criteria

 

The awards criteria will be evaluated in relation to the following three key areas:

 

Health

 

• Implementing safety protocols (COVID-19 resilience)
• Aiding COVID-19 crisis recovery
• Over-tourism management

 

Impact

 

• Building resilience
• Social responsibility
• Fostering innovation

 

Sustainability

 

• Ecotourism potential
• Biodiversity protection and conservation
• Sustainable mobility
• Implementing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

 

The Safe & Sustainable Tourism Awards are open to any organisation or destination including towns, cities, regions, countries and national parks.

 

Applications must be submitted by Friday, 30th April, 2021 with the results announced in August 2021*. There is no fee to nominate a destination or organisation for this award.

 

For further information and full details on how to enter please visit:

 

www.sastourismawards.com

 

 

 

 

 

* Due to an unprecedented number of entries the application deadline has been extended for this year's Safe & Sustainable Tourism Awards.