Arkitrek are proud to be associated with Wild Asia’s Responsible Tourism (RT) Awards 2009. Ian Hall has been invited to join the judging panel which will decide this year’s winners from a shortlist of 8 accommodation operators throughout Asia.

Wild Asia targets accommodation owners because these are the people who have made a commitment to a place. With this ‘rooted-ness’ comes a long term view that is essential for social and environmental sustainability.

Responsible tourism is an evolution of the term ‘eco-tourism’. The words change like the fashions, perhaps because the leaders need to find new ways to differentiate themselves from the bandwagon riders. The RT Awards are an opportunity to verify some of the claims being made and to share and promote the best ideas so that the bandwagon can catch up.

The award categories cover a range of operation types from large resort hotels, medium to small boutique destinations and community based tourism initiatives. Each finalist has been reviewed by a team of judges, fact-finders and videographers and the winners will be announced at a cocktail reception in Kuala Lumpur on 28th October 2009.

Tourism makes a good platform for sustainable change because in many cases there is an obvious link between between tourism and a certain cultural or natural heritage. If you irrevocably damage that heritage then there is no more tourist dollar.

For more information as it happens follow the RT Awards blog

To register for one of this year’s RT Events (CSR Asia summit, RT Awards and RT training workshops) details are available here.

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