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Professionals in Tourism

 Media Release  

Cairns, Queensland, Australia   - 6 November 2002

  SKÅL SALUTES ECO TOURISM BEST PRACTICE

  The world’s best practice ecotourism operators have been recognised by a new global award conferred by the world’s largest tourism and travel organization to mark 2002 International Year of Ecotourism & Mountains.

 Skål International, the worldwide tourism fellowship association, has announced the winners of its inaugural Eco Tourism Awards at the Skål 63^rd World Congress held at the Cairns Convention Centre in Tropical North Queensland, Australia.

 Skål International president, Tony Clegg-Butt, said the awards paid tribute to the status of global eco-tourism practitioners and highlighted the role of tourism as a vehicle for sustainable development.

 “The positive contribution made by controlled, sustainable tourism development to any economy cannot be underestimated.  Tourism has a multiplier effect that is felt at all levels of the community, and Skål International seeks to recognise and reward excellence in ecotourism by selecting these global examples of best practice.”

 Winners of the inaugural 2002 Skål Ecotourism Awards were chosen from a field of 42 entries from all over the world.  Submissions for the awards were judged separately and individually by global environmentalists.   The judges for the 2002 awards were –

 Eugenio Yunis, World Tourism Organization

Costas Christ, senior director, Conservation International USA

Dr Rosalind Reeve, environmental lawyer, Kenya

  Winners in categories 1 – 5 were:

 Category 1.    Countryside, Mountains, Rivers and Lakes:

 Winner:    Complejo Turistico Kapawi, Ecuador

 Category 2.    Underwater

 Winner: Pemuteran Coral Conservation Karang Lestari, Indonesia

 Category 3.    Natural Parks and Protected Areas

 Winner: Shamwari Game Reserve, South Africa

 Category 4.    Village and Rural Tourism

 Winner:    Al Donyo Wuas, Kenya

 Category 5.    Beaches, Coasts and Islands

 Winner:    Island Safaris, Vanuatu

  Skål’s President praised the quality exhibited by local eco tourism operators.

 “The congress chose Cairns as the appropriate destination to launch Skål International’s new ecotourism award due to its unique position between two World Heritage areas – the Great Barrier Reef and Australia’s Tropical Rainforests.  We have experienced the high standards achieved by this region’s ecotourism operators and feel confident that they will feature strongly in future awards,” said Tony Clegg-Butt. 

 Award winners were presented with a specially crafted Waterford crystal trophy donated by Waterford Crystal Ireland. 

Skål International has a world wide membership of 22,500 travel professionals and is represented by over 500 clubs in 86 countries.  The clubs strive to develop friendship and common purpose between professionals in the travel and tourism industry by fostering goodwill and mutual understanding.  Members participate in conferences, seminars, and the organization is a major source for business networking opportunities within the worldwide travel and tourism industries.

 Media Enquiries:

Oliver McCann   Mobile Tel:  (+0011) 353 872 478012  Email:  omccann@eircom.ie

 Further Information:

Skål International Website:  www.skal.org