Winner of Responsible Tourism

Destination Røros won the Best Destination category at the 2011 Virgin Holidays Responsible Tourism Awards organised by responsibletravel.com.

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. This is done by offering fantastic holidays that conserve cultural traditions, create sustainable livelihoods, and connect travelers with the pace and rhythm of local ways to live.

Destination Røros was awarded 1st prize, because of the destination’s work with sustainability. The region has a history of sustainable development in the World Heritage Site and the national parks of 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.

THE JURY’S JUSTIFICATION

“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.”

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.”

For a full list of finalists, see www.responsibletourismawards.com

ABOUT THE VIRGIN HOLIDAYS RESPONSIBLE TOURISM AWARDS

The awards are the most competitive of their kind in the world and are a collaboration between online travel directory responsibletravel.com who founded and organises the Awards, UK media partners Metro Newspaper and Geographical Magazine, and World Travel Market who host the presentation event. The central tenet of the awards is that all types of tourism – from niche to mainstream – can and should be operated in a way that respects and benefits destinations and local people.