There are four sections to the Tourism for Tomorrow Application form:-

• Project Summary (500 words)
• Category Criteria (1000 words)
• General Criteria (500 words)
• References

Make sure you have filled in all four sections using the guidelines below.
Click here to read the Tourism for Tomorrow rules.

Click here to download a printable version of the rules and guidelines

Section 1: Project Summary (max 500 words)

The aim of this section is to give a brief overview of your company / organization, its background and objectives. Below is a guideline only and must be adapted according to the nature of your project or organization.

Brief description of Company / Organization and its Mission
- Where is your company / organization's headquarters located, and how many years have you been in operation?
- What does your sustainable tourism-related project and work consist of?

Aims of Project
- What are the aims, objectives and goals of your project?

Financing
- How is your project financed?

Scale (where relevant to that particular category)
- Number of visitors per year (domestic / international)
- Size of accommodation facility and/or tour operation
- Nature and size of the protected area
- Examples of facilities
- Number of employees
- Number of members

Section 2: Category Criteria (max 1000 words)

The aim of this section is for you to demonstrate, in as much detail as possible, how your project qualifies and fits the specific criteria of the category for which you are entering. The questions are intended as a guideline only - please include any relevant information.

Destination Award

This is awarded to a destination - country, region, state or town - which comprises a network of tourism enterprises and organizations which show dedication to and success in maintaining a programme of sustainable tourism destination management incorporating social, cultural, environmental and economic aspects as well as multi-stakeholder engagement. The winner will demonstrate maximum positive benefit and minimum negative impact, and the adoption of planning and policies that promote and enhance the natural, historic, and cultural assets unique to a destination. Applicants may include governments, NGOs, businesses, or community organizations on behalf of the destination.

1. How is your destination ensuring maximum benefits and minimum negative impacts to the natural environment and local communities?
2. List policies and activities that you have in place to support preservation of the destination's natural and cultural heritage, its local character and sense of authenticity.
3. Who are your key partners that make important contributions to your destination stewardship efforts, according to the principles of sustainable tourism (i.e. anticipating development pressures and adopting appropriate techniques to manage and sustain natural habitats and cultural heritage)?
4. How do you involve or educate tourists to support your aims and objectives?
5. How do you engage and bring about direct economic benefits to the host community in your destination? How are local people involved in your destination stewardship efforts?
6. How do you communicate your actions to other stakeholders, including the media, in order to promote best practices in the tourism industry?

Conservation Award

Open to any tourism business, organization or attraction, contenders for this Award need to demonstrate that their efforts to ensure sustainable tourism development and operations have made a significant contribution to the conservation and preservation of natural heritage. This includes, but is not limited to, the protection of wildlife, natural habitat and biodiversity conservation.  

1. How is your project directly linked to successful conservation and protection of the natural heritage in your area?
2. What specific policies and activities do you have in place to achieve this and how are they implemented?
3. How does your project integrate nature conservation with supporting the well-being of local communities in direct and tangible ways?
4. How do you engage and educate tourists and other stakeholders to the goals of your project?
5. How do you communicate your actions to other stakeholders, including the media, in order to promote best practices in the tourism industry?

Investor in People Award

This is awarded to a tourism initiative that has demonstrated direct benefits to local people, including the transfer of industry skills that spread the benefits of Travel & Tourism widely and effectively and provide support for maintaining local cultural traditions. The winner of this award will show a positive contribution to cultural preservation and a commitment to capacity building required for Travel & Tourism in destination areas, along with providing fair wages, developing careers, training and educational opportunities, and employee relations that result in economic and social benefits for local communities.

1. How is your project / business linked to the preservation of the area's cultural heritage?
2. How does your project or business bring direct and tangible economic benefits to local people?
3. How does your project or business provide direct and tangible professional development opportunities to its staff, ensuring there are opportunities for career advancement?
4. How does your project or business build the capacity of local peoples, through training and education, so that they can become partners or stakeholders in the project's success or in developing their own businesses?
5. How do you communicate your actions to other stakeholders, including the media, in order to promote best practices in the tourism industry?

Global Tourism Business Award

Any company from any sector of Travel & Tourism - cruise lines, hotel groups, tour Any large company from any sector of Travel & Tourism - cruise lines, hotel groups, tour operators, etc. - with at least 200 employees and operating in more than one country or in more than one destination in a single country, is eligible for this Award. Applicants must demonstrate sound environmental operations and management, including the education of guests about areas visited, support for cultural and historical preservation, and collaboration with other private and public stakeholders. Their efforts to ensure sustainable tourism development must have encompassed social, environmental and cultural concerns.  

1. In quantifiable and tangible ways, how does your business engage in environmentally sustainable operations and management (i.e. proper waste water treatment, alternative energy use, recycling, etc.)?
2. How does your business support the preservation of natural and cultural heritage?
3. How does your business educate guests about sustainable tourism? Are guests provided with opportunities to contribute to conservation or development projects that bring tangible benefits to local people and the environment in your area?
4. How is your business promoting partnership among other stakeholders in the area (public and private ) to support sustainable tourism development?
5. How do you communicate your actions to other stakeholders, including the media, in order to promote best practices in the tourism industry?

Section 3: General Criteria (max 500 words)

The aim of this section is to demonstrate, in as much detail as possible, how your project fits the general TOURISM for TOMORROW criteria and stands out from other projects as an example of best practice in Travel & Tourism. The questions are intended as a guideline only - please include any relevant information.

Leadership

1. What is it that makes your project a role model?
2. What is innovative / unique about it?
3. What lessons can others engaged in the tourism industry (public and/or private ) learn from your project?
4. What does your project demonstrate to other operators/businesses?

Best Practice on all levels

1. How does your project develop and promote tourism Best Practice across the board (ie social, cultural, environmental and economic)?
2. How do you benchmark your performance and assess future development and operation plans to maintain your success as a sustainable tourism model?

Any other information

Section 4: References

All entrants must supply full contact details for two independent references. Only references for finalists will be contacted.

The two referees should not be directly related to the project and at least one referee should be associated with either your local tourist office or another government body (or in the case of a government applicant, references should be from outside the government or an international or regional tourism organization).

Examples of suitable referees include:

1. Conservation Foundations/Groups/Associations
2. Government agencies ie Department of Environment and Conservation, Department of Tourism and Culture, Chamber of Commerce
3. Journalists/Editors for renowned and respected publications
4. Tourist Offices/Tourism Authorities/Tourist Boards
5. Academics/University Professors
6. Tour Operators

Finalists may be asked to provide support documentation. Please DO NOT send any supporting documents with your application as this will not be considered.

ENTRIES MUST BE RECEIVED BY 5 DECEMBER, 2007