Wild Asia's RTA 2010 Winners Revealed!

Norm and Linda van Hoff of Sarinbuana Ecolodge and Jeevaka Weerakone of Heritance Kandalama - winners of this year's Awards. Representatives from Andaman Discoveries, our winner for tour operator category regrettably could not make it for the event.


Wild Asia announces the winners for the 5th Responsible Tourism Awards 2010 from Thailand, Indonesia and Sri Lanka at ITB Asia. After months of short-listing the finalists and making site visits to the final six properties and tour operators, Wild Asia’s judging panel has finally selected its 2010 RT Awards winners.

Operators such as Heritance Kandalama (Sri Lanka), Sarinbuana Ecolodge (Indonesia), and Andaman Discoveries (Thailand) have surpassed judges’ expectations by scoring high against the Awards checklist and are this year’s award winners for the following categories of accommodation operators respectively – large; mid-sized to small; and tour operators.

Every year the WA judging panel reviews submitted checklists (based on the UNWTO Global Sustainable Tourism Criteria) from operators throughout Asia. Two finalists for each category are shortlisted based on some of the following criteria:

• Sense of place - whether tourists understand their destinations in terms of the cultural and ecological context better through the operators' efforts.
• Sustainability - whether these RT efforts are long-term.
• Involvement of guests – how much does the operators involve their guests in their RT practices?
• Internalisation - how much is sustainability part of the day-to-day operations?
• Reach – how far are these ideas and practices shared across the destination or even the industry?
• Continual Improvement – how do the operators strive to improve their RT efforts?
  

Understanding and internalising the essence of responsible tourism, these operators are catalysts for positive change within their sphere of influence, inspiring others to embark on the green journey while at the same time, still affording customers with the memorable holiday experience the travel for in the first place.

Mr. Jeevaka Weerakone, general manager of Heritance Kandalama noted that “it is a great honour to receive the Awards and will continually raise the game in making Heritance Kandalama an example in Sri Lanka and to the world, at the same time a learning center for responsible tourism.”

Norm vant Hoff, owner of Sarinbuana Ecolodge, the winner of the small to mid-sized to small accommodation category expressed that, “winning the Awards has helped us increase our profile thereby bringing in more conscious travelers and increasing revenue streams for the local community.”

Wild Asia would like to congratulate winners and finalists for their commendable efforts and commitment in achieving high standards of environmental protection and social responsibility that form the critical pillars of their business philosophy.

RTA 2010 Finalist Site Visit: Heritance Kandalama

[To perch] - The noun befits birds gently and gracefully sitting on tree branches, covered with lushes of green for shade. That’s once upon a time for the tiny village of Kandalama, 20 kilometres from Dambulla, a small town in Sri Lanka. Blessed with rich biodiversity many of which endemic to Sri Lanka, this region serves as a perfect spot for nature lovers.

An [idea] - This word calls for an intention to create, and often times, accompanied with a representative image. The idea back in 1992 was to create a seamless hotel that blends into the natural surroundings. Many surrounding villagers did not think this idea was congruent with the blessings Kandalama had, but the designers, innovators and entrepreneurs behind Heritance Kandalama, a now well recognized hotel had a plan, a plan to prove the sceptics wrong.

Since its inception in 1992 for construction, Heritance Kandalama had a very close stake to sustainability ensuring that from its development to operations, the area’s biodiversity and community must be preserved. Among many awards the hotel has won, it is also the first LEED certified hotel to be recognized outside of USA.

As though emerging out from the lush of nature, the Heritance Kandalama building was aligned to fit the profile of the craggy land. Instead of blasting stones or removing trees, they elevated the Dambulla and Sigiriya on stilts in order to eliminate any ecological impact.

Situated in Sri Lanka’s cultural triangle’s heartland, Heritance Kandalama is flanked by two UNESCO world heritage sites – the 1st Century BC Dambulla Cave Temple and the 5th Century AD Sigiriya Rock Fortress. The hotel is surrounded by rocky outcrops, lush forests, and overlooks the glistening Kandalama Tank.

With its commitment to sustainability, Heritance went one step further in setting up an Eco Park as a tool for wildlife and environment education. This is where waste from the hotel is being sorted and waste water treated. The Eco Park also has a unit for making paper out of elephant dung and waste paper and a nursery to cultivate indigenous seedlings. Over the years, this facility has also evolved into an animal rehabilitation centre where wildlife is rescued, cared for and prep for the wild.

After 16 years, the hotel is not only conserving the environment, they are giving back to local communities and playing the role of a change agent in the country. Its doors are constantly open for the occasional sceptic, curious researchers, students and tasteful travellers who seek a different kind of travel experience.

This idea became a vision and turned into reality. Heritance Kandalama, not just a pride of Sri Lanka, but soon to be an example to the world.



By: Terence Ooi & Deborah Chan (Dambulla, Sri Lanka: 10 – 13 September, 2010)

Special Note: Heritance Kandalama is one of the finalists for the 2010 Responsible Tourism Awards (Category: Large Accommodation). For more v-blogs on Wild Asia’s Responsible Tourism Awards, please visit our Wild Asia Channel.

RTA 2010 Finalist Site Visit: Sarinbuana Ecolodge

Nestled in the rainforest of Mount Batukaru, in the northwest region of Bali, Sarinbuana Ecolodge offers a welcomed escape from the hustle and bustle of the tourist track, and a refreshing experience that most people do not feel when visiting this island. Sarinbuana Ecolodge, which was started ten years ago, is run by Linda and Norm vant Hoff and their extended Balinese family. The eco lodge demonstrates a clear and committed practice of responsible tourism in every aspect of its operation, and is nominated this year for the Wild Asia Responsible Tourism Award.

Although a small lodge, with only 4 villas, Sarinbuana Ecolodge has had an enormous positive impact on the local village. Since the arrival to the Sarinbuana village, the vant Hoff family has dedicated themselves to improving local livelihoods, establishing a good relationship with the community, and learning the local language and culture in order to truly integrate with the local community. The eco lodge has provided a surplus of extra income for many village members. All staff are local and live within ten minutes from the eco lodge, including the lodge manager. The eco lodge believes firmly that the key to a successful lodge is by providing economic opportunities to the local communities. Whether it be from generating jobs on site, or through numerous workshops offered for guests, trekking guides, soccer coaching to a local team, employing a team to manage the tree planting program, or many others, Sarinbuana Ecolodge excels at generating income for the local community, while instilling a sustainable development philosophy. The lodge also aims to unite other eco lodges in the Bali area and helps to provide consulting and courses for other developers.

In terms of best environmental practices of responsible tourism, the lodge has adopted a number of strategies ever since the formation of the business. All cleaning materials, as well as soaps are all natural and 100% biodegradable. No plastic bottles are used on premises, and all waste is segregated and recycled. Organic waste is composted on site and used as fertilizer for the extensive permaculture gardens which cover the property. All villas are constructed with local sustainable timber, including coconut and bamboo and have a very low impact design. Water is sourced from a natural spring and all waste water is carefully treated and released into leach gardens, which in turn, support the gardens and various fruit trees. The eco lodge has successfully established an 800 hectare rainforest reserve and guests are offered the opportunity to offset their carbon emissions by physically planting trees in the neighboring reserve.

At Sarinbuana Ecolodge, one can embrace the cool mountain breezes, lush tropical rainforests, rich Balinese culture, and appreciate life at its purest. The eco lodge operates in a truly holistic manner, exemplifies sustainability environmentally, economically and socially, and provides comfortable and pristine surroundings for true peace of mind.



Written by: Melissa Cornejo (Bali, Indonesia: 6 - 9 September, 2010)

Special Note: Sarinbuana Ecolodge is one of the finalists for the 2010 Responsible Tourism Awards (Category: Small to Mid-size Accommodation). For more v-blogs on Wild Asia’s Responsible Tourism Awards, please visit the Wild Asia Channel.

RTA 2010 Finalist Site Visit: PEPY Tours

What better way to explore a country than on two wheels with a saddlebag packed to last for 2 – 3 weeks. It’s all about local travel – taking in the sights, sounds and smells of a destination. The satisfaction of exploring the nook and cranny of a road less travelled and forging friendships with local people - that’s exactly what PEPY Tours offer to their travelers.

PEPY ("Protect the Earth, Protect Yourself") Tours was established in 2005 by Daniela Papi and her friends, who traveled to Cambodia and realized the sheer education deprivation in the country. Moved and inspired by the experience, they set out to raise funds to build the first-ever secondary school in Chanleas Dai Commune, about 45 minutes from Siem Reap. At the same time, they planned subsequent bicycle tours around Cambodia as a means of raising funds. Since then, PEPY has evolved from being a small informal group to a legal organization with over 30 Cambodian staff working in the rural parts of Cambodia to reach children and youth through education and leadership programmes.

The unique characteristic of PEPY’s tours lie not only in the authenticity of its travel but also in the educational aspect. PEPY seeks to create sustainable changes within an individual, resulting in long term effects even after the traveler leaves. They do so by engaging travelers in insightful and thought stimulating activities to help travellers learn and understand social and environmental issues surrounding tourism. Their goal is for travellers to leave Cambodia with a transformed view and attitude of how they live, travel and give.

During our 4-day visit to PEPY, we heard numerous stories of lives being empowered and changed because of the PEPY’s efforts. Youth from the rural parts of Cambodia are given the opportunity to study, fulfil their dreams and reach their highest potential. PEPY is in the business of empowering individuals in hope that they will change the hue of the future in their country. "If we can help our employees reach their full potential, then naturally the organization will inevitably reach its best," Daniela shares.

*PEPY organizes bicycle tours and education & experiential non-biking tours.



Written by: Deborah Chan (Siem Reap, Cambodia: 14 – 17 August, 2010)

Special Note: Pepy Tours is one of the finalists for the 2010 Responsible Tourism Awards(Category: Tour Operator). For more v-blogs on Wild Asia’s Responsible Tourism Awards, please visit the Wild Asia Channel.

RTA 2010 Finalist Site Visit: Soneva Gili

White powdery sand meets crystal blue sea all at your doorstep on one of the most beautiful islands in the Republic of Maldives. Located on Lankanfushi Island in the North Male Atoll, Soneva Gili hosts 45 luxury villas, which offer a simple yet sophisticated design and luxurious comfort, all perched on top of the crystal sea. The limited number of villas allow for exceptional service by attentive staff, at a guest to staff ratio of 1:6. The villas and other buildings are constructed and crafted from renewable and certified-sustainable sources.

Responsible tourism is engrained in all aspects of the operation, stemming from the founders Sonu and Eva who are committed to running an environmentally and socially responsible business. Throughout the years, the entire team at Soneva Gili has embraced this passion and are all stewards for improving their environment and local communities. At Soneva Gili, they realize the fragile and important ecosystem in which they operate and know that in order for their business to thrive, they must have an extremely low environmental impact along with positive social impact in local communities.

The resort has been recognized by Wild Asia as one of the finalists for the 2010 Responsible Tourism Awards because of an array of best practices in responsible tourism. One of the best practices at Soneva Gili is their strong commitment to local employment and worker’s welfare. The resort guarantees excellent staff conditions, as well as extensive training in environmental management for all employees. Soneva Gili believes that the success of its business depends, amongst other things, on its qualified, motivated and happy staff.

Another responsible tourism best practice worthy of noting at Soneva Gili is the carbon reduction and waste reduction measures. Since 2008, a 'carbon tax' of 2% has been included in Soneva Gili’s guest villa rates to offset flight-related emissions. This money is used to finance clean energy projects and community development in developing countries, such as India, through a non-profit organization called The Converging World.


The resort has also invested a great deal in innovative technologies that reduce both waste and carbon emissions. For example, a desalinization plant is used to provide all water for the operation, including drinking water (thus not importing any plastic water bottles onto the island). The implementation of heat recovery systems which capture hot exhaust from the generators, in order to heat water for the entire resort, is another example of innovative techniques used. The resort also has its own organic gardens and sources produce from local farms and fishermen as much as possible, thereby reducing air miles and non-biodegradable packaging.

In terms of social contributions, 0.5% of Soneva Gili’s annual revenue goes into their Social and Environmental Responsibility Fund (SERF), which supports national and international programmes on health, education, conservation and community development. Soneva Gili strives to empower local NGOs and promote economies. They understand the importance of being a leading role model in local environmental conservation and social empowerment, and try "to create innovative and enlightening experiences that rejuvenate guests’ love of SLOW LIFE".

Soneva Gili’s "S.L.O.W. L.I.F.E." concept – Sustainable, Local, Organic, Wholesome, Learning, Inspiring, Fun, Experience… is the real experience guests feel when staying at this resort. An extremely relaxing and pure environment, friendly staff and management, superb and healthy food, and the true feel of a Robinson Crusoe adventure while indulged in luxury is what Soneva Gili is all about and why many guests repeatedly return. The resort exemplifies a holistic approach to responsible tourism, and its passion and commitment towards the environment and local community shines.



Written by: Melissa Cornejo (Soneva Gili, Lankanfushi Island, Maldives: 11 – 14 August, 2010)

Special Note: Soneva Gili is one of the finalists for the 2010 Responsible Tourism Awards (Category: Small to Mid-size Accommodation). For more v-blogs on Wild Asia’s Responsible Tourism Awards, please visit the Wild Asia Channel.

RTA 2010 Finalist Site Visit: Frangipani Langkawi Resort & Spa

Self-learning and discovery is what Frangipani Resort and Spa promotes. Dispersed all over the resort are little notes, reminders and thought prodders informing guests of their green practices and encouraging them to participate in this noble effort. The green team at the resort are well trained environmental wizards with a flair for communication. Throughout our stay there, new features, ideas and innovations were revealed to us – from the way the new eco-friendly building was constructed to incorporate a garden rooftop to reduce heat transference to the guests’ rooms to the traditional sophisticated method of waste water channelling.

This modest resort tucked away on the quiet stretch of Pantai Tengah, Langkawi, Malaysia boasts of its seclusion and family friendly features. A generous expanse of rugged beach spans the resort overlooking several bold and luscious islands across the horizons. Families enjoy day activities offered by the resort and settle in at night with music at dance at the Mentari Restaurant serving local delights that suit the international palate.

Frangipani is seriously committed in putting the 3R concept (Reduce, Reuse and Recycle) into practice by monitoring, managing and innovating new ways to minimize waste generated in the resort. With the water shortage concern on the island, the resort is mindful of the impending scarcity and has built 85 water tanks to harvest rainwater. The rainwater is treated and channelled to various pipes for washing and gardening. The resort even has its own wetlands where grey and black water enter from septic tanks. This waste water is naturally treated by a precise selection of plants such as water hyacinth, convolvulus, mimosa and water lilies coupled with a mechanically induced aeration pump. The treated waste water is then pumped out of the wetlands for gardening and sustaining the veggie patch and animals on its little farm.

Blessed with 10 to 12 hours of sunlight a day, the resort has taken advantage of the natural light and heat by installing solar panels on each building. Hot water offered to the guests’ is heated by solar panels as a result eliminating the need for electric-generated heaters.

Generous and passionate about educating guests’, travellers and local communities, Frangipani frequently hosts environmental education workshops for student groups from universities and local schools at the resort. On top of that, Frangipani is committed to support local communities through a mesh up of environmental education and economic support. One such example is a social project with the single mothers at Tuba Island to produce and sell handicraft made from recyclable and natural materials such as newspapers, sea-shells washed ashore and pandanus leaves.

Frangipani Langkawi has come a long way and its success story lies in the owner’s vision to see the resort as one of the greenest properties in Malaysia.



Written by: Deborah Chan (Langkawi Island, Malaysia: 26 – 28 July, 2010)

Special Note: Frangipani Resort & Spa is one of the finalists for the 2010 Responsible Tourism Awards (Category: Large-size Accommodation). For more v-blogs on Wild Asia’s Responsible Tourism Awards, please visit the Wild Asia Channel.

WARTA 2010 - Finalists revealed!

This year, Wild Asia has received an increased number of participants for the Responsible Tourism Awards compared to last year. “We received a selection of high quality checklists and this proves to show that the network and awareness of RT is building up. Travel operators from around the region are truly striving to make a difference for a better and greener future,” says Deborah Chan, Wild Asia’s Programme Manager.

Wild Asia shortlisted several operators in each category in order to determine the finalists. Due to the extremely high calibre of entrants this year, it was a very difficult decision narrowing down to just 6 finalists. The shortlisted hotels and tour operators were reviewed and extensively researched by our judging panel which comprised of responsible tourism (RT) experts, academics, conservationists, and eco-consultants. The decision followed lengthy discussions and debate. Wild Asia’s judging panel first examined all of the completed checklists submitted by the operators, which outline their best management practices and specific RT efforts undertaken by them. Then, through a scoring system, the panel analyzed and ranked each answer from the advanced entry forms in order to determine the finalists. Each operator showcased strong and innovative RT practices which impressed the judging panel. It was such a close competition!

And now for Wild Asia’s 2010 Responsible Tourism Awards Finalists:

Large-size accommodation

Frangipani Langkawi Resort (Langkawi, Malaysia)

Frangipani Langkawi is dedicated to get guests and staff involved in their RT practices. The operation is involved in a range of innovative environmental activities that promote conservation. They are determined to raise awareness of RT and inspire others to incorporate green practices as well.

Heritance Kandalama (Dambulla, Sri Lanka)

Heritance Kandalama has a unique architectural design which blends the hotel into the natural surroundings and maximizes natural light in order to reduce energy use. The entire hotel is built on a raised platform allowing water to flow under the hotel. It also allows the free flow of animals under the hotel, leaving minimum impact on the eco system.

Small to Mid-size accommodation

Sarinbuana Ecolodge (Bali, Indonesia)

Sarinbuana Ecolodge is dedicated to conserve their surrounding environment and empower local communities. They aim for the highest standards of sustainability in every aspect of their business. Their bungalows use sustainable local materials and have a low impact on the environment. The ecolodge supports a wide variety of local businesses and uses natural and biodegradable products on site.

Soneva Gili (Lankanfushi Island, Maldives)

Soneva Gili focuses on the importance of reducing greenhouse gas emissions, conserving natural resources and effectively managing energy and waste using an array of technological innovations. The operation uses sustainable building materials and climate-friendly designs.

Tour Operators

Andaman Discoveries (Phang Nga, Thailand)

Andaman Discoveries strongly believes in community leadership and allows for the participation of local communities in every aspect of planning through open dialogue. They promote respectful interaction between visitors and local communities, and ensure direct economic benefits to the communities.

Pepy Tours (Siem Reap, Cambodia)

Pepy Tours believes tours should be adventurous, educational and responsible at the same time. They focus on providing economic benefits to the local communities through a variety of educational, volunteer and tour programs. Through their unique bicycle tours, they expose travellers to inspiring people and programs throughout Cambodia.

Between the months of August and September, a team of fact finders and media from Wild Asia will conduct site visits to each of the mentioned finalists to verify the submitted self-assessment checklists and photo-document unique best practices.

Winners will be announced on October 21st, 2010, during the Responsible Tourism Award ceremony held in conjunction with the ITB ASIA in Singapore. ITB Asia Trade Show runs from 20 – 22 October, 2010.

Wild Asia Responsible Tourism Awards 2010

Wild Asia is please to announce that the Responsible Tourism Awards are back! Now entering its fifth year, the Responsible Tourism Awards is an opportunity to showcase outstanding tourism operators - from small community based projects to large resorts - that are making significant contributions to sustainable tourism and provide inspiration for others to emulate. By sharing best practices of sustainable tourism seen among operators in Asia, we hope to demonstrate how advantageous it is to implement Responsible Tourism as part of a sound tourism business strategy.

We all know that travel has become more and more popular over the years, whether it be for fun, for a short business meeting, or for a week long corporate conference seminar. It is important that both individuals and corporations understand the importance of sustainable travel, and make it a goal to reduce carbon emissions while traveling and to choose a responsible tour destination or operator for future travels. Wild Asia is at the forefront of this movement and is now helping both individuals and businesses alike to incorporate responsible travel into their agendas.

Visit RTA 2010 for more information about our Responsible Tourism Awards, or to download the checklists.

Visit Leaders in Destinations for more information about the training workshops that we offer.

"Leaders in Destinations" Workshop: Registration Now Open!

Wild Asia is starting 2010 with a regional 2-day training workshop to inspire operators in making a shift towards responsible tourism. This participatory training session will provide practical knowledge and concepts for tourism operators, hotel managers, and CSR leaders to take steps in creating innovative solutions to offer a responsible tourism experience within the business sphere while protecting the local environment, working with community, and illustrating how these practices can benefit your business financially.

Next Workshop: Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Venue: Equatorial Hotel Kuala Lumpur
Date: 20 & 21 January, 2010
The workshop will provide the participants with skills to start implementing responsible tourism practices and policies in their businesses. The workshop will cover topics such as:
• The principles of RT
• How to adopt RT practices
• The meaning of RT Checklist
• Marketing techniques using RT case studies and practical examples

30 seats are available for the workshop and is on a "first-come-first-serve" basis. Workshop fee is set at RM 1,470 nett for the 2-day workshop.

Interested? Visit Leaders in Destinations for more info!

Introducing the Winners!

After a much anticipated wait, Wild Asia announced the winners of the Responsible Tourism Awards 2009 at the cocktail reception at Istana Hotel on 28 October, 2009. Joined with us to celebrate this victorious event are our sponsors, corporate partners, members of the media and more importantly our finalists namely; Shangri-La’s Tanjung Aru Resort & Spa, Nikoi Island, Sunderbans Jungle Camp and El Nido Resorts.

Through self-evaluation checklist submissions and site verification visits by judges and fact-finders to all finalists’ destinations, the winners have demonstrated their strong abilities to meet the Wild Asia’s Responsible Tourism Award checklist’s forty criteria, which comprehensively cover aspects of local employment and economies; respecting local laws, cultures and sensitivities; responsibilities towards employees and communities; recognising children’s rights; and protecting the environment through a suite of conservation initiatives, efficient use of resources, as well as having a responsible waste management system.

And the winners are:

• Large Accommodation Operators
ITC Mughal, Agra, India

• Mid-sized to Small Accommodation Operators
El Nido Resorts, Miniloc, Philippines

• Community-Based to Homestay Operators
Sunderbans Jungle Camp, Bali Island, India

Wild Asia would like to congratulate winners and finalists for their commendable efforts and commitment in achieving high standards of environmental protection and social responsibility that form the critical pillars of their business philosophy.

We would also like to take this opportunity to express our heartfelt thanks to our sponsors; CSR Asia, Malaysia Airlines, Sime Darby, Keresa Plantations, The Star and Dot and Line Graphics for their continuous support.

Sime Darby Plantation Supports Responsible Tourism

Sime Darby's sponsorship for the Sustainable Island Programme 2008-2010, a joint project between Wild Asia and Reef Check Malaysia to protect Malaysia's coral reefs, has significantly expanded this year to include RTA09, thereby demonstrating Sime Darby's willingness to move beyond Malaysian shores to tackle the bigger picture of responsible tourism within Asia.

A big thank you for the much needed support from Wild Asia's long-time partner, Sime Darby Plantation.

RTA 2009 Judges Summary

Our RT Awards site visit team and this year's judges met on Friday 25th September to discuss and agree on the results of the site visits. We met in person and were also joined by two other judges who were away in Vietnam and Sabah via skype. This gave us an opportunity to hear feedback from our team who visited all finalists across Asia: India, Thailand, Philippines and Malaysia.

We also had a chance to review the site visit reports and to note improvements for next year's Awards. One of the changes we had to make as a result of this meeting was a clarification of the Award's categories. Based on our site visits and feedback from the operators, we found that two of the finalists belonged to different categories. We decided to re-categorize Nikoi Island and Lamai homestay due to these findings, in order to adequately judge the two operations among finalists in similar categories. We apologise for the oversight on our part.

Large Accommodation Operators
- Shangri La Tanjung Aru Resort and Spa, Malaysia
- ITC Mughal, India

Mid sized to Small Accommodation Operators
- El Nido Resorts, Philippines
- Soneva Fushi, Maldives
- Nikoi Island, Indonesia

Community-based to Homestay Operators
- Andaman Discoveries, Thailand
- Sunderbans Jungle Camp, India
- Lamai Homestay, Thailand

We also deliberated on the 6 principles that we had judged from; understanding of tourism impacts; creating a “sense of place"; sustaining Responsible Tourism; communicating Responsible Tourism; internalizing Responsible Tourism and sphere of influence.

This provided room for debate and found that it was especially hard when the operators were equally strong on a number of these principles. Nonetheless, by the end of the 2 hour meeting the team had all agreed on the winners of each category!

Judging Process

1. Operators' submissions of their self-assessment checklist is verified during site visits and amendments (if any) are made based on findings.
2. After site visits, fact-finders submit a report to the Judges, which details the 6 principles as above.
   
3. Upon completion of all site visits and submission of amended checklists and site reports, judges and fact-finders meet to review both checklists and reports, and discuss strengths between finalists in each category to decide on a winner.

So what's next? The team will be working on a "RT report" based on this year's entries and we will also be sharing with each finalists our site report and revised checklist. This, we hope, will be useful to the finalists as they plan their operations in the future. We will now start to focus on our planning for the networking sessions and closing event. We hope to see many of you at the ITB Asia "RT networking session", our closing cocktail party or our annual workshop.

Andaman Discoveries Selected for BBC World Challenge!

Congratulations to our finalist Andaman Discoveries for making it in the BBC World Challenge! This opportunity will provide the social enterprise with international reach and recognition.

Why is it exciting?

The World Challenge is a global competition hosted by BBC World News and Newsweek magazine, in association with Shell. 12 finalists, including Andaman Discoveries were selected from more than 900 nominations on the basis of their innovation at grassroots level in "countering socio-economic and environmental issues".

“…the BBC World Challenge is a chance for us to share with people the difference we are making. Whether it's providing income to women's handicraft groups or training the next generation of conservationists, community-based tourism allows visitors to enjoy the traditional Thai way of life, whilst helping to preserve the unique culture of our region.” Tui Chomphusri, Director of Andaman Discoveries.

Catch Andaman Discoveries’ profile on 17 October 2009 at 2.30pm (GMT) and repeats on 18 October at 2.30am, 9.30am and 5.30pm (GMT). Support Andaman Discoveries and vote for them!

Video profiles of all the finalists will be available on World Challenge during the voting period 28 September-13 November. To vote, simply visit the World Challenge website. Winners will be announced on 5 December in a ceremony held at The Hague, Netherlands.

About Andaman Discoveries

Founded in the wake of the 2004 tsunami, Andaman Discoveries has grown from providing emergency disaster relief into an internationally acclaimed community-based tour operator. Over the past five years the social enterprise has helped tsunami-affected communities achieve environmental, cultural and financial sustainability through conservation programs, vocational training and providing interactive cultural tours for responsible tourists.

Find out more about Andaman Discoveries through the eyes of Wild Asia’s RTA fact-finders.

Wild Asia wishes you the best of luck!


For more information, visit Andaman Discoveries' website

Final Site Visit: Nikoi Island, Indonesia

Responsible tourism at its best can allow us to trial a lifestyle that may counter the ecological crisis and bring us closer to nature. At Nikoi Island in Indonesia guests are separated from their air conditioning and consumer gadgets and provided instead with a low-energy beach front house without walls. The luxury here is to be able to smell the sea from your room, to be able to hear the insects as you sleep and enjoy the cooling mist of a tropical downpour from your daybed.

Nikoi has established a Foundation based on neighbouring Bintan Island that they hope will allow them to extend their ideal of profitable and ecologically sustainable development into the local community. The Foundation is modelled on the Population and Community Development Association (PDA) of Thailand.

The Foundation will be managed by a local hero employed by Nikoi especially for the job. Sam, originally from Bintan, found his fame through jumping ship in New York, buying a small yacht and sailing home single handed to Bintan. Although still in its infancy the Foundation has already established sailing classes, a children’s’ library and facilitated a teacher exchange program with neighbouring Singapore.

The heart of Nikoi Island, the thing which gives it its sense of place, is its beautifully crafted driftwood buildings. The same buildings are also the reason for its exceptional environmental performance. An important measure of a building’s sustainability is its carbon emissions; represented by its energy consumption and energy embodied in its construction. Many ‘green’ buildings sing about their energy saving gadgets but gloss over the energy that was required to produce their concrete structure. Use of recycled or waste materials such as driftwood does not drive depletion of primary resources and the energy cost and environmental destruction that goes with it.

Nikoi’s low energy policy extends to consumption too and you will find that the only electrical fittings in each house of 100m² area are 8 LED light bulbs and one fan, the latter ingeniously fitted inside a mosquito net. Few surfaces on Nikoi are painted meaning no hazardous chemicals and a purely natural environment. The driftwood is weathered by salt water; you can dig your toes into the sand floor in the dining room and smell the alang grass thatch above the bed.

The Style of Nikoi’s architecture is elegant and understated and this also applies to the owners’ philosophy. They are a little reticent about their achievements, partly because in the words of one of the owners “it just made sense to do it this way” and also because they realise that “this is and may always be a work in progress.”

In the two years that the island has been operating they have been surprised to be full most of the year. With this level of popularity and their attitude to social and environmental sustainability, Nikoi look set to become a leading light in Responsible Tourism in Asia.




By: Ian Hall

Special note: Nikoi Island is one of the finalists for the 2009 Responsible Tourism Awards (Category: Mid-sized Tourism Operator). For more v-blogs on Responsible Tourism Awards 2009, please visit us on YouTube.

In Print: Reza's Interview with NST

Wild Asia is on a media roll! A profile article on Reza Azmi was published in a local newspaper, The New Straits Times. Here is a reproduction of the actual interview we would like to share.

Reza is wild about the environment
By Beatrice Thomas

KOTA KINABALU: FOR a man who has dedicated his life to changing the conservation habits of people across Southeast Asia and beyond, Reza Azmi is the first to admit that he was never much into nature.
The founder of environmental organisation Wild Asia says he spent a lot of time outdoors as a child but it was not until he entered university, and a subsequent opportunity to work for WWF Malaysia, that his attitude towards the environment changed.

"WWF basically said 'here's RM20,000 and we want you to go to Borneo'," he says of his first job with WWF Malaysia at the age of 24.

"They just said: 'We have no project there at the moment. We don't even know what we want you to do but you've got a botany degree and we know you're interested in people, so why don't you come up with something?'"

What Reza crafted was five years of research that looked at forest fragments -- or what are left after years of logging and development -- that eventually earned him a PhD.

That was in the mid-1990s.

In 1998, Reza left WWF Malaysia to start his own conservation project, which would go on to be known as Wild Asia.

With its beginnings as an online collection of stories about the places he had visited, Wild Asia has grown into a full-time project with a staff of seven people.

Reza says Wild Asia hopes to inspire businesses and communities.

"Our focus is literally on people's backyards, whether it's a community or a business with a land bank. This is because at the end of the day, these are people who are rooted to where they are."

A boarder from the age of 14 at the prestigious Aldenham School in Elstree, England, and later educated at St Andrews University in Scotland, the 38-year-old initially studied marine biology before he grew "fed up dissecting animals all the time" and switched to botany.

Born in Kuala Lumpur to a Malay father and Pakistani mother, Reza, the youngest of three sons, jokes that he is the only one in the family working outside the "corporate world". One brother is a partner in an auditing firm and the other is a chartered surveyor.

With Wild Asia, Reza concentrated first on Asia's forestry industry, which he claims is devastating the environment but since then, has steered it in a new direction -- palm oil production and the effects of tourism on the environment.

To gauge the impact of tourism on the environment, he has come up with the annual Responsible Tourism Awards, where self-assessments by tourism operators are judged by a team he put together.

He says despite palm oil being a lucrative business in Asia, the ever-growing thirst to expand the industry's footprint needs to be kept in check.

"We're at the stage where we are going into those areas where we shouldn't and developing land that people didn't want developed in the first place.

"That's where all the complications are now coming from. This isn't the 1950s, when we had a whole different scenario in terms of land and development pressures."

Sitting in a cafe near his apartment in Taman Desa, Reza has just returned from India and is suffering the effects of an upset stomach, something he shrugs off as an unfortunate side effect of the amount of time he spends in different, often remote, parts of the world.

Although easy to talk to and passionate about his work, he finds it difficult to describe Wild Asia in a few words, saying it is an ever-evolving concept and one which he is continually learning from.

"Having the confidence to do it is a big step, especially as we did not know what we were getting ourselves into.

"We have an idea of what people are saying that others should do. But it's tricky when you're looking at existing management systems. You tell them about climate change (and) they've got no idea about what's going on."

Companies are now hiring Reza's Wild Asia team to train their staff and advise them on how to improve their sustainability practices.

It's Wild Asia's biggest source of income, together with corporate grants.

Reza admits that relying on sponsorship and not donations is limiting how much he can do with Wild Asia.

But he is optimistic, saying that his work is helped by a growing realisation on the importance of staying environmentally friendly.

"You really don't have alternatives," he says. "It's not good enough now to say 'well, don't do anything' because we've passed that.

This article was published on 27 October 2009

Read all about it: 2009 RTA on NST

Wild Asia's Responsible Tourism Awards gained the attention of a local Malaysian Newspaper, The New Straits Times (NST). Below is the article which highlighted our 8 finalists.

Sabah resort in shortlist for coveted tourism award
By Beatrice Thomas

KOTA KINABALU: Shangri La Tanjung Aru Resort and Spa in Kota Kinabalu has been shortlisted as a finalist for a prestigious award on responsible tourism together with several other luxury resorts and community-based tourist operations across Southeast Asia.
The only award of its kind, the Wild Asia Responsible Tourism Awards was created in 2006 to promote environmentally sustainable destinations throughout Asia.

Now in its fourth year, the award is aligned to the United Nations' World Tourism Organisation's Global Sustainable Tourism Criteria.

After analysing a field of 315 entries from countries such as Malaysia, Thailand, Cambodia, Indonesia and Sri Lanka, Wild Asia founder and director Reza Azmi has revealed two finalists in each of the four categories.

- Community-based: Andaman Discoveries, Thailand; and Sundarbans Jungle Camp, Bali Island, Indonesia.

- Small: Lamai Homestay, Thailand; and Nikoi, Indonesia.

- Medium: El Nido Resorts, Philippines; and Soneva Fushi, Male, Maldives.

- Large: Shangri-La Tanjung Aru Resort and Spa, Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia; and ITC Mughal, Agra, India.

Reza said it was critical that tourism operators were recognised and rewarded for their contributions towards a greener environment.

"This award is not only a recognition of their efforts but it's also an award for learning and sharing."

As part of the judging process and to help tourism operators make changes, they are required to submit a self-assessment covering environmental, social and economic factors and a commitment to responsible tourism.

The assessments are then analysed by the Wild Asia Responsible Tourism team before three judges, including for the first time eco-architect Ian Hall, carry out site visits.

Reza said responsible tourism covered more than just the environment but also social and economic responsibilities to a region, such as how a business approached labour issues.

He said claims by tourism operators that they were eco-friendly operations also needed closer examination.

"One of the major criteria is whether or not they give us any confidence that they do understand what their social and environmental impacts are," he said.

"Sometimes they can talk for hours and hours about all these green things but then you get this feeling that they don't actually know what they were talking about."

Reza said many of the tour operators also wielded huge influence as politicians and top businessmen stayed there.

He said people could do their part for the environment by staying at places that carried out responsible tourism.

The winner from each category will be announced on October 29. Visit www.wildasia.org for more information.

Published 27 October 2009

Inside Knowledge: What Others are Doing

When: 29-30 October 2009

Where: Istana Hotel, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Wild Asia is organizing a 2-day Responsible Tourism Training Workshop for general managers in tourism, sustainability professionals, business owners and the media. The workshop will provide a background on sustainable principles in tourism and showcase numerous case studies from around the Asian region.

Confirmed speakers for the workshop include;

• Mr Gopinath Parayil - CEO and Founder of the Blue Yonder and Nila Foundation, India on “The Blue Yonder: Responsible Tourism Initiatives for the Benefit of Local Destinations.”

• ITC Mughal – “Greening Initiatives within a Large Hotel Chain.”

• Ms Amanda Pummer - Environmental Consultant for GreenAsia Group, Indonesia on “Green Washing or Lifestyle Making?”

• Mr Rees Jones Stuart - Managing Director of Camps International Ltd, UK on “Profits for the Planet”

• Ms Sarah Baxter - Responsible Tourism Advisor, Wild Asia on “Green Marketing and Selecting Online Marketing Channels.”

The workshop is an excellent opportunity to learn and share with your peers, as well as, an opportunity to take home ideas for your own businesses. For the media, the workshop will highlight areas where travel journalism can expand.

What's in Store?
View the draft programme here.

Registration: USD120 per person. Concessions are available for members of the media.

To find out more or if you wish to attend the workshop, kindly contact us.

Awarding the Winners: 2009 RTA Cocktail Reception

When: 28 October 2009

Where: Istana Hotel, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Find out who the winners are at the cocktail reception for the Responsible Tourism Awards Finalists and Winners taking place as above from 6.00-8.30pm. There will be a presentation of this year's finalists as well as providing a networking platform and an opportunity for media to meet the finalists, winners and judges.

We are also keen to meet people from the tourism fields and make new friends! Join us for a night of mingling and learn about who are and why we are engaging the tourism industry.

Only invited guests and registered workshop participants only. For more information and attendance, kindly contact us.

Wild Asia at CSR ASIA Summit

When: 27-28 October 2009

Where: Istana Hotel, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Come over and find our booth at the CSR ASIA Annual International Summit happening right here in Malaysia! The Annual Summit is Asia-Pacific's most innovative and challenging conference on corporate social responsibility (CSR). This year's theme, "Sustainable Business as the Road to Recovery" will explore current hot issues in CSR and leadership strategies in times of crisis.

Wild Asia will be a part of this exciting event and we can't wait to introduce who this year's Responsible Tourism Awards finalists are to the general public so don't miss this chance!

For more details on the topics and registration, visit CSR ASIA.

Responsible Tourism Networking at ITB Asia

When: 22 October 2009, 6-8pm

Where: Suntec City, Singapore

Wild Asia will be present at the ITB Asia Trade Show for the Asian Travel Market on 22 October! The Trade Show, happening from 21-23 October 2009 in Singapore is a high profile event showcasing international travel exhibitors and attracts industry professionals of the MICE, Leisure and Corporate Travel sectors.

Come over and have a chat with the team! We would love to hear your say on Responsible Tourism either from a traveler's or manager's perspectives. What's more, the event provides an excellent networking ground and a platform for exhanging ideas and inspiring novel and innovative thinking!

To attend the event or if you would like to give a presentation on Responsible Tourism please contact the organizers or RSVP on Facebook.