Q&A: ECOTOURISM
SPOTLIGHT AWARD
Q - What is the objective of the Ecotourism Spotlight
Award?
A - The award creates a much-needed incentive for improved communication
from government portals. This award allows us to highlight best
practices and hopefully show other managers of government websites
how to showcase operations striving toward sustainability and
ecotourism. We hope the award is a driving force behind upgrades
to government websites and its communication with media and
prospective travelers.
Q - Who are this year's nominees?
A - Keep an eye on the wiki.
Q - What is the origin of this award?
A - During the 2006 Communication
and Sustainable Tourism E-Conference we proposed "there
could be an award for National Tourism Boards websites that
illustrate a country's sustainable tourism practices. National
tourism portals could be rated not only by what they have online,
but also by how they participate in independent groups (ECOCLUB,
green-travel,
and Planeta) and whether
or not they link to independent sites, including blogs (internet
logbooks) and flickr galleries."
Q - Who votes?
A - Voting is open to the public with the caveat that individuals
vote only once after reviewing the finalists.
Q - What is story behind Planeta.com?
A - Planeta.com is an award-winning
website that conducts seminars
and features tips for all stakeholders about eco-friendly, people-friendly
travel. Our fortee is linking environmental conservation and
tourism, particularly the development of ecotourism highlighted
in the popular Exploring
Ecotourism Resource Guide.
Q - What other awards has Planeta.com created?
A - We createdd the Colibri
Ecotourism Award in 2000 to highlight leaders developing
ecotourism in Mexico. We also have established a 'readers' choice'
award to select the book
of the year. And as of 2008 we have collaborated with the
Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity to develop
the Indigenous
Tourism and Biodiversity Website Award.
Q - Can I link to the award from my blog/website?
A - Yes! Please add a link to the Ecotourism Spotlight Award
page and you can use the logo.
Q - Why does this award spotlight government websites?
A - There are many tourism
awards for individuals, places and operations. That said,
there are no awards for government portals. If we want to create
incentives for communication from government officials, an award
is a sound place to start! |
