Costa Rica is participating from April 5 to 7 in the tenth edition of the World Travel Market Latin America (WTM) fair, the leading global event for the travel and tourism industry in Latin America, held at the Expo Center Norte in Sao Paulo, Brazil.
This event aims to discover, recognize, and promote best practices in Responsible Tourism across our continent. It also announced the 2nd Responsible Tourism Award, which was presented TODAY, April 6, 2022, in Sao Paulo, Brazil.
The 2nd Responsible Tourism Award is part of the Global Responsible Tourism Awards, which validate effective practices by providing replicable models. The categories for the awards include:
• Decarbonization of the travel and tourism sector
• Supporting employees and communities during the pandemic
• Destinations promoting sustainable reconstruction post-COVID
• Increasing diversity in tourism: How inclusive is our industry?
• Reducing plastic waste in the environment
• Increasing local economic benefits
This year’s Responsible Tourism Award received 47 project registrations. Out of these, 14 finalists were selected, and the awards were distributed on April 6, 2022.
This time, Costa Rica proudly received TWO GOLD awards:
• The Costa Rican Network of Accessible Tourism was recognized for its DONATAPA project, which significantly reduces plastic waste and repurposes it into accessibility tools in the country’s natural areas.
• IL VIAGGIO TRAVEL, a leading tour operator specializing in Accessible Tourism, received a GOLD award for being a model of inclusion and diversity, proving that tourism can be accessible to all.
Stephanie Sheehy, a founding member of the
Costa Rican Network of Accessible Tourism, expressed, “Receiving this award fills my heart with optimism and pride. We continue to put Costa Rica on the global map as an innovative, sustainable, and responsible destination where we embrace both environmental and social sustainability.”
Mr. Emilio Zuñiga, co-founder of IL VIAGGIO TRAVEL, added, “The GOLD award makes us proud and cements our position as leaders and pioneers in Accessible Tourism in Costa Rica and around the world. This recognition validates our ongoing efforts, and it is a tremendous motivation, showing us that our commitment to promoting a more inclusive Costa Rica is increasingly acknowledged.”
Both recipients expressed their gratitude to the organization for hosting these awards, as they encourage the efforts of organizations and companies that, despite the challenges posed by the pandemic, remain dedicated to sustainability and responsible practices.
