Deadline Looms For Imvelo Responsible Tourism

Tourismand hospitality businesses in Africa have until Friday, 31 August to enter the2012 Imvelo Responsible Tourism Awards programme.

Imvelo,running for the eleventh year, awards businesses that implement sustainedresponsible tourism programmes.

Organisedby the Federated Hospitality Association of Southern Africa (FEDHASA) inconjunction with Absa, the National Department of Tourism, Eskom, theIndustrial Development Corporation and the Department of Water Affairs, Imvelois open to any type of tourism and hospitality business.

FEDHASAChairman Eddy Khosa says Imvelo is now the leading responsible tourism projectin South Africa and has made a huge impact in the industry.

Imvelomeans 'nature' in South Africa's Nguni languages.

Accordingto Khosa the awards are in line with the National Minimum Standard forResponsible Tourism and the UN World Tourism Organisation's code of ethics, andare supported by the Heritage Environmental Rating Programme.

He saysImvelo has created significant awareness of environmental management issues inthe tourism industry.  "Over the years the awards have found andrecognised world-class examples of responsible tourism practice."

Awardswill be made in the categories Best social involvement programme, Best practice– economic impact, Best overall environmental management system and Best singleresource management programme – for water, energy and waste, Most empoweredtourism business and Investing in people.  An overall Imvelo winner willbe selected.

AChairman's Award could be made at the discretion of the FEDHASA chairman to anyImvelo entrant or any other organisation in the tourism industry that made asignificant contribution to responsible tourism over the past year.

Entrantsmay enter in more than one category but entries must stipulate thecategory/categories that apply.

Entrieswill be judged by a panel of specialists in responsible tourism practice andfinalists will be visited personally to verify and evaluate their entries.

Winnerswill receive their awards at an awards ceremony to be held in Johannesburg on31 October.

For moreinformation contact Cheryl Stevens on tel 0861 333 628 or visit www.imveloawards.co.za.