Enter for Imvelo Awards
2005-07-21
THE 2005 Imvelo Responsible Tourism Awards programme entries are now streaming in.
This according to Brett Dungan, chairman of the Federated Hospitality Association of South Africa (FEDHASA) Z organisers of Imvelo in partnership with the Department of Water Affairs and Forestry Z who says, Imvelo is showing impressive growth every year.
"This year we have been inundated with enquiries from as far as Kenya.
"We are now attempting to include as many tourism and hospitality products as possible from the rest of Africa and are particularly pleased with the interest from Kenya in the awards programme."
Imvelo, now running for the fourth year, is open to any type of tourism and hospitality business on the continent, including different types of hotels, guesthouses, resorts, lodges, township bed and breakfasts and guesthouses, backpackers, and tour operators.
It is an effort to showcase African tourism and hospitality industry achievements in implementing sustainable environmental, social and economic programmes.
Dungan says Imvelo made a huge impact over the past three years, not only creating real awareness of environmental management issues in the industry, but also giving tremendous exposure to the winners.
Imvelo is the Zulu word for nature and the awards programme forms part of an ongoing hospitality industry campaign to encourage industry members to accept voluntary guidelines promoting Responsible Tourism.
South Africa's Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism has drawn up guidelines for Responsible Tourism development which
are in line with the World Tourism Organisation's code of ethics, broad ISO 14001 best practice and the International Hoteliers' Environmental Initiative.
According to Dungan two awards - one for an established business and one for an emerging business - will be made in the categories Best Social Involvement Programme, Best Practice - Economic Impact, Best Overall Environmental Management Programme, Best Single Resource Management Programme and Responsible Tourism - Overall.
One award will be made in the category Best Practice - Awareness Raising. Establishments and businesses may enter in more than one category.
Entries close on 31 August. The awards ceremony will be held in Johannesburg in November.
Particulars of the Imvelo Awards 2005 can be obtained from Fedhasa on tel (011) 799-7669 or visit one of the two websites www.fedhasa .co.za. or www.heritagesa. co.za.
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