PR No.: PR15008

The UNWTO Ulysses Awardees for Innovation, distinguished in four categories, were:

a) UNWTO Ulysses Award for Innovation in Public Policy and Governance: Domestic Tourism Promotion Initiative “Y tú, qué planes?”, Commission for the Promotion of Exports and Tourism - PromPeru (Peru)

First Runner-up: The Use of Open Innovation in Co-Creating Vienna’s Tourism Strategy 2020, Vienna Tourist Board (Austria)

Second Runner-up: Fragrances and Tastes of Lošinj, Mali Lošinj Tourist Board (Croatia)

b) UNWTO Ulysses Award for Innovation in Enterprises: Isoitok Camp Manyara, The African Footprint Co ltd (Tanzania)

First Runner-up: Routes the Coffee Cultural Landscape, Chamber of Commerce in Armenia, Quindío (Colombia)

Second Runner-up: Inspira Santa Marta Hotel, Hotel Santa Marta S.A. (Portugal)

c) UNWTO Ulysses Award for Innovation in Non-Governmental Organizations: Visit Amsterdam, See Holland, Amsterdam Marketing (The Netherlands) 

First Runner-ups: Conserving Wildlife and Empowering Communities in Namibia, World Wildlife Fund for Nature (Namibia) and Taste of Fethiye, The Travel Foundation (Turkey)

Second Runner-up: Promotion of Local Culture in the Sundarbans Impact Zone in Bangladesh through Cultural Ecotourism and Entrepreneurship, Relief International – UK (Bangladesh)

d) UNWTO Ulysses Award for Innovation in Research and Technology: Visit Europe iPad App, European Travel Commission

First Runner-up: Key Figures : Amsterdam as a Convention Destination, Amsterdam Marketing (The Netherlands)

Second Runner-ups: Building a Community of Conscious Globetrotter Making a Positive Impact through Ethical and Responsible Tourism, Freeedom – Explore Experience Empower (Australia) and China Tourism Economy Monitoring and Early Warning System, China Tourism Academy (China)

“If innovation is the spark, then knowledge is the fuel that drives tourism”, said UNWTO Secretary-General, Taleb Rifai, opening the Awards Ceremony. “The finalists honoured tonight are outstanding examples of forward-thinking initiatives in sustainability, social inclusion and technology in the tourism sector, and are as such key contributors in turning tourism into a force for good across the globe, a goal we must all be deeply committed to“, he added. 

Dr. Eduardo Fayos-Solà was presented with the UNWTO Ulysses Prize for Creation and Dissemination of Knowledge. Dr. Fayos-Solà has dedicated his career to advancing the theory and practice of tourism policy and governance from various positions in academia, the private sector, government, and international organizations. Among his many accomplishments, he was behind the creation and implementation of Spain’s first Tourism Policy Plan.

The UNWTO Awards for Excellence and Innovation in Tourism are the flagship awards for the global tourism sector, recognizing knowledge creation, dissemination and innovative solutions. The winners were announced at the Awards Ceremony which, for the second consecutive year, took place at the International Tourism Trade Fair (FITUR) in Madrid, Spain.

The Awards Ceremony and Gala Dinner was organized by UNWTO and FITUR with the support of Extremadura Turismo (Spain), Designated Areas for Sustainable Tourism Administration (DASTA, Thailand), Mapfre Asistencia, NH Hotel Group, Madrid Destino, Maspalomas Costa Canaria (Gran Canaria), the news agencies Europa Press (Spain), Notimex (Mexico) and Spanish travel trade news portal expreso.info, as well as the International Media Sponsor BBC World.

Useful links:

UNWTO Awards for Excellence and Innovation in Tourism

Photos from the 11th UNWTO Awards on Flickr

Press release: UNWTO Awards to recognize innovation and excellence in tourism

UNWTO activities at Fitur 2015
 

Contacts:

UNWTO Senior Media Officer: Marcelo Risi
Tel: (+34) 91 567 81 60 

UNWTO Communications & Publications Programme
Tel: (+34) 91 567 8100 / Fax: +34 91 567 8218