PR No.: 16050

The UNWTO Ethics Award, geared to recognize the engagement of tourism enterprises in promoting and implementing the principles of the Global Code of Ethics for Tourism, is open to all tourism companies and trade associations that are official signatories of the Private Sector Commitment to the UNWTO Global Code of Ethics for Tourism.

As the organ responsible for the promotion and monitoring of the implementation of the Code, the World Committee on Tourism Ethics conceived this initiative to promote the positive initiatives steaming from the growing number of companies and trade associations that have adhered to the Private Sector Commitment to the Code. As of June 2016, a total of 463 signatories from 64 countries have committed to promote and implement the Code.

According to the Committee “in these times of needed awareness and common action we should praised those entrepreneurs worldwide who contribute to responsible and sustainable tourism through their Corporate Social Responsibility”.

The candidatures will have to demonstrate to be long-lasting and have a positive impact in at least two of the following areas: (a) Corporate governance and business ethics; (b) Employment quality;  (c) Social Equity and Human Rights; (d) Community Well-Being; and (e) Environmental sustainability.

The winner of the first UNWTO Ethics Award will be announced on 18 January 2017 during the 13th UNWTO Awards ceremony and gala dinner organized in collaboration with the International Tourism Trade Fair (IFEMA/FITUR) in Madrid, Spain. The prize will be conferred by a representative of the World Committee on Tourism Ethics, which will act as the Jury of the Award.

Candidacies are open until 30 September 2016.

Note to editors:

The World Committee on Tourism Ethics (WCTE) is the independent body responsible for overseeing the implementation of the UNWTO Global Code of Ethics for Tourism (GCET), a set of principles designed to guide sustainable tourism development. The 17th meeting of the Committee was the fifth meeting in the current composition and under the chairmanship of Pascal Lamy.

The World Committee on Tourism Ethics is a subsidiary organ of the UNWTO General Assembly, to which it reports directly. Members are elected in their personal capacities and not as officials of governments or representatives of their countries.

Committee Chairman: Pascal Lamy (Former Director General of the World Trade Organization); Members: Mr. I Gede Ardika (Former Minister of Tourism of Indonesia), Mr. Yoshiaki Hompo (Former Commissioner of Japan Tourism Agency), Ms. Fiona Jeffery (Former Chair of the World Travel Market), Mr. Khelil Lajmi (Former Minister of Tourism of Tunisia), Mr. Jean Marc Mignon (President, International Organisation for Social Tourism), Ms. Tanja Mihalic (Head of Institute of Tourism, University of Ljubljana), Mr. Ron Oswald (General Secretary, International Union of Food, Agricultural, Hotel, Restaurant, Catering, Tobacco and Allied Workers´ Association), Mr. Eugenio Yunis (Advisor to the Board of Directors, Federation of Tourism Enterprises of Chile); Alternate members: Mr. Hiran Cooray (Chairman, Jetwing), Ms. Günnür Diker (Secretary-General, Association of Turkish Travel Agents), and Ms. Suzy Hatough (Director of Dar Al-Diafa for Tourism Human Resources Development Consultancy).

Useful links:

UNWTO Awards on Ethics

UNWTO Ethics and Social Responsibility Programme

World Committee on Tourism Ethics

UNWTO Global Code of Ethics for Tourism

UNWTO Private Sector Commitment to the Global Code of Ethics for Tourism

Contacts:

UNWTO Media Officer Rut Gomez Sobrino
Tel: (+34) 91 567 81 60

UNWTO Communications & Publications Programme

Tel: (+34) 91 567 8100 / Fax: +34 91 567 8218