Social enterprise award added to CTO's Sustainable Tourism Awards Programme

Caribbean enterprises that act as social change agents through tourism innovation will be recognised by the region's tourism development agency.

The Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO) is this year introducing the Tourism Social Enterprise award to its sustainable tourism awards programme to demonstrate in a tangible way its support for businesses or individuals that use creative ways to show how tourism can support societal development.

"Social entrepreneurship is exemplified when an enterprise's core business activity has positive spin-off benefits to solve or bridge community-based problems. This business development approach is highly progressive and one which the CTO seeks to promote, as it focuses on creating positive changes in society through innovation," says Amanda Charles, the CTO's sustainable tourism development specialist.

"The award will recognise and validate the efforts and contribution of business ventures that are making a dedicated and tangible commitment to community development as an expression of their corporate social responsibility policy. It seeks to identify entities that are not just in the business of tourism, but rather those that have gone further to leverage tourism as a strategic means of addressing distinctive challenges faced by people in society," Charles adds.

This Social Enterprise award is being introduced in collaboration with the Compete Caribbean Partnership Facility - a partnership between the Caribbean Development Bank, the Inter-American Development Bank, the Government of Canada and the UK Department for International Development - which supports innovative and practical solutions that stimulate economic growth and increase productivity in micro small and medium enterprises.

The new award is open to public and private sector entities, tourism enterprises, communities or individuals that seek to address specific social ills and unmet needs while generating widespread benefits from tourism business activities via tourism business activities. It is one of eight categories of awards to be presented at the CTO's Sustainable Tourism Conference scheduled to be held in St. Vincent and the Grenadines in August.

Applicants may also submit entries the following categories:

Excellence in Sustainable Tourism Award

Destination Stewardship Award

Sustainable Accommodation Award

Community Benefit Award

Culture and Heritage Protection Award

Nature Conservation Award

Agro-Tourism Award

The closing date for receipt of applications is 16 June, 2019. For more information, including entry guidelines click on the following link: https://ctostawards2019.pgtb.me/rTV0cJ.

CTO's sustainable tourism awards programme has been in existence for 15 years and recognises unique and innovative tourism products that embrace sustainable tourism concepts and core values, and help to enhance tourism product offerings. A panel of experts selected by the CTO, representing various sectors of the tourism industry at the national, regional and international levels, will judge the awards.