The Federated Hospitality Association of Southern Africa (FEDHASA) appeals to the tourism industry to show its commitment to the environment by entering the annual Imvelo Responsible Tourism awards.

FEDHASA Chief Executive Officer Brett Dungan says World Environment Day – tomorrow, 5 June – is the ideal opportunity for any business in tourism to showcase its sustained and measurable contributions to responsible tourism.

The World Environment Day slogan for 2008 is ‘Kick the Habit!  Towards a low carbon economy’ and countries, companies and communities are being asked by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) to focus on greenhouse gas emissions and how to reduce them. 

The day will highlight resources and initiatives that promote low carbon economies and lifestyles, such as improved energy efficiency, alternative energy resources and eco-friendly consumption.

“Imvelo supports these initiatives as they are in line with the principles of the awards,” says Dungan, “and we believe there many local examples of world-class responsible tourism practices.”

Imvelo means ‘nature’ in South Africa’s Nguni languages.

Running for the seventh year, Imvelo is organised by FEDHASA in conjunction with Absa, the Tourism Empowerment Council of South Africa and the Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism, and is open to any type of tourism and hospitality business.

The awards are in line with the responsible tourism guidelines for the South African hospitality industry and the UN World Tourism Organisation’s code of ethics, and are supported by the Heritage Environmental Rating Programme

Awards will be made in the categories Best Social Involvement Programme, Best Practice – Economic Impact, Best Overall Environmental Management System and Best Single Resource Management Programme.  An overall Imvelo winner will be selected. 

A Chairman’s Award could be made at the discretion of the FEDHASA chairman to any Imvelo entrant or any other organisation in the tourism industry that made a significant contribution to responsible tourism over the past year.

Entrants may enter in more than one category but entries must stipulate the category/categories that apply.

Entries should reach the organisers by 15 August 2008.  They will be judged by a panel of specialists in responsible tourism practice and finalists will be visited personally to verify and evaluate their entries.

Winners will receive their awards at an awards ceremony to be held in Johannesburg in November.  They will be profiled in the 2008 Imvelo Responsible Tourism Awards publication, to be published by the Results Media Group, and receive widespread publicity.

For more information contact Lynda Bacon on telephone 011 467 5009 or visit www.imveloawards.co.za.