• TravelBizNews > News > Personality / Awards > UNWTO Awards finalists for innovation in tourism announced

    UNWTO Awards finalists for innovation in tourism announced

    December 24, 2014
    Personality / Awards
    UNWTO Awards finalists for innovation in tourism announced

    Madrid : The finalists of the 11th UNWTO Ulysses Awards for Innovation in Tourism, one of the three categories in the annual UNWTO Awards for Excellence and Innovation in Tourism, have been announced  (Madrid, 22 December 2014).

    Every year since 2003, the UNWTO Awards for Excellence and Innovation in Tourism have honored tourism initiatives that contribute to advance tourism through knowledge and innovation, in line with the principles of the UNWTO Global Code of Ethics for Tourism and the United Nations Millennium Development Goals.

    The following is the list of finalists of the 11th UNWTO Ulysses Awards for Innovation (in alphabetical order):

    UNWTO Ulysses Award for Innovation in Public Policy and Governance

    Domestic Promotion Initiative “Y tú, qué planes?”, Commission for the Promotion of Exports and Tourism – PromPeru (Peru)
    Fragrances and Tastes of Lošinj, Mali Lošinj Tourist Board (Croatia)
    The Use of Open Innovation in Co-Creating Vienna’s Tourism Strategy 2020, Vienna Tourist Board (Austria)

     UNWTO Ulysses Award for Innovation in Enterprises

    Inspira Santa Marta Hotel, Hotel Santa Marta S.A. (Portugal)
    Isoitok Camp Manyara, The African Footprint Co ltd (Tanzania)
    Routes the Coffee Cultural Landscape, Chamber of Commerce in Armenia, Quindío (Colombia)

     UNWTO Ulysses Award for Innovation in Non-Governmental Organizations

    Conserving Wildlife and Empowering Communities in Namibia, World Wildlife Fund for Nature (Namibia)
    Promotion of Local Culture in the Sundarbans Impact Zone in Bangladesh through Cultural Ecotourism and Entrepreneurship, Relief International – UK (Bangladesh)
    Taste of Fethiye, The Travel Foundation (Turkey)
    Visit Amsterdam, See Holland, Amsterdam Marketing (The Netherlands)

     UNWTO Ulysses Award for Innovation in Research and Technology

    Building a Community of Conscious Globetrotter Making a Positive Impact through Ethical and Responsible Tourism, Freeedom – Explore Experience Empower (Australia)
    China Tourism Economy Monitoring and Early Warning System, China Tourism Academy (China)
    Key Figures : Amsterdam as a Convention Destination, Amsterdam Marketing (The Netherlands)
    Visit Europe iPad App, European Travel Commission
    The names of the Laureates of the UNWTO Award for Lifetime Achievement and the UNWTO Ulysses Prize for Excellence in the Creation and Dissemination of Knowledge in Tourism will be unveiled on the first week of January 2015.

    The winners and runner-ups will be unveiled during the UNWTO Awards Ceremony to be held on 28 January 2015. For the second consecutive year, the Ceremony is organized in collaboration with the International Tourism Trade Fair (FITUR) in Madrid, Spain, and it is one of the several events organized by UNWTO within the framework of FITUR.

    The UNWTO Awards Ceremony will be preceded by the UNWTO Awards Symposium on 27 January 2015. The Symposium will highlight the importance of innovation in tourism and share the knowledge and achievements of the UNWTO Awards finalists.- UNWTO

     

    Other News

    • Connecting you with the world of travel and tourism

      Theme Park Expo Vietnam 2025

      Asia Pool & Spa Expo , May 10 – 12, 2025 , Guangzhou , China

      KAZAKHSTAN International Exhibition “Tourism & Travel” Almaty, Kazakhstan

      CHINA- Beyond your imagination

      Gulf Cooperation Council Tourism 

      Dubai – As tourism destinations in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) continue to grow, involving local communities in destination development has become increasingly vital for long-term success.

      Abu Dhabi’s Tourism Strategy 2030 aims for 39.3 million visitors per year, while Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 targets 150 million domestic and international visits, emphasising how tourism is being established as a key element of economic diversification throughout the region.

      At Arabian Travel Market (ATM) 2025, industry leaders emphasised that sustainable revitalisation of destinations must align tourism investments with community partnerships, cultural authenticity, and immersive guest experiences to provide lasting value for both residents and visitors.

      During the session on “Considerations and Implications of Involving Communities in Destination Revitalisation” on the ATM 2025 Global Stage, experts shared insights into building resilience, enhancing local prosperity, and ensuring tourism growth is both inclusive and enduring.

      Arabian Travel Market 2025, held under the theme “Global Travel: Developing Tomorrow’s Tourism Through Enhanced Connectivity”,  featured more than 200 speakers across three content stages and welcomes over 55,000 travel professionals from 166 countries.

      Messe Berlin India launched 

      to drive growth of ITB India 

      Messe Berlin announces the official launch of Messe Berlin India, a newly incorporated subsidiary that underscores the company’s long-term commitment to one of Asia’s fastest-growing markets. Headquartered in Delhi , the new entity will serve as a strategic base for expanding ITB India and launching future projects tailored to the Indian market. With this establishment, Messe Berlin is reinforcing its vision of India as a regional hub for innovation, collaboration, and sustainable business growth within the exhibition and events industry.

      “Messe Berlin’s presence in India reflects our strategic intent to strengthen our international reach by being where the growth is. India is a key market for us — vibrant, diverse, and full of opportunities. With Messe Berlin India, we are laying down long-term foundations to build strong partnerships, support local industries, and elevate our global platforms,” said Dr. Mario Tobias, CEO, Messe Berlin.

      ITB India, inaugurated in 2023, continues as the flagship event under the new subsidiary. Held annually, ITB India is a three-day B2B travel trade show and convention that connects the global travel and tourism industry with the Indian market. Alongside MICE Show India, Travel Tech India, and the ITB India Conference, ITB India serves as a unique platform to forge new partnerships, strengthen existing ties, and capitalize on the fast-growing potential of the Indian and South Asian travel economies. The show hosts key players from the MICE, Leisure, Corporate Travel, and Travel Technology sectors. The upcoming edition, ITB India 2025, will take place from 2 – 4 September 2025  in Mumbai.

      FACTS —

      Tourism helps in:

      👉Reducing poverty

      👉Reducing Inequalities

      👉Promoting gender equality

      👉Fostering decent work and economic growth

      World Tourism Day 2021: ‘Tourism for Inclusive Growth’

      In 2019, Travel & Tourism’s direct, indirect and induced impact accounted for:
      -US$8.9 trillion contribution to the world’s GDP
      -10.3% of global GDP
      -330 million jobs, 1 in 10 jobs around the world
      -US$1.7 trillion visitor exports (6.8% of total exports,
      28.3% of global services exports)
      -US$948 billion capital investment (4.3% of total
      investment)

      Best Tourism Villages 2024

      ” Nihao ! China ” Silk Road Tourism