UPHOLDING the cause of responsible tourism, World Travel Market recently launched the new wtmresponsibletourism.com website. The shortlist of World Responsible Tourism Awards 2014, sponsored by the Sultanate of Oman Ministry of Tourism, has been announced. There will be 11 categories including the much-coveted overall winner 2014 spot. The winners will be announced in a special ceremony as part of the World Responsible Tourism Day celebrations at the World Travel Market, the leading global event for the travel industry, in London on November 5, before a packed audience of the media, industry and responsible tourism professionals.

Commenting on the shortlist, Justin Francis, founder of the awards and managing director of organiser responsibletravel.com, said: “Represented in this year’s Shortlist are some of the most trendsetting examples of responsible tourism in the world, and more than a few surprises too! From international animal welfare campaigning to serial entrepreneurship for poverty reduction, citizen science to cutting edge green technology - the shortlist has a lot to say about where responsible tourism is going next.”

The World Responsible Tourism Awards were founded in 2004 to celebrate the most inspiring stories in responsible tourism.