World Leaders in Responsible Tourism

 In competition with countries from around the globe, the New Forest swept the board at the internationally recognised Responsible Tourism Awards, picking up Best Destination, Best Personal Contribution and Overall Winner awards.


The awards, sponsored by Virgin Holidays, were announced on the first ever Responsible Tourism Day, during World Travel Market at Excel, London Docklands in the presence of United Nations representatives.


Receiving the award for Best Destination, Councillor Maureen Holding of New Forest District Council said: “We believe that working together to deliver a responsible tourism policy is of great benefit to the local community and visitors alike. We are already recognised as an excellent Council and now, we will also be considered an excellent tourism authority”.


Following 20 years at the forefront of the New Forest’s sustainable tourism strategy, Anthony Climpson OBE, Tourism Destination Manager of New Forest District Council, was delighted to be presented with the Best Personal Contribution award. Mr Climpson said: “We have to remember we are all human beings and treat each other with respect – host as visitor and visitor as host. Unless we resolve this fundamental issue the world’s special environments will always be undermined. We must be aware that responsible tourism really is our future together”.

Want to see it in action? - Watch the award winning video

See what it is all about - Visit the awards website