St. Kitts Sustainable Destination Council earns top honours from the World Travel & Tourism Council.
St. Kitts and its Sustainable Development Council has been recognised as a global leader in sustainable tourism after winning a prestigious Tourism for Tomorrow Award from the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC). St. Kitts was awarded the Destination Stewardship Award, which was presented at the WTTC Global Summit in Seville, Spain, from 3 to 4 April, headlined by keynote speaker Barack Obama.
“It is a great honour to be recognised by the WTTC alongside organizations pursuing leading practices in sustainable development,” said the Hon. Lindsay F.P. Grant, Minister of Tourism for St. Kitts & Nevis. “Our Sustainable Development Council facilitates partnerships and relationships among public and private sectors as well as among all people in St. Kitts, to ensure that development in our destination preserves and benefits our environment, culture, heritage and community livelihoods. We hope this preservation will lead to long-term tourism growth and allow people to enjoy our beautiful island for many years to come.”
WTTC’s Tourism for Tomorrow (T4T) Awards are the world’s top accolade in sustainable tourism; recognising the highest ethical standards in the sector. They are respected by industry leaders, governments and international media alike. The awards are aimed at recognising best practices in sustainable tourism within the industry globally, based upon the principles of environmentally friendly operations; support for the protection of cultural and natural heritage; and direct benefits to the social and economic well-being of local people in travel destinations around the world.
Now in their 15th year, the Tourism for Tomorrow Awards took place at a special ceremony during the WTTC Global Summit in Seville, Spain, held April 3-4, 2019, to celebrate inspirational, world-changing tourism initiatives from around the globe. The Destination Stewardship Award recognises organisations helping a place to thrive and bring forward its unique identity for the benefit of its residents and tourists.
Accepting the award for St. Kitts was Permanent Secretary (Ag.) in the Ministry of Tourism Mrs. Carlene Henry-Morton and Assistant Secretary Mrs. Diannille Taylor-Williams.
Permanent Secretary Morton noted, “In accepting the award on behalf of St. Kitts, it is important to acknowledge the team whose hard work laid the foundation for our sustainability programme. Particular recognition goes to the Sustainable Development Council, chaired by Assistant Secretary Diannille Taylor-Williams, the Department of Marine Resources, the St. Kitts Sea Turtle Monitoring Network, the Heart of St. Kitts Foundation, the staff of the Ministry of Tourism and the St. Kitts Tourism Authority.”
The 2019 WTTC Tourism for Tomorrow Award Winners are highly commended and recognized for business practices of the highest standards that balance the needs of ‘people, planet and profits’ within the Travel & Tourism sector. Award winners promote inclusive growth and illustrate a strong commitment to supporting change and transformation in business practices and consumer behaviour towards a more environmentally conscious sector.
The Awards are judged by a panel of independent experts, including academics, business leaders, NGO and governmental representatives who narrowed down the list of 183 applications to just 15 finalists. The three-stage judging process included a thorough review of all applications, followed by on-site evaluations of the finalists and their initiative.
The Winner of each category was determined by the WTTC Tourism for Tomorrow Awards 2019 Winners’ Selection Committee. WTTC represents the global private sector of Travel & Tourism. Its Global Summit is the most important event in the sector worldwide each year.
For more information on the Tourism for Tomorrow Awards and the winners, please visit http://wttc.org/t4tawards. For a complete list of Winners and Finalists, visit: https://www.wttc.org/about/media-centre/press-releases/press-releases/2019/wttc-announces-winners-of-2019-tourism-for-tomorrow-awards/.
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About St. Kitts
Intoxicating natural beauty, sunny skies, warm waters, and sandy beaches combine to make St. Kitts one of the most seductive spots in the Caribbean. Located in the northern Leeward Islands, it offers a diverse tourism product developed from the destination’s natural beauty, cultural heritage and rich history. The island’s stunning variety of tourism attractions include hiking through the tropical rainforest, riding the scenic railway that connects the island’s former sugar plantations, visiting the Caribelle Batik factory, and touring Brimstone Hill Fortress National Park, which is an UNESCO World Heritage Site. Among the more traditional vacation pastimes available are watersports including catamaran cruises, golf, shopping, tennis, dining, gaming at St. Kitts’ exclusive casino or simply relaxing on the beach.
The island is easily accessible for British travellers with twice-weekly British Airways flights from London Gatwick (with a short stop in Antigua).
For more information about St. Kitts, visit www.stkittstourism.kn.
