Visionary Company Recognized for Eco-Tourism Work with Communities In Ecuadorian Amazon and on Floreana Island, Galapagos
Quito, ECUADOR – Tropic Ecuador’s leading purveyor of extraordinary experiences, is a finalist in a brand-new awards competition sponsored by National Geographic Society.
Jascivan Carvalho, Tropic’s visionary founder of the Huaorani Ecolodge and Tropic’s owner and CEO, submitted before a prestigious panel of judges the work his company is accomplishing on behalf of two communities in Ecuador: the Huaorani of the Amazon, whose tribal lands are threatened by oil interests, and the small population of a Galapagos Island, Floreana, whose very existence is endangered by encroaching tourism in the region.
Tropic has been selected as a Finalist in the Engaging Communities Category of the National Geographic Travel World Legacy Awards targeting the three pillars of sustainable tourism: environmentally friendly operations, protection of natural and cultural heritage and support for the well-being of local communities.
The announcement was made Oct. 29 on the stage at ITB Asia in Singapore. The next phase in the judging is an on-site visit to each of the finalists, resulting in a first-hand evaluation report to be completed by Nov. 1. Following this, winners in each category are selected and announced.
The five award categories are: Earth Changers – Recognizing cutting edge leadership in environmentally friendly business practices; Sense of Place – Recognizing excellence in enhancing cultural authenticity; Conserving the Natural World – Recognizing outstanding support for the preservation of nature; Engaging Communities – Recognizing economic and social benefits that improve local livelihoods; and Destination Leadership – Including protection of cultural and natural heritage and educating travelers on responsible tourism.
The category for which Tropic is nominated, Engaging Communities, recognizes direct and tangible economic and social benefits that improve local livelihoods, including training and capacity building, fair wages and benefits, community development, health care and education.
The World Legacy Awards is a new initiative of the National Geographic Society, one of the world's largest and most prestigious non-profit scientific, educational, and travel organizations. It reaches more than 60 million people worldwide. The award is in partnership with ITB Berlin, the world's largest travel gathering. The awards honor the companies, destinations and organizations that are driving the positive transformation of the global tourism industry, showcasing leaders and visionaries in sustainable tourism best practices and sharing their stories with millions of travelers. Being selected as a Finalist by National Geographic's panel of international expert judges is no small achievement. More than 150 Award entries were received from 56 countries on six continents.