Deadline: 15-Aug-23

The Studienkreis für Tourismus und Entwicklung eV is soliciting applications for the 29th International TO DO Award to support socially responsible tourism.

In the long term, the future of tourism will ultimately depend on whether it develops in a sustainable way for the residents in the destination areas. The international competition for socially responsible tourism, the “TO DO Award”, aims to take into account the different interests and needs of the local population when planning and realizing tourism projects, measures and offers. Participation and co-determination ensure participation on a broad basis – for example through information, surveys and discussions with the population when coming up with ideas and decisions. The projects must also be compatible with the principles of environmental compatibility and sustainability.

Projects, measures or offers are awarded that are characterized by the active participation of the local population and fair treatment of all those involved in tourism development. Private companies and facilities in the tourism industry, public institutions and other legal entities can apply.

Objectives

In addition, the following aspects should be taken into account:

• Raising awareness
  • Promoting awareness among the local population about the opportunities and risks of tourism development for their everyday economic, social and cultural life
• Broad benefit
  • Participation of as broad a local population as possible in the positive economic, social and cultural effects of tourism
• Qualified jobs in tourism
  • Ensuring the attractiveness of jobs in tourism for locals by improving working conditions in terms of pay, social security, working hours and training and further education
• Strengthening of identity
  • Strengthening of the local culture and the cultural identity of the people living in tourist destinations
• Damage minimization/avoidance
  • Avoiding or minimizing tourism-related social and cultural damage in tourist destinations

Awards and Awards Ceremony

• Once the expert reports are available, the award winners will be notified by the competition organizer by January 15, 2024 and invited to the award ceremony at ITB Berlin. At the same time, those submitters whose projects/measures/offers did not qualify for a prize in the TODO Award 2023 will also be informed.
• The prizes associated with the TO DO Award recognize the goals and successes of a project/measure/offer at the time the prize was awarded.
• The public award ceremony will take place in March 2024 as part of the ITB Berlin.
  • The prizes awarded there consist of the TO DO Award 2024 trophy and a certificate of honour.
  • The Swiss Foundation for Solidarity in Tourism (SST) provides prize money of 5,000 Swiss francs per prizewinner.
• The person responsible for the project/measure/offer agrees to its public presentation in connection with the implementation and follow-up of the competition, including the TO DO Award website of the Studienkreis.
• The person responsible releases the competition organizer from all third-party claims. If there are no applications worthy of a prize, no prize will be awarded.

Eligibility Criteria

• The basic requirement for receiving the TO DO Award is the active participation of the local population in the planning phase and throughout the project/measure/offer. Participation includes both the inclusion of the different interests and needs of the local population in fundamental decisions and their participation in the economic benefits.
• In addition, other criteria are taken into account when awarding the prize:
  • Promoting awareness among the local population about the opportunities and risks of tourism development for their everyday economic, social and cultural life.
  • Self-determined participation of as broad a local population as possible in the positive social and cultural effects of tourism and minimization or avoidance of tourism-related social and cultural undesirable developments/damage.
  • Creation of income opportunities for locals in tourism and improvement of working conditions in terms of decent work in terms of pay, social security, working hours and training and further education.
  • Support for intercultural encounters and exchange between hosts and guests.
  • Consideration of criteria of environmental and climate compatibility as well as sustainable use of natural resources.
• Only applications and documents in English or German can be considered.

For more information, visit Studienkreis für Tourismus und Entwicklung eV.