The Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO) is currently receiving applications for its Sustainable Tourism Awards in this the International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development, as part of its efforts to support responsible tourism development and promote Sustainable Tourism products and services in the region.

The Awards are open to individuals, groups, organizations and companies in any CTO’s member Country engaged in implementing responsible and unique tourism products which embrace sustainable tourism concepts and core values.

Interested applicants in any of CTO’s member countries are invited to submit entries for the following award categories:

• Excellence in Sustainable Tourism Award, sponsored by the Caribbean Tourism Organization.
• Destination Stewardship Award, sponsored by the International Institute of Tourism Studies of the George Washington University.
• Sustainable Accommodation Award, sponsored by Travelife Limited, an affiliate of the leading ABTA, UK Travel Trade Association.
• Community Benefit Award, sponsored by the Culture & Tourism Section, Department of Economic Development of the Organization of American States.
• Heritage Protection Award, sponsored by the Culture & Tourism Section, Department of Economic Development of the Organization of American States.
• Biodiversity Conservation Award, sponsored by IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature)
• Agro-Tourism Award, sponsored by the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture.

There is also a special award sponsored by the Aruba Center of Excellence for the Sustainable Development of Small Island Developing States (SIDS), of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), in recognition of an initiative as a SIDS champion in contributing to meeting the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Among the prizes, winning applicants will receive an all-expense paid trip to attend the Awards Presentation Ceremony and receive their formal plaque of recognition, at a major CTO event in 2017. For information and entry guidelines click here. To submit an application click here. The closing date for receipt of applications is May 31, 2017