Showcase 2000 Award
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The Ecotourism Showcase was first envisioned at a meeting of non-profits and travel suppliers at the 1999 Non-Profits in Travel Conference (NPTC). At this meeting a committee of individuals interested in making the Ecotourism Showcase a reality was formed. A small amount of money was raised to help pay for the Showcase's administration and to sponsor finalists participation in the conference, and The Ecotourism Society (TES) was contracted to implement it. Funds were donated by San Diego Zoo, International Expeditions, and several anonymous donors.
Committee members were solicited for their input on what the Ecotourism Showcase application should contain and who it should be sent to. Committee members agreed on a set of criteria for potential applicants. Each project was evaluated for its:
- Support and sharing of benefits with local people,
- "Product excellence" resulting from and reflected in staff training, interpretation programs, itinerary development, responsible promotion, client satisfaction, etc,
- Support of biodiversity conservation, and
- Lack of previous extensive media coverage or awards in the past. These criteria along with directions on how to apply were distributed in a two page application form.
Seven jurors from various parts of the Americas were asked to evaluate the applications. The jurors' diverse backgrounds brought industry, government and NGO expertise to the evaluation process.
Jurors for the Ecotourism Showcase:
- Tamara Budowski, Horizontes, Costa Rica
- Ariane Janer, Tourism Consultant, Brazil
- Peter Kingsmill, Redberry Pelican Project, Canada
- Kurt Kutay, Wildland Adventures, USA
- Carol Patterson, Kalahari Management, Canada
- Patrick Tierney, San Francisco State University, USA
- Roberto Troya, The Nature Conservancy, Ecuador
Other Ecotourism Showcase Winners
- Fundacion Maquipucuna, Ecuador
- Programme for Belize
- Toledo Institute for Development and Environment (TIDE), Belize
