Recognition for Chimpanzee Sanctuary & Wildlife Conservation Trust (CSWCT) at the Virgin Holidays Responsible Tourism Awards 2009

About The Virgin Holidays Responsible Tourism Awards

The Awards are the most prestigious and competitive of their kind in the world and are collaboration between online travel directory responsibletravel.com; UK media partners Telegraph Travel and Geographical Magazine and World Travel Market who host the ceremony. The central tenet of the Awards is that all types of tourism - from niche to mainstream - can and should be operated in a way that respects and benefits destinations and local people.

Launched in 2004, the Awards aim to celebrate those individuals, companies and organisations in the travel industry that are making a significant commitment to the culture and economies of local communities and are providing a positive contribution to biodiversity conservation

This year over 140 companies from all over the world were nominated for the award and selection of the winners was made by a panel of 13 prolific judges at a recent judging day held at The Royal Geographical Society, London, headed by Dr. Harold Goodwin, Chair of the Judges and Professor of Responsible Tourism Management at Leeds Metropolitan University.

Chimpanzee Sanctuary & Wildlife Conservation Trust/Ngamba Island Chimpanzee Sanctuary has won / been highly commended in the "Best for Conservation of Wildlife & Habitat" category at this year’s Virgin Holidays Responsible Tourism Awards 2009.

At a ceremony hosted at World Travel Market (WTM), Docklands, London, on Wednesday 11^{th November,　the Awards were handed out by Justin Francis, managing director of responsibletravel.com, organisers and founders of　the Awards,　and Amanda Wills, managing director of Virgin Holidays, headline sponsor of the Awards.}