UNWTO Unveils Winners of the 2012 Ulysses Awards

An online tool that allows tourism business to assess and improve their accessibility and an initiative encouraging tourists to stay with families in Malaysia are among the five winners of this year’s UNWTO Ulysses Awards.

Since 2003, the UNWTO Ulysses Awards for Excellence and Innovation in Tourism have honored tourism initiatives that have contributed to the advancement of tourism through knowledge creation and innovation, in line with the UNWTO Global Code of Ethics for Tourism and the United Nations Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

Hailing from Austria, Brazil, Malaysia, Mexico and Spain, the 2012 winners were presented their awards during the UNWTO Awards Ceremony in Istanbul, Turkey .

The winners of the 2012 edition are:

UNWTO Ulysses Award for Innovation in Public Policy and Governance: Malaysia Homestay Experience Program, Ministry of Tourism Malaysia

Runners-up: Holiday Participation Center, Tourism Flanders, Belgium, and the Pannonian Salt Lakes of Tuzla, Municipality of Tuzla, Bosnia and Herzegovina.

UNWTO Ulysses Award for Innovation in Enterprises: Conservation of the natural and cultural heritage of Quintana Roo, Experiencias Xcaret, Mexico.

Runners-up: Wine World and Wine & Spa Resorts, Loisium Hotel, Austria; Chanita ta di Fiesta, University of Aruba, Aruba; and Calviá Beach Resorts, Meliá Hotels International, Spain.

UNWTO Ulysses Award for Innovation in Non-Governmental Organizations: Landscape of the Year, Nature Friends International, Austria, and Experience Tour Project, Instituto Marca Brasil, Brazil:
 
Runners-up: Sustainable Hospitality Program, Asociación de Hoteles de Turismo de la República Argentina, Argentina and Long Run Destinations, Zeitz Foundation, Kenya.  

UNWTO Ulysses Award for Innovation in Research and Technology: TurAcces/IBV, Instituto de Biomecánica de Valencia, Spain.

Runners-up: Amadeus Agent Track, Amadeus IT, Spain, and the Strawberry Energy Concept, National Tourism Organization of Serbia, Serbia.