International Acclaim Continues for Wellington Tourism Industry

A Wellington tourism operator has been recognised as a global leader in responsible tourism for the second year running at the Virgin Holidays Responsible Tourism Awards.

 

ZEALANDIA: The Karori Sanctuary Experience has been hailed the best attraction for ‘conservation of wildlife and habitats’ at the prestigious awards, hosted at the World Travel Market in London. YHA Wellington City was last year named best large hotel/accommodation.

 

Positively Wellington Tourism Chief Executive David Perks says ZEALANDIA’s vision to turn back the clock 500 years to restore a piece of New Zealand is of significant international importance. The trust that runs the sanctuary is duly being recognised for it.

 

“ZEALANDIA isn't just an attraction - it's a journey we can all be part of. It's about restoring a piece of the youngest country on earth as close as possible to what it once was and every day we get one step closer. Already we’ve seen kakariki nesting in Wellington city for the first time in what’s believed to be a century and tuatara hatch in the wild on mainland New Zealand for the first time in over 200 years. This is an incredibly important part of what makes Wellington the coolest little capital in the world.”

 

The news is another incredible opportunity for Wellington, which was last week named in Lonely Planet Best in Travel 2011’s Top 10 Cities list.

 

“Wellington has been promoting how absolutely positively amazing it is for the past 20 years and the world is now very much listening and watching. It’s fantastic to see the city being recognised for its commitment to the environment alongside its desirability as a destination.”

 

The Virgin Holidays Responsible Tourism Awards recognise organisations, individuals and destinations from around the world that make a real difference to local communities and the environment. International acclaim isn’t new to ZEALANDIA, which was named by British newspaper The Guardian as one of the top 75 green tourism companies in the world earlier this year.

 

Recently elected Wellington Mayor Celia Wade-Brown, whose activities in her first few weeks at the city’s helm have included turning up to welcome US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton at Wellington International Airport on a bicycle and donning dive gear to help a clean up of the city’s picturesque harbour, is delighted Wellington’s tourism industry is leading the world in responsible tourism.

 

Mayor Wade-Brown said: “Congratulations to ZEALANDIA on this terrific award. We love having visitors in Wellington, but we must always remember that our environment is delicate and needs and deserves respect.  

 

“One of the great things about the praise from the Lonely Planet is that it is a publication which promotes responsible tourism. This award now underlines the importance of encouraging travellers to cherish the places they visit and the leading role Wellington is playing in this.”