AusLeisure

The Cardamom Tented Camp in Cambodia has joined fellow finalists in congratulating the five Tourism for Tomorrow Award winners. Cardamom Tented Camp was a finalist in the Changemaker category along with Kelompok Peduli Lingkungan Belitung (KPLB, Indonesia) and SEE Turtles (USA), which was announced as winner. The category was created to recognise a tourism-related initiative that is fighting the illegal wildlife trade through sustainable tourism.

“It was a great honour for Cardamom Tented Camp to be recognised with 14 other inspirational sustainable tourism initiatives from around the world,” said Willem Niemeijer, Chief Executive of YAANA Ventures and operator of the conservation lodge in Cambodia, who attended the award ceremony in Seville.

The formation of the camp in 2017 was made possible by a unique partnership between Wildlife Alliance, the Golden Triangle Asian Elephant Foundation (supported by Minor Hotels), and the camp’s operator, YAANA Ventures.

Since opening in November 2017, the Cardamom Tented Camp has integrated the role of 12 forest rangers who protect a 180 kilometre2 lowland forest concession in Botum Sakor National Park into the guest experience.

The rangers take turns to lead conservation tourism hikes through the forest. They show tourists confiscated traps, mesh and weapons used by poachers. In turn, the camp helps the forest rangers with salary support and physical amenities such as solar power generators at ranger stations.

Due to the rangers work, the illegal wildlife trade has been massively reduced in the forest which is now seeing a resurgence in formerly-traded mammals such as the endangered clouded leopard, sun bear, northern pig-tailed macaque, pangolin, the Nicobar crab-eating macaque, and the (extremely shy) pileated gibbon (pictured below), to name a few.

 
Since opening, the Cardamom Tented Camp has operated under the slogan, “Your Stay Keeps the Forest Standing.”

In March, Cardamom Tented Camp announced an innovative 5D/4N “Adventurer” package for ecotourists seeking a meaningful conservation experience in Southeast Asia. It also announced a 3D/2N “Jungle Camp” package using tensile tree tents.

The other four 2019 Tourism for Tomorrow winners were Awamaki (Peru) in the Social Impact category, St. Kitts Sustainable Destination Council (St. Kitts and Nevis) in Destination Stewardship, Bucuti & Tara Beach Resort (Aruba) in Climate Action, and Lemon Tree Hotels (India) in Investing in People.

There were 180 entries from 70 countries for the awards.

For the full list of the 2019 WTTC Tourism for Tomorrow finalists and category winners go to www.ausleisure.com.au/news/winners-announced-for-sustainable-tourism-awards

Related Articles

8th April 2019 - WTTC recognises sustainable tourism excellence with 2019 Awards

17th January 2019 - 2019 Tourism for Tomorrow Awards finalists announced

17th January 2019 - Cambodian Camp chosen as a finalist in WTTC Tourism Awards

4th September 2018 - Entries open for 15th edition of WTTC Tourism for Tomorrow Awards

21st April 2018 - WTTC recognises sustainable tourism excellence with 2018 Awards

19th January 2018 - 2018 Tourism for Tomorrow Awards Finalists announced by WTTC

---

Asking a small favour
We hope that you value the news that we publish so while you're here can we ask for your support?

The news we publish at www.ausleisure.com.au is independent, credible (we hope) and free for you to access, with no pay walls and no annoying pop-up ads.

However, as an independent publisher, can we ask for you to support us by subscribing to the printed Australasian Leisure Management magazine - if you don't already do so.

Published bi-monthly since 1997, the printed Australasian Leisure Management differs from this website in that it publishes longer, in-depth and analytical features covering aquatics, attractions, entertainment, events, fitness, parks, recreation, sport, tourism and venues management.

Subscriptions cost just $90 a year.

Click here to subscribe.