Imvelo, running for the tenth year, awards tourism businesses that demonstrate sustained responsible practice in their operations in terms of their natural, social and economic environments.
Brett Dungan, chief executive officer of FEDHASA says 38 tourism businesses made it to the finals in this year's awards programme.
The finalists:
Imvelo - which means 'nature' in South Africa's Nguni languages - encourages industry members to accept voluntary guidelines promoting responsible tourism. The awards are in line with the responsible tourism guidelines for the South African hospitality industry and the UN World Tourism Organisation's code of ethics, and are supported by the Heritage Environmental Rating Programme.
Awards will be made in the categories Best social involvement programme, Best practice - economic impact, Best overall environmental management system, Best single resource management programme - for energy, water and waste, Most empowered tourism business and Investor in people. An overall Imvelo winner will be selected.
A Chairman's Award could be made at the discretion of the FEDHASA chairman to any Imvelo entrant or any other organisation in the tourism industry that made a significant contribution to responsible tourism over the past year.
Winners will receive their awards at an awards ceremony to be held in Johannesburg on World Responsible Tourism Day, 9 November.
The 2011 awards are supported by Absa, the Department of Water Affairs, Eskom, the Industrial Development Corporation and Don't Waste Services.
For more information go to www.imveloawards.co.za.