2009-11-12

Whale Watch Kaikoura Scoops Responsible Tourism Award

WDCS congratulates New Zealand-based whale watch company, Whale Watch Kaikoura, which has outshone some of the world’s leading tour operators to claim the Supreme Award at this year’s Responsible Tourism Awards in London.  Launched in 2004, and run in association with World Travel Market, the Daily Telegraph, Geographical Magazine and BBC World News, the awards marked World Responsible Tourism Day at the World Travel Market.

Whale Watch Kaikoura has long been hailed as an example of best practice, promoting responsible, sustainable and educational whale watching, particularly of sperm whales, which require skilled boat handling, since they make deep dives, remaining underwater for extended periods of time and often surfacing unpredictably!

For over two decades, the company has instilled a deep respect for the environment and a strong sense of community. As the region’s biggest employer, Whale Watch Kaikoura is amongst the most successful Maori-run cooperative projects in New Zealand.

The judges made the following statement:
   
"Rarely do we see a tourism initiative developed from the ground up by a local community to such a successful and grand scale…. Whale Watch Kaikoura provides consistently responsible whale watching tours with minimal impacts.”

More information on the awards