Call for Participation: International To Do Award for Tourism

The future of tourism will depend not least on whether it develops in a sustainable form for the residents in the destination areas.

Private companies and institutions in the tourism industry, public institutions and other legal entities can apply.

Objectives

• The international competition for socially responsible tourism, the “TO DO Award”, aims to take the different interests and needs of the local population into account when planning and implementing tourism projects, measures and offers. Participation and co-determination ensure broad-based participation – for example through information, surveys and discussions with the population when making ideas and decisions. The projects must also be compatible with the principles of environmental compatibility and sustainability.
• In addition, the following aspects should be taken into account:
  • Raising awareness
    • Promoting awareness among the local population about the opportunities and risks of tourism development for their everyday economic, social and cultural lives.
  • Broad benefits
    • Participation of as broad a local population as possible in the positive economic, social and cultural effects of tourism.
  • Qualified tourism jobs
    • Ensuring the attractiveness of tourism jobs for locals by improving working conditions in terms of pay, social security, working hours and training and further education.
  • Strengthening identity
    • Strengthening the local culture and the cultural identity of the people living in tourist destinations.
  • Damage minimization/avoidance
    • Avoidance or minimization of tourism-related social and cultural damage in tourist destination areas.

Award Information

• The prizes associated with the TO DO Award recognize the goals and successes of a project/measure/offer at the time the prize is awarded.
• The prizes awarded there consist of the TO DO Award 2025 trophy and a certificate of honor.
• The Swiss Foundation for Solidarity in Tourism (SST) provides prize money of 5,000 Swiss francs per winner.

Eligibility Criteria

• The basic requirement for receiving the TO DO Award is the active participation of the local population in the planning phase and throughout the entire course of the project/measure/offer. Participation includes both the inclusion of the different interests and needs of the local population in fundamental decisions as well as their sharing in the economic benefits.
• In addition, other criteria are taken into account when awarding the prize:
  • Self-determined participation of the broadest possible local population in the positive social and cultural effects of tourism as well as minimization or avoidance of tourism-related social and cultural undesirable developments/damage.
  • Creation of income opportunities for locals in tourism and improvement of working conditions in the sense of decent work in terms of remuneration, social security, working hours as well as training and further education.
  • Supporting intercultural encounters and exchanges between hosts and guests.
  • Consideration of criteria of environmental and climate compatibility as well as the sustainable use of natural resources.

For more information, visit Study Group for Tourism and Development eV.