Destinasjon Røros is the only Norwegian destination that has reached the final of the three most prestigious sustainability accolades in the world!
This time Destinasjon Røros is nominated in the category Destination Leadership in the National Geographic World Legacy Awards, along with other much larger destinations like Travel Oregon in the United States and Burren and Cliffs of Moher Geopark in Ireland.
The jury has noted about Destination Røros:
Annually around 1 million tourists visit the World Heritage mining town Røros. Destination Røros works with over 200 member organisations in order to encourage the cooperation and coordination of tourism and its development throughout the region, in a sustainable manner.
Through an impressive overall system, that evaluates, educates, and develops the destination and its members, they continue to promote and implement best practices within sustainable tourism. The destination is a strong role model for other destinations throughout Norway.
“We are very humble and proud that our development work and efforts within sustainable tourism development will be noticed by the outside world,” says development manager Hilde Bergebakken, – “it has been an incredibly exciting journey to be allowed to steer the course for sustainable development taking into account culture, nature, the community and its development. Our journey has barely begun – and the knowledge of how we manage tourism in a way that will strengthen the ‘green reputation’ of Norway, will be very valuable for the future. Travel Oregon is one of the destinations we have looked up to, and last year I had the pleasure of lecturing there on how in Røros we are working under a global sustainability collective. It’s all about learning from each other,” says Hilde Bergebakken, “It’s absolutely incredible to think that little Røros is a finalist in the World Legacy Awards being held in Berlin in 2016 and that we are helping to change the world!”
Tourism Director Linda M. Ramberg is overwhelmed; “I had not dared to think that we could stand a chance in a global tourism prize, when we released the strategy to work with World-sustainable tourism in 2007.
Besides working towards becoming more sustainable by the end of 2015, one of our objectives was to be more visible in Europe. The exposure which a nomination in the finals of the National Geographic World Legacy Awards gives us, will give us a flying start at the world’s largest tourism fair ITB in Berlin! We had a 22% increase in the overseas market in the summer, after several years of determined and hard work. This nomination will give us more wind in our sails!”
Destination Røros has been invited to the award ceremony in Berlin on the 10th of March 2016 where 15 finalists are nominated in a total of 5 categories. The jury foreman says; “Destinations who understand that sustainability is the foundation of great tourismm are becoming the global leaders of tomorrow.”
Excerpt from the National Geographic press release:
Costas Christ, chairman of National Geographic World Legacy Awards, said, «Sustainable tourism is the foundation for the future of the travel industry, and those destinations and companies that understand this today will be the global leaders of tomorrow. Tourism is based on selling culture and nature — the very things sustainable tourism practices work to protect.
The World Legacy Awards finalists are all about protecting the places travelers love to visit and benefiting the local people who live there. Together, these 15 finalists are working towards a future when all tourism will be sustainable.
Finalists and winners will be featured in National Geographic Traveler magazine and other National Geographic media.»
Destination Røros would like to give a big thanks to everyone who has supported us with our work locally, regionally and nationally. And a big “thank you” to Ingunn Sørnes and Innovation Norway who encouraged us to take the lead and set the course for sustainable destination development in Norway, and who has supported us all the way in our quest for better practices. Together we have put our work with sustainable tourism on the global map three times – World Responsible Tourism, Best Destination in 2011 – Tourism for Tomorrow, Destination Stewardship in 2012 and reaching the finals of the World Legacy Awards in 2016. Destination Røros also received the award for Sustainable Travel in 2013, and spends much of its time inspiring other destinations to embark on the journey towards sustainable tourism development.
