Special Features
DTCM Launches Third Cycle of Dubai Green Tourism Award
The Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing has announced the launch of the third cycle of the Dubai Green Tourism Award aimed at recognising the contributions of hotels and the hospitality industry towards better environmental practices. This year’s initiative is expanded to include categories for 1-star hotel and tourist desert camps to the existing 2 to 5 star hotels, and both standard and deluxe hotel apartments.Starting on 23 April, hotels and tourist desert camps can register their applications via www.dubaitourism.ae. The deadline for submissions is midnight on 31st July 2014 (GMT +4).
The Dubai Green Tourism Award was initiated by DTCM in 2009 to improve and encourage conservation of our resources and reduce the carbon footprint of the tourism industry.
The awards are currently run on a bi-annual basis and 140 applications are expected to participate this year, 34 per cent higher compared to the participants registered in 2011. This year, as well as increasing awareness of environmental issues in the tourism industry, Dubai Green Tourism will continue its work with industry partners to improve the environmental and sustainability performance of Dubai’s tourism industry; and encourage and reward hotels and desert camps as well as service providers in the hospitality industry to invest in comprehensive green programmes.
The Dubai Green Tourism Award includes four main criteria which the assessors will be evaluating the applicants on: Environmental strategies; Performance and Results; Education/Training & Awareness; and Awards & Recognition.
Shaikha Al Mutawa, Director Business Development and Chairperson of Dubai Green Tourism Award Programme said: "We are pleased to see the enthusiasm and commitment of the hospitality industry, especially hotel establishments, in participating in the competition. With the competition expanding to include 1-star and tourist desert camps, we are hoping to engage more parties to practice conservation efforts. It is important that as a player in the tourism industry, hotels and tourist desert camps must adopt sustainable practices to help protect and conserve our environment."
In 2012 participating hotels reported reductions in the consumption of electricity (by 20 per cent) and water (by 27 per cent) following the last cycle of the awards in 2011. The programme has also seen positive impact on carbon emissions reduction by 20% in the same year.
H.E Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, MD and CEO of Dubai Electricity and Water Authority said: "In line with the Green Economy For Sustainable Development initiative, launched by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, to achieve sustainable development in Dubai, DEWA is working to promote initiatives to increase awareness about this for all residents in the UAE and to encourage them to make rational consumption a daily way of life. This is part of DEWA’s strategy to conserve natural resources and ensure their sustainability for generations to come. Our participation in the Dubai Green Tourism Award for the third year in a row emphasizes our relentless efforts to promote collaboration and joint work among government departments and to promote the sustainable environmental development in Dubai."
Hussain Nasser Lootah, Director-General, Dubai Municipality said: "The Dubai Green Tourism Award instituted by DTCM since 2009, recognises the key contributors to the tourism industry. This prestigious award not only offers the opportunity to showcase the ecologically-friendly practices and their green credentials, but also encourage others to improve their resource efficiency, reduce carbon footprint, mitigate impacts of climate change, thus bringing a lot of significant benefits for the people of Dubai and beyond. This proudly exemplifies DTCM as a true model globally, through its committed efforts for transition and adoption of responsible green tourism practices."
Applications received for this year’s cycle will be evaluated by DTCM, DEWA and Dubai Municipality who will select shortlisted companies. The next phase will involve site visits carried out by Dubai Municipality, DEWA, DTCM, Emirates Environmental Group (EEG) and Emirates Wildlife Society-World Wide Fund (EWS-WWF) after which, the finalists will be chosen. The winners of this years’ cycle will be announced early next year.
René van Camp, Hotels Manager, Intercontinental Hotel Dubai Festival City (DFC) said: "We are honoured to be part of the Dubai Government’s initiative focused on green tourism. This important initiative blends perfectly with our commitment to being a leader in our community when it comes to reducing energy and water consumption, purchasing sustainably by working with suppliers that follow the same standards and employing creative food preparation methods to reduce waste."
