As previously mentioned on this blog, Ashoka's Changemakers and National Geographic (link) have teamed up for a competition they call The Geotourism Challenge: Celebrating Places/Changing Lives.
A panel of judges, including Keith Bellows, VP of National Geographic Society and Editor-in-Chief NG Traveler; Susan Berresford, Past President of The Ford Foundation; Leonard Cordiner, CEO of whl travel; and Nachiket Mor, President of ICICI Foundation for Inclusive Growth, has picked a handful -- 3 handfuls actually -- of finalists from among the 323 entries submitted from 84 countries. Now it's up to the changemaking (kingmaking?) public to decide the winners.
To vote, click over to Geotourism Challenge and vote for your favorite.
But hurry: Voting ends June 11 at 6PM EST.
For the complete list of entires, visit Changemakers.
And the nominees are:
Exotica Cottages, Dominica
Rios Tropicales Lodge, Costa Rica
Tourism Board Bhutan, Bhutan
Crete's Culinary Sanctuaries, Greece
Canopus Maldives - MPO for WHL in Maldives
Blue Ventures Conservation, Madagascar
Eco-Health Farms, Latvia
Snow Leopard Conservancy India Trust, India
Wildlife Conservation Society, Gabon
3 Sisters Adventure Trekking, Nepal
Evason Phuket & Six Senses Spa, Thailand
CC Africa, South Africa
Great Baikal Trail, Russia
Chumba Island Coral Park, Ltd., Tanzania
[Disclosure: The author is a vice president with Ashoka, but does not work directly for Changemakers or National Geographic, although he has friends at both organizations and admires their work.]
