Savannah Guides Win Global Award

Savannah Guides have been voted the world's Best Tourism Organisation at the British Airways Tourism for Tomorrow Awards held in London overnight.

President of Savannah Guides, Mr Tom Warnes, who attended the London awards presentation, said he was "Ecstatic to have won such a prestigious award. We were extremely proud to be chosen as the Australian winner, but to be recognised as the best Tourism Organisation on Earth is simply incredible".

Mr Bram Collins, Director & past President of Savannah Guides, said from Cairns today "This is an incredible honour for the Savannah Guides organisation and the culmination of twelve years of hard work. To be recognised by British Airways globally is fantastic and a real achievement for a non-profit organisation. This highlights the importance of a community based organisation like Savannah Guides, not only for the role they play in interpretive tourism, but on a broader regional development perspective", Mr Collins said.

Savannah Guides are responsible for the visitor management at some of the most outstanding natural & cultural attractions in northern Australia and have taken a pro-active approach to marketing the Tropical Savannahs as a destination.

The Gulf Local Authorities Development Association (GLADA) established Savannah Guides Ltd as a non-profit company in 1988. Its original purpose was to provide access for tourists to unique natural features on private, leased or public property in a manner, which protected the region's assets. Savannah Guide members were initially drawn from local communities within the Gulf Savannah but the network has since expanded to encompass the Tropical Savannahs of northern Australia. Savannah Guides continues to contribute to the development of regional tourism, generating employment opportunities whilst conserving our natural and cultural heritage.

Knowledge and professionalism is fundamental to Savannah Guides' operating philosophy. Two training schools are conducted each year, at varying locations across the Savannahs, and feature experts in related fields including ecology, geology, land management and tourism.

"This award could not have happened at a better time" Mr Collins said "Our next Savannah Guides training school is in Longreach & Winton from the 26th - 29th October. Most of our 13 enterprise members will be represented and the majority of our 48 individual members are expected to attend. We only get together as a group a couple of times a year but this time it will be extra special. With news of the recent awards, we anticipate record attendance at this school"

"This award is not only great for Savannah Guides but for the Tropical Savannahs of northern Australia and further confirms our role in establishing Australia as the world leader in nature-based tourism".

Further Information:

Bram Collins
Undara Experience
Tel: 07 4031 7933
Mob: 0419 655 017

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