Inspire Global media Awards
The Inspire Global Media Awards celebrate and encourage sustainable, positive impact tourism storytelling, across all forms of media distribution. Now in it’s fourth year, the Awards stand out in their clear aspiration to drive positive impact.
The Awards reward the storytellers and story producers that strike a good balance between painting a colourful, inspiring and informative picture of the destination or experience discussed and providing their audience with a wider understanding of the positive impact tourism can play as a force for good.
The 2026 Awards cover 11 categories across consumer and trade and include both commissioned and self-published mediums, ensuring the full cross-section of travel media is included. Two Recognition Awards recognise outstanding and significant contribution to Positive Impact Storytelling.
2026 Awards category summary
2026 CATEGORIES
Consumer Feature of the Year
UK and Ireland based writers
CONSUMER FEATURE OF THE YEAR - UK and Ireland based writers
FINALISTS - ENGLAND SUB-CATEGORY
Adrian Philips for I took my entire family on a canalboat holiday – and found the antidote to our hurried age published in The Telegraph
Ben Lerwill for An unsung alternative to the Cotswolds‘: exploring Leicestershire’s Welland valley published in The Guardian
Caroline Mills for Gorge-ous days out in Shropshire published in Camping & Caravanning
Cathy Toogood for Little-visited Preston is spending £1bn on becoming a cultural hotspot published in The Telegraph
John Harris for Wild camping the easy way: how a secret Exmoor trip pleased everyone – including the farmer published in The Guardian
Mike MacEacheran for The railway that got the world on track’: a walk through 200 years of history in County Durham published in The Guardian
Rebecca Pitcairn for Yorkshire now premium wine producing region published in Great British Life / Yorkshire Life Magazine
Sarah Baxter for Why ancient pilgrimages are back in vogue in the UK published in National Geographic Traveller (UK)
Sian Meades-Williams for Cream of the Crop published in WIZZ
Yvette Cook for The sleeper train holiday to Cornwall that doesn’t cost the Earth published in The Independent
FINALISTS - BRITISH ISLES (EXC. ENGLAND) & IRELAND SUB-CATEGORY
Antonia Windsor for Forest bathing in Jersey, published in Wellness & World
Caroline Mills for Crossing the Border published in Camping & Caravanning
Kerry Walker for When it comes to tourism, wet weather is the least of Wales’s worries published in The Telegraph
Lily Canter for Is this off-grid Scottish community the ultimate model for sustainable living in Britain today? published in Adventure.com
Robin McKelvie for I’ve visited more than 100 countries – but nothing compares to this Scottish island published in The Telegraph
Rupert Mellor for Wholly Crail published in OutThere Magazine
Sarah Gillespie for More to Morvern published in Scotland Magazine
FINALISTS - NORDIC REGION SUB-CATEGORY
Ailsa Sheldon for Eating the Archipelago published in JRNY Travel Magazine
Cat Thomson for The Faroe Islands: majestic, eerie – and only 90 minutes away published in The Times
Charlotte Wigram-Evans for Shaped by ice published in National Geographic Traveller (UK)
Joseph Phelan for Inside the distillery crafting spirits on the edge of the world published in National Geographic Traveller (UK)
Phil Thomas for Are The World’s Most Beautiful Islands In Danger?published in BBC Travel
Sam Haddad for Deserted islands, seagrass meadows and endless ocean: kayaking in Sweden’s new marine national park published in The Guardian
FINALISTS - EUROPE - WEST / CENTRAL / EAST SUB-CATEGORY
Carolyn Boyd for Whey to go: is cheese the new reason to travel? published in BBC Travel
Emma Truscott for The European bike trail that hits three countries in a daypublished in BBC Travel
Emma Gibbs for The real South of France published in JRNY Travel Magazine
Katja Gaskell for Carpooling? On vacation? Here’s what happened on a road trip across France using a ride-share app. published in Adventure.com
Rupert Mellor for Brave new whirl published in OutThere Magazine
Tristan Rutherford for The French city where you can eat gourmet food for €1 published in BBC Travel
Yvette Cook for How women are reviving traditional Seto culture in Estonia published in The Independent
FINALISTS - MEDITERRANEAN & NORTH AFRICA SUB-CATEGORY
Alexandra Pereira for What I Learned About Family From Island-Hopping With My Father This Summer published in Vogue
Daniel Stables for From kasbahs to couscous—how Sicily has celebrated its diversity through the centuries published in National Geographic Traveller (UK)
Jessica Heather for Far from the crowds: A guide to Portugal’s lesser-known Côa Valley published in Adventure.com
Karen Edwards for The Rise of Rimini published in High Life
Mark Nicholls for Pathways to the Past published in Italia! Magazine
Mary Novakovich for It’s not all money, money, money here; the mellower side of Croatia’s Mamma Mia island published in The Guardian
Rebecca Pitcairn for The Pick of the Bunch published in Sainsbury's Magazine
Robin McKelvie for The Spanish island that loves tourists (especially Britons) published in The Telegraph
Ross Clarke for Meet the stew queens of Northern Spain published in National Geographic Traveller (UK)
Uwern Jong for The Odyssey published in OutThere Magazine
FINALISTS - AFRICA & INDIAN OCEAN SUB-CATEGORY
Annabel Grossman for Why you should visit – and stay in – Johannesburg’s Soweto published in The Independent
Bella Falk for Making a Splash published in Travel Africa Magazine
Charlotte Wigram-Evans for We are one published in National Geographic Traveller (UK)
Dom Tulett for Breaking barriers in Botswana - The trip that helped my dyslexic daughter overcome her writing fears published in The Times
Emma Gregg for Peaceful Connection published in Travel Africa Magazine
Kate Eshelby for The thrilling under-the-radar alternative to Mauritius published in The Times
Rowena Marella-Daw for Delta Force published in Billionaire
Siobhan Grogan for More Than Gorillas: How Rwanda Is Reinventing Itself published in Citizen Femme
Sue Watt for Kavango-Zambezi – Foundations published in Travel Africa Magazine
FINALISTS - ASIA SUB-CATEGORY
Angela Locatelli for The Stuff of Legends published in National Geographic Traveller (UK)
Annabel Grossman for There is a Bali beyond influencer’s Instagram reels – and it’s far more beautiful published in The Independent
Claire Boobyer for Overtourism is causing this city to suffocate in trash. These eco-pioneers are trying to change that published in Adventure.com
Estella Shardlow for How to Safari Sensitively at Jamtara Wilderness Camp published in Mr & Mrs Smith
Farida Zeynalova for Explore Azerbaijan’s wine history – and its unexpected German past published in National Geographic Traveller (UK)
Imogen Lepere for You can feel the gods here’: a village homestay in Nepal that supports Indigenous women published in The Guardian
Kate Crockett for The little-visited region that could be the answer to Japan’s over-tourism problem published in The Independent
Laura French for Why now, more than ever, an over-touristed Bali – and its visitors – need to embrace responsible tourism published in Adventure.com
Lorna Parkes for In Raja Ampat, new coral conservation voyages give a unique perspective on the reefs published in National Geographic Traveller (UK)
Steffen Michels for Back to the garden published in OutThere Magazine
FINALISTS - AUSTRALASIA & OCEANIA SUB-CATEGORY
Bella Falk for The Pacific paradise where guests are guardians published in National Geographic Traveller (UK)
Karen Edwards for In the footsteps of the ancestors published in JRNY Travel Magazine
Keith Drew for This Beautiful UNESCO World Heritage Site is Reversing the Damage of European Settlement published in AFAR
Lauren Jarvis for Since Time published in OutThere Magazine
Nori Jemil for A life-affirming cargo ship cruise through the Marquesas Islands published in Adventure.com
Rebecca Crowe for From Haka to Hangi, Kohutapu Lodge in New Zealand Gives a Glimpse of Māori Life published in Azure Road
FINALISTS - NORTH AMERICA - CANADA AND THE UNITED STATES SUB-CATEGORY
Ailsa Sheldon for Alberta’s Mountain Women published in JRNY Travel Magazine
Hannah Newton for Canada’s tourism is booming – but these enchanting islands remain secret published in The Times
James Draven for Medicine Water published in JRNY Travel Magazine
James March for North America’s First Indigenous-owned Winery published in TONIC Magazine
Kate Eshelby for Mālama: The word embodying the spirit of Hawaii published in BBC Travel
Laura French for What I discovered travelling Missouri’s lesser-trodden stretch of Route 66 published in The Independent
Megan Eaves for Road trips that reveal America's darkest skies published in Wildsam
Robyn Wilson for Cape Cod has had its day – in-the-know travellers head to this nearby beauty published in The Telegraph
Sian Meades-Williams for Searching for Flavour published in JRNY Travel Magazine
Uwern Jong for Bayous and byways published in OutThere Magazine
FINALISTS - CENTRAL AMERICA AND MEXICO SUB-CATEGORY
Jamie Fullerton for Guatemala’s volcano guides offer locals a different path – but at what risk? published in Adventure.com
Meera Dattani for The other Camino: Hiking the coast-to-coast Camino de Costa Rica published in Adventure.com
Rachel Dixon for Walking the Mayan camino: a five-day hike in Mexico’s Yucatán published in The Guardian
Robyn Wilson for The five-day trek in the Guatemalan jungle that’s worth every blister published in The Independent
SJ Armstrong for Sacred stones and sleeping giants—touring El Salvador's ancient landscapes published in National Geographic Traveller (UK)
Steph Dyson for How dreamy ‘cloud forests’ make this central American country an ideal alternative to Costa Rica published in The Independent
Suzanne Bearne for Bacalar: Why now is the time to visit this chilled-out alternative to overtouristed Tulum published in The Standard
FINALISTS - THE CARIBBEAN SUB-CATEGORY
Amanda Canning for Treasure Island published in National Geographic Traveller (UK)
Ian Packham for East side story published in Cacique
Kira Richards for Grenada stole my heart published in The Times
Lauren Jarvis for Sea Full of Stars published in Breathe
Rory Buccheri for Meet the family pioneering the Caribbean’s first ‘climate-smart islands’ published in Adventure.com
Sarah Lee for From caves to coral reefs, this is how you can discover the wild side of Turks & Caicos published in National Geographic Traveller (UK)
FINALISTS - SOUTH AMERICA AND ANTARCTICA SUB-CATEGORY
Daniel Stables for Find Rio’s samba beat on this new urban music trail published in National Geographic Traveller (UK)
Farida Zeynalova for City Life Cartagena published in National Geographic Traveller (UK)
Katy Dartford for 24 hours in Lima published in Globetrotter Magazine
Lynn Houghton for The Man Helping Save Our National Parks published in Resurgence and Ecologist
Mike Unwin for The Perfect Self-drive Holiday in Ecuador published in The Telegraph
Nori Jemil for One woman’s mission to protect the pumas of Chile’s southern pampas published in Adventure.com
Rupert Mellor for Resist this! published in OutThere Magazine
Sarah Gillespie for Labours of Love published in National Geographic Traveller (UK)
FINALISTS - GLOBAL SUB-CATEGORY
Lucy Ruthnum for It felt like I was trespassing on the privilege of adventure travel published in Much Better Adventures
Mariam Amini for Challenges I’ve faced as a Muslim traveller, and how I’ve learned to overcome them published inIntrepid Travel
Meera Dattani for Travelling light, travelling right published in Diver Magazine
Rashmi Narayan for I’ll never go on another slum tour after speaking to a local published in Metro
Rebecca Crowe for What’s the growing appeal of small-group adventures? And why are so many more women booking them? published in Adventure.com
Steph Dyson for Should you use AI to plan your travels? published in Adventure.com
Stuart Kenny for Why Does Watching Bad Tourists on TV Make Us Want to Travel? published in Much Better Adventures
Consumer Feature of the Year
International writers
CONSUMER FEATURE OF THE YEAR - international writers
FINALISTS - UK, EUROPE & NORDIC REGION SUB-CATEGORY
Amelia Duggan for Shaped by Nature published in National Geographic Traveller (UK)
Asla London Palomba for In Ireland, a Stone Age wellness therapy is making a comeback published in The Washington Post
Chloe Berge for Top of the World: On a journey through a remote part of Greenland, published in Travel + Leisure
Daniel James Clarke for Exploring Portugal’s historic hilltop hamlets in a free electric hire car published in The Guardian
Laura Hall for Disneyland to living city: Dubrovnik’s bold fight against overtourism published in BBC Travel
Lola Akinmade for Meet the Afro-Swedes published in Wizz Air Inflight Magazine
Samantha Falewee for Meet the Women Forging Greenland’s Evolving Jewelry Scene published in Vogue
Sarah Reid for Green Shoots published in Escape
FINALISTS - ASIA SUB-CATEGORY
Charukesi Ramadurai for A 'hike for everyone': The 300km route shining a spotlight on Sri Lanka's tea history published in BBC Travel
Joshua Zukas for Tourism is breaking all records in Vietnam. Is that all it’s breaking? published in Adventure.com
Lauren Mowery for Of Craft and Humanity: Tracing the Modern Silk Road through Uzbekistan published in Azure Road
Leyla Rose for In search of Indonesian ikat published in The Straits Times
Mark Daffy for Cricket on top of the world published in Escape (Sunday Telegraph, Sunday Herald-Sun)
Megan Gilbert for The wild Asiatic lions of India’s Gir National Park published in Adventure.com
Samantha Falewee for "Mongolia's Shifting Tourism Industry—And What It Means for the Country's Nomads" published in Conde Nast Traveller
Silvia Pisci for Hokuriku: Nothing exists in isolation published in WideOyster Magazine
Veidehi Gite for Science and sustainability with the Baiga Tribe of Bandhavgarh published in Outlook Traveller
Zoe Baillargeon for How to Experience Ainu Culture in Hokkaido published in Azure Road
FINALISTS - AUSTRALASIA & OCEANIA SUB-CATEGORY
Christine Retschlag for Designed to combat coral bleaching, how is the world’s largest underwater reef faring one year on? published in Adventure.com
Ellie Cobb for The Indian Ocean's laidback paradise on Earth published in BBC Travel
Lynn Gail for The land where time stands still published in Vacations and Travel Magazine
Rachel Lees for Fresh Focus published in International Traveller
Sarah Reid for A year ago, this South Pacific territory was off-limits. What’s it like to visit now? published inAdventure.com
Tracey Croke for Remote and accessible: cycling New Zealand’s West Coast Wilderness Trail published in The Guardian
FINALISTS - AFRICA, ARABIA & INDIAN OCEAN SUB-CATEGORY
Jonny Bierman for Remembering Jane Goodall published in Travel + Leisure
Katrina Lobley for Shifting sands published in The Sydney Morning Herald
Summer Rylander for Kilimanjaro’s Vanishing Ice published in Wired for Adventure
FINALISTS - AMERICAS, THE CARIBBEAN AND ANTARCTICA SUB-CATEGORY
Annie Brown Verdin for What does freedom taste like? We meet the recipe-keepers of the first free Black town in the Americas published in Adventure.com
Emily Barlow for For hikers, this is one of the world’s best-preserved Inca roads. And no, it’s not the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu published in Adventure.com
Jonny Bierman for A Green Guide to the White Continent of Antarctica published in National Post, Canada
Nick Hines for In Post-Fire West Māui, Restaurants Are at the Heart of a Slow Recovery published in Matador Network
Tayla Gentle for How to spot rock art and eat ‘cow to cave’: Everything we learned on a low-impact road trip across Utah published in Adventure.com
Tim Wenger for New River Gorge Offers a Glimpse Into West Virginia's Past - and Its Future published in Matador Network
Zanny Merullo for Fighting Extractive Economies in a Panamanian Paradise published in Bluedot living
FINALISTS - GLOBAL SUB-CATEGORY
Kate McMahon for Breaking stereotypes and making records: Meet the Arab women mountaineers climbing their way to the top published in Adventure.com
Lebawit Girma for Can Tourism Foster Peace? These Socially Conscious Operators Say Yes published in Bloomberg Pursuits
Summer Rylander for The Ethics of Exclusivity in Tourism published in Azure Road
Suzie Dundas for The Price of Paradise: Luxury Travel Can Save the World's Wildest Places, but at What Cost? published in Matador Network
Tarang Mohnot for Why 'best time to visit' no longer applies published in BBC Travel
Trade Feature of the Year
TRADE FEATURE OF THE YEAR
FINALISTS
Claire Dodd for Five things Indigenous operators in Canada want agents to know published in TTG Media
Domhnall O’Donoghue for Portland Pride published in Travel Weekly
Jessica Reid for ‘We just want to be accepted’: When TTG met India’s ‘third gender’ community published in TTG Media
Lauren Jarvis for Wild and Free published in Selling Travel
Madeleine Barber for This island has the aesthetics of Santorini but is blissfully serene published in TTG Media
Meera Dattani for Discover Kenya beyond the safari published in Travel Weekly
Olly Beckett for How this Canadian town is building back better after wildfires published in Travel Weekly
Rashmi Narayan for Eclectic Tastes published in TTG Media
Sue Watt for Kenya: Face to Face published in Postcards Magazine
Zanny Merullo for Visiting Indigenous Communities in the Yucatan Peninsula published in Travel Age West
Television Broadcast of the Year
TELEVISION BROADCAST OF THE YEAR
FINALISTS
Ash Bhardwaj for Destination Dupes and AI in Travel Planning broadcast on BBC One BBC Morning Live
Mark Julian Edwards for Welcome to Sri Lanka broadcast on The Jet Set TV Show
Alex Outhwaite for The Wanderer Türkiye: Echoes of Eternity broadcast on Amazon Prime Video
Podcast / Audio Programme of the Year
PODCAST / AUDIO PROGRAMME OF THE YEAR
FINALISTS
Christopher Beanland for Soviet Special episode broadcast on Park Date
Mary Novakovich for Krapanj’s sponge divers broadcast on BBC Radio 4
Nathan James Thomas for Understanding Chile and Other Adventures Since 1989 with Natscha Scott broadcast onThe Travel Writing Podcast
Phoebe Smith for Voodoo Child broadcast on Wander Woman: A Travel Podcast
Richard Hammond & Holly Tuppen for Community Tourism: What does good community tourism look like and can we measure its benefits? broadcast on
It’s a Journey – a sustainable travel podcast
Shebs Alom for Levison Wood on “The Great Tree Story”: Why Forests Are Crucial broadcast on Take a Wander with Shebs
Travel Book of the Year
TRAVEL BOOK OF THE YEAR
FINALISTS
Ash Bhardwaj for Why We Travel: A Journey Into Human Motivation published by Bedford Square Publishers
Carolyn Boyd for Amuse Bouche published by Profile Books
Monisha Rajesh for Moonlight Express published by Bloomsbury
Shafik Meghji for Small Earthquakes published by Hurst
Travel Guide of the Year
TRAVEL Guide OF THE YEAR
FINALISTS
Daniel James Clarke for Pocket Algarve – 3rd edition published by Lonely Planet
Emma Gibbs for Scotland’s North Highlands – 1st edition published by Bradt Guides
Emma Gregg for Madeira & The Azores – 1st edition published by Rough Guides
Joshua Zukas for Vietnam – 1st edition published by Bradt Guides
Rebecca McVeigh and Jennifer Ladonne for Provence and The French Riviera – 14th edition published by Fodors
Suzy Pope and Tristan Rutherford for Albania – 1st edition published by DK - Dorling Kindersley
Blog Story of the Year
BLOG STORY OF THE YEAR
FINALISTS
Abi King for The Dark Side of Traditional Arts and Crafts in Sri Lanka published on Inside the Travel Lab
Ana Duek for "Community-based tourism itinerary in the Amazon: an immersion in the Rio Negro" published on Viajar Verde
Chiara Selvetti for "Once upon a time in a mining town far away" published on Umudugudu
Kirsten Henton for In search of a different kind of soul in Tennessee published on Weather2Travel.com
Lucy Ruthnum for Lukomir Village – Visiting Bosnia's Most Remote Village published on Absolutely Lucy
Shivya Nath for What I Learnt From an Indigenous Shaman in the Amazon Rainforest published on The Shooting Star
Sue Watt for African Parks – 25 years of groundbreaking conservation published on Expert Africa
Valery Collins for Uzbekistan Uncovered with Great Rail Journeys published on ExperiencedTraveller.com
Vlog of the Year
VLOG OF THE YEAR
FINALISTS
Abi King for Is it worth visiting North Sri Lanka? published on YouTube
Eileen Aldis for 24 Hours in Dublin, Ireland published on YouTube
Lebawit Girma for More Than a Party: Inside Rio Carnival's Afro-Brazilian Roots published on YouTube
Shivya Nath for Slow travel in Bali published on YouTube
Tayla Gentle for Explorations of Sight and Sound, Vol. 3 Ancient Instruments published on YouTube
Short-Reel of the Year
SHORT-REEL OF THE YEAR
FINALISTS
Gemma Jones for Amazon Rainforest, Peru published on Watch our World Instagram Channel
Phoebe Smith for Why can’t we all just get along – Belize published on Phoebe 'Wander Woman' Smith Instagram Channel
Stuart Kenny for The Grand Traversee of Reunion Island published on Much Better Adventures Instagram Channel
Tayla Gentle for Reel Series — The ultimate, low-impact Utah adventure published on Adventure.com Instagram Channel
Vanessa Ball for EXTREMADURA: Four Cities & Villages You Need To Add On Your Spanish Road Trip published on She Wanders Miles Instagram Channel
Veidehi Gite for Cairo published on The Krazy Butterfly Instagram Channel
Photo of the Year - commissioned
PHOTO OF THE YEAR - commissioned
FINALISTS
PEOPLE & ENVIRONMENT
Ben Pipe for images featured in Ecuador Supplement published in National Geographic Traveller (UK)
Karolina Wiercigroch for images featured in Stuff of Legends published in National Geographic Traveller (UK)
Lauren Mowery for images featured in Of Craft and Humanity: Tracing the Modern Silk Road through Uzbekistan published in Azure Road
Lola Akinmade for images featured in Meet the Afro-Swedes published in Wizz Air In-flight Magazine
Lynn Gail for images featured in Rare Breed published in International Traveller
WILDLIFE & ENVIRONMENT
Bella Falk for images featured in Focussed attention published in Travel Africa Magazine
Diana Jarvis for images featured in Forget Spain – I went to Sweden and found the ideal summer holiday destination published in TimeOut
Lynn Gail for images featured in Rare Breed published in International Traveller
Nori Jemil for images featured in A life-affirming cargo ship cruise through the Marquesas Islands published in Adventure.com
Positive Impact Storyteller of the Year
ABOUT THE SPONSOR
Sponsor this award
RECOGNITION AWARD CRITERIA
The Positive Impact Storyteller of the Year recognises an individual, whose work in the past 12 months has consistently advanced positive impact storytelling at a global or systemic level. This award celebrates visionaries whose leadership and dedication has inspired change across the sector, creating ripple effects that go far beyond a single story or narrative. Scores will be gathered from all judged categories, aggregated, evaluated and ranked using a weighted factor analysis method i.e where different criteria are assigned different levels of importance (weights) to calculate a final score. Please note - this category is NOT open for submissions as it is awarded based on aggregated scores.
Positive Impact Story Producer of the Year
ABOUT THE SPONSOR
Sponsor this award
RECOGNITION AWARD CRITERIA
The Positive Impact Story Producer of the Year recognises a media organisation or self-published platform with more than 5k subscribers, whose work in the past 12 months has consistently advanced positive impact storytelling at a global or systemic level. This award celebrates visionary organisations whose innovation and dedication has inspired change across the sector, creating ripple effects that go far beyond a single story or narrative. Scores will be gathered from all judged categories, aggregated, evaluated and ranked using a weighted factor analysis method i.e where different criteria are assigned different levels of importance (weights) to calculate a final score. Please note - this category is NOT open for submissions as it is awarded based on aggregated scores.
Positive Impact Outstanding Contribution - Individual
ABOUT THE SPONSOR
Sponsor this award
RECOGNITION AWARD CRITERIA
The Outstanding Contribution to Positive Impact Storytelling Award recognises an individual, whose work has consistently advanced positive impact storytelling at a global or systemic level. This award celebrates visionaries whose leadership and dedication has inspired change across the sector, creating ripple effects that go far beyond a single story or narrative. Please note - this category is NOT open for submissions as it is awarded by Inspire Global following an internal appraisal and evaluation by its management and Ambassadors.
Positive Impact Outstanding Contribution - Organisation
ABOUT THE SPONSOR
Sponsor this award
RECOGNITION AWARD CRITERIA
The Outstanding Contribution to Positive Impact Storytelling Award recognises a media organisation, whose work has consistently advanced positive impact storytelling at a global or systemic level. This award celebrates visionary organisations whose innovation and dedication has inspired change across the sector, creating ripple effects that go far beyond a single story or narrative. Please note - this category is NOT open for submissions as it is awarded by Inspire Global following an internal appraisal and evaluation by its management and Ambassadors.
We believe positive impact tourism is to create socio-cultural, environmental, and economic benefits through tourism, that enrich the lives of both visitors and the host communities.
- The Awards reward the storytellers that strike a good balance between painting a colourful, inspiring, and informative picture of the destination or experience discussed and providing their audience with a wider understanding of the positive impact tourism can play as a force for good.
- Judges look for 3 main components –
- INSPIRE – does it inspire in a way that transports you and makes you want to immediately experience or go there yourself, and the positive impact it will have on you, as a visitor?
- INFORMATION – does it provide engaging and well-researched information that either goes beyond tourist traps, and/or focuses on a new or unique angle that encourages you to learn more about the destination or experience?
- IMPACT – does it highlight the positive impact tourism brings to that destination or experience either for the communities, the environment, the wildlife, and/or culture. Submissions that highlight the sometimes-negative impact tourism brings either through overtourism or other are encouraged but must also include an alternative positive impact solution-led narrative.
Adrian Philips for I took my entire family on a canalboat holiday – and found the antidote to our hurried age published in The Telegraph
Ben Lerwill for An unsung alternative to the Cotswolds‘: exploring Leicestershire’s Welland valley published in The Guardian
Caroline Mills for Gorge-ous days out in Shropshire published in Camping & Caravanning
Cathy Toogood for Little-visited Preston is spending £1bn on becoming a cultural hotspot published in The Telegraph
John Harris for Wild camping the easy way: how a secret Exmoor trip pleased everyone – including the farmer published in The Guardian
Mike MacEacheran for The railway that got the world on track’: a walk through 200 years of history in County Durham published in The Guardian
Rebecca Pitcairn for Yorkshire now premium wine producing region published in Great British Life / Yorkshire Life Magazine
Sarah Baxter for Why ancient pilgrimages are back in vogue in the UK published in National Geographic Traveller (UK)
Sian Meades-Williams for Cream of the Crop published in WIZZ
Yvette Cook for The sleeper train holiday to Cornwall that doesn’t cost the Earth published in The Independent
Antonia Windsor for Forest bathing in Jersey, published in Wellness and World
Caroline Mills for Crossing the Border published in Camping & Caravanning
Kerry Walker for When it comes to tourism, wet weather is the least of Wales’s worries published in The Telegraph
Lily Canter for Is this off-grid Scottish community the ultimate model for sustainable living in Britain today? published in Adventure.com
Robin McKelvie for I’ve visited more than 100 countries – but nothing compares to this Scottish island published in The Telegraph
Rupert Mellor for Wholly Crail published in OutThere Magazine
Sarah Gillespie for More to Morvern published in Scotland Magazine
Ailsa Sheldon for Eating the Archipelago published in JRNY Travel Magazine
Cat Thomson for The Faroe Islands: majestic, eerie – and only 90 minutes away published in The Times
Charlotte Wigram-Evans for Shaped by ice published in National Geographic Traveller (UK)
Joseph Phelan for Inside the distillery crafting spirits on the edge of the world published in National Geographic Traveller (UK)
Phil Thomas for Are The World’s Most Beautiful Islands In Danger?published in BBC Travel
Sam Haddad for Deserted islands, seagrass meadows and endless ocean: kayaking in Sweden’s new marine national park published in The Guardian
Carolyn Boyd for Whey to go: is cheese the new reason to travel? published in BBC Travel
Emma Truscott for The European bike trail that hits three countries in a daypublished in BBC Travel
Emma Gibbs for The real South of France published in JRNY Travel Magazine
Katja Gaskell for Carpooling? On vacation? Here’s what happened on a road trip across France using a ride-share app. published in Adventure.com
Rupert Mellor for Brave new whirl published in OutThere Magazine
Tristan Rutherford for The French city where you can eat gourmet food for €1 published in BBC Travel
Yvette Cook for How women are reviving traditional Seto culture in Estonia published in The Independent
Alexandra Pereira for What I Learned About Family From Island-Hopping With My Father This Summer published in Vogue
Daniel Stables for From kasbahs to couscous—how Sicily has celebrated its diversity through the centuries published in National Geographic Traveller (UK)
Jessica Heather for Far from the crowds: A guide to Portugal’s lesser-known Côa Valley published in Adventure.com
Karen Edwards for The Rise of Rimini published in High Life
Mark Nicholls for Pathways to the Past published in Italia! Magazine
Mary Novakovich for It’s not all money, money, money here; the mellower side of Croatia’s Mamma Mia island published in The Guardian
Rebecca Pitcairn for The Pick of the Bunch published in Sainsbury’s Magazine
Robin McKelvie for The Spanish island that loves tourists (especially Britons) published in The Telegraph
Ross Clarke for Meet the stew queens of Northern Spain published in National Geographic Traveller (UK)
Uwern Jong for The Odyssey published in OutThere Magazine
Annabel Grossman for Why you should visit – and stay in – Johannesburg’s Soweto published in The Independent
Bella Falk for Making a Splash published in Travel Africa Magazine
Charlotte Wigram-Evans for We are one published in National Geographic Traveller (UK)
Dom Tulett for Breaking barriers in Botswana – The trip that helped my dyslexic daughter overcome her writing fears published in The Times
Emma Gregg for Peaceful Connection published in Travel Africa Magazine
Kate Eshelby for The thrilling under-the-radar alternative to Mauritius published in The Times
Rowena Marella-Daw for Delta Force published in Billionaire
Siobhan Grogan for More Than Gorillas: How Rwanda Is Reinventing Itself published in Citizen Femme
Sue Watt for Kavango-Zambezi – Foundations published in Travel Africa Magazine
Angela Locatelli for The Stuff of Legends published in National Geographic Traveller (UK)
Annabel Grossman for There is a Bali beyond influencer’s Instagram reels – and it’s far more beautiful published in The Independent
Claire Boobyer for Overtourism is causing this city to suffocate in trash. These eco-pioneers are trying to change that published in Adventure.com
Estella Shardlow for How to Safari Sensitively at Jamtara Wilderness Camp published in Mr & Mrs Smith
Farida Zeynalova for Explore Azerbaijan’s wine history – and its unexpected German past published in National Geographic Traveller (UK)
Imogen Lepere for You can feel the gods here’: a village homestay in Nepal that supports Indigenous women published in The Guardian
Kate Crockett for The little-visited region that could be the answer to Japan’s over-tourism problem published in The Independent
Laura French for Why now, more than ever, an over-touristed Bali – and its visitors – need to embrace responsible tourism published in Adventure.com
Lorna Parkes for In Raja Ampat, new coral conservation voyages give a unique perspective on the reefs published in National Geographic Traveller (UK)
Steffen Michels for Back to the garden published in OutThere Magazine
Bella Falk for The Pacific paradise where guests are guardians published in National Geographic Traveller (UK)
Karen Edwards for In the footsteps of the ancestors published in JRNY Travel Magazine
Keith Drew for This Beautiful UNESCO World Heritage Site is Reversing the Damage of European Settlement published in AFAR
Lauren Jarvis for Since Time published in OutThere Magazine
Nori Jemil for A life-affirming cargo ship cruise through the Marquesas Islands published in Adventure.com
Rebecca Crowe for From Haka to Hangi, Kohutapu Lodge in New Zealand Gives a Glimpse of Māori Life published in Azure Road
Ailsa Sheldon for Alberta’s Mountain Women published in JRNY Travel Magazine
Helen Newton for Canada’s tourism is booming – but these enchanting islands remain secret published in The Times
James Draven for Medicine Water published in JRNY Travel Magazine
James March for North America’s First Indigenous-owned Winery published in TONIC Magazine
Kate Eshelby for Mālama: The word embodying the spirit of Hawaii published in BBC Travel
Laura French for What I discovered travelling Missouri’s lesser-trodden stretch of Route 66 published in The Independent
Megan Eaves for Road trips that reveal America’s darkest skies published in Wildsam
Robyn Wilson for Cape Cod has had its day – in-the-know travellers head to this nearby beauty published in The Telegraph
Sian Meades-Williams for Searching for Flavour published in JRNY Travel Magazine
Uwern Jong for Bayous and byways published in OutThere Magazine
Jamie Fullerton for Guatemala’s volcano guides offer locals a different path – but at what risk? published in Adventure.com
Meera Dattani for The other Camino: Hiking the coast-to-coast Camino de Costa Rica published in Adventure.com
Rachel Dixon for Walking the Mayan camino: a five-day hike in Mexico’s Yucatán published in The Guardian
Robyn Wilson for The five-day trek in the Guatemalan jungle that’s worth every blister published in The Independent
SJ Armstrong for Sacred stones and sleeping giants—touring El Salvador’s ancient landscapes published in National Geographic Traveller (UK)
Steph Dyson for How dreamy ‘cloud forests’ make this central American country an ideal alternative to Costa Rica published in The Independent
Suzanne Bearne for Bacalar: Why now is the time to visit this chilled-out alternative to overtouristed Tulum published in The Standard
Amanda Canning for Treasure Island published in National Geographic Traveller (UK)
Ian Packham for East side story published in Cacique
Kira Richards for Grenada stole my heart published in The Times
Lauren Jarvis for Sea Full of Stars published in Breathe
Rory Buccheri for Meet the family pioneering the Caribbean’s first ‘climate-smart islands’ published in Adventure.com
Sarah Lee for From caves to coral reefs, this is how you can discover the wild side of Turks & Caicos published in National Geographic Traveller (UK)
Daniel Stables for Find Rio’s samba beat on this new urban music trail published in National Geographic Traveller (UK)
Farida Zeynalova for City Life Cartagena published in National Geographic Traveller (UK)
Katy Dartford for 24 hours in Lima published in Globetrotter Magazine
Lynn Houghton for The Man Helping Save Our National Parks published in Resurgence and Ecologist
Mike Unwin for The Perfect Self-drive Holiday in Ecuador published in The Telegraph
Nori Jemil for One woman’s mission to protect the pumas of Chile’s southern pampas published in Adventure.com
Rupert Mellor for Resist this! published in OutThere Magazine
Sarah Gillespie for Labours of Love published in National Geographic Traveller (UK)
Lucy Ruthnum for It felt like I was trespassing on the privilege of adventure travel published in Much Better Adventures
Mariam Amini for Challenges I’ve faced as a Muslim traveller, and how I’ve learned to overcome them published inIntrepid Travel
Meera Dattani for Travelling light, travelling right published in Diver Magazine
Rashmi Narayan for I’ll never go on another slum tour after speaking to a local published in Metro
Rebecca Crowe for What’s the growing appeal of small-group adventures? And why are so many more women booking them? published in Adventure.com
Steph Dyson for Should you use AI to plan your travels? published in Adventure.com
Stuart Kenny for Why Does Watching Bad Tourists on TV Make Us Want to Travel? published in Much Better Adventures