MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Falkland Islands distinguished as the “Best Destination for Wildlife and Nature”

“The tourism industry in the Falklands have done a fantastic job in promoting the Islands, and with no doubt deserve this award” said Tony Mason (Pic S.Przybilla)

The Falkland Islands have been awarded the “Best Destination for Wildlife and Nature” prize by the Travel Agents Choice Awards, an annual event organized by the prestigious tourism industry publication, Selling Travel Magazine.

“The tourism industry in the Falklands have done a fantastic job in promoting the Islands, and with no doubt deserve this award” said Tony Mason, managing director of the Falkland Islands Tourist Board on hearing the news.

“This was the first time we had been nominated for an award this prestigious and at a major event and we were convinced we had a winning chance as there is truly no destination in the world that can compete with the Falkland Islands,” underlined Mr. Mason.

Together with fisheries, farming and oil, tourism is one of the leading industries of the Falklands with a great impact on employment, particularly in summer months when tens of thousands of cruise visitors land in the Islands.

However there are also hundreds of land tourists who spend time in the Islands taking advantage of the pristine nature and incredible wildlife which breeds undisturbed and protected in the Falklands.

A proud Mr. Mason said that the award will not distract the FITB from its promotion program of activities for the rest of the year which means being present at the coming World Travel Market 2014 which takes place in November at London’s Excel as well as at the World Travel Leaders.

Mr. Mason will represent the Islands and will attend the WTM Global Stage on Wednesday November 5, which will celebrate the industry’s achievements during the event’s lifetime and predict how holidaymakers will travel in the future.

Launched in 1980 WTM has grown to be the world event where the industry conducts its business deals. WTM 2013 saw more than 50,000 senior industry executives attend signing business deals worth more than £2.2 billion.

A high-level panel of industry leading executives will lead a debate on the subject of how the travel and tourism industry will evolve and improve over the next 35 years, with a particular focus on the European outbound markets.

The panel will then be followed by the World Travel Leaders Awards (formerly the WTM Global Awards) to recognize those individuals and organizations that have contributed the most to the global travel and tourism industry over the lifetime of WTM. The 12 awards are shortlisted by WTM’s leading media partners, with the winners chosen by an elite judging panel comprising senior industry leaders.

Also during this year’s WTM event, Selling Travel Magazine (formerly known as Selling Long Haul) will host their annual Travel Agents Choice Award and this is when Mr. Mason will be receiving the award extended to the Falkland Islands for ‘Best Destination for Wildlife and Nature’.