For the third year, Jämtland Härjedalen Tourism, with Etour as co-host, organised the so-called Tourism Day with the presentation of the award for Tourism Entrepreneur of the Year in connection with the dinner. It is a day to highlight the tourism industry and its importance to Jämtland Härjedalen.
This year, Tourism Day was held at Copperhill Mountain Lodge because Åre Destination received the award for Entrepreneur of the Year 2022.
Under middagen klev vd Teres Gärdin fram och läste motiveringen till årets Turismföretagare 2023 och utropade Geopark Indalsälven som vinnare. En hållbar utveckling och vara en hållbar attraktion var några av anledningen som lästes upp i motiveringen och varför priset hamnade i Ragunda.
”Many destinations want to contribute to sustainable development and be a sustainable attraction that supports nature conservation, increases knowledge, and brings people together. In short, to act as a unifying force. This year's tourism entrepreneur does all of this while supporting research and education, and inspiring wonder and humility for the Earth's long history.
This year's Tourism Entrepreneurs of the Year is Geopark Indalsälven.”
Geopark Indalsälven is SWEDEN'S SECOND NATIONAL GEOPARK
Along the Indalsälven river through Ragunda, there are rocks and landforms that can practically demonstrate parts of the Earth's geological development. Some locations have even led to scientific breakthroughs in understanding how certain magmatic rocks are formed, as well as how the most recent inland ice melted in the Nordic region. According to SGU (Sweden's Geological Survey), the area has everything it takes to generate interest in geology and is therefore a perfect area to earn the epithet National Geopark. Geopark Indalsälven was inaugurated on 17 June 2023.
CANDIDATE FOR THE GRAND TOURISM PRIZE 2024
A delighted Peter Ladan from Geopark Indalsälven received the award on the evening from Teres Gärdin from JHT and Robert Pettersson from Etour, via Robert Falk from Ragunda Municipality. The awards consist of a plaque to be placed in the best possible spot, a cheque for various research efforts from Etour, and a grant for further efforts to enhance staff competence from JHT, while the award recipient is now the region's candidate for the national ”Grand Tourism Prize”next year, 2024.
CRITERIA FOR TOURISM BUSINESS OF THE YEAR
The prize shall be awarded to a company/organisation within the tourism industry that, with the support of clear sustainability work (economic, social and ecological), has achieved significant market success and/or taken other decisive steps in its development work.
The company/organisation must also be responsible (embrace multi-value), profitable, and work towards the development of the destination in which they operate.
NEW PRICES FROM AND INCLUDING YEAR
This year, JHT has chosen to introduce two new awards as part of its ongoing efforts to celebrate destinations and entrepreneurs within the tourism industry in Jämtland Härjedalen. The first award has been named “Jämtland Härjedalen Tourism's Honorary Award” Which is awarded to a person, company or organisation that has been operating for a longer period and made a difference to the tourism industry nationally, regionally or locally. The other new award is “”Tourism Personality of the Year Jämtland Härjedalen" and honours someone working in the tourism industry with a heart rooted in Jämtland Härjedalen. These awards were also presented during the dinner.
Winner Jämtland Härjedalen Tourism Honorary Prize Andrea Wiktorsson, Storsjöyran
Winner of Tourism Personality of the Year Jämtland Härjedalen: Sofie Werner, Strövtåg
