BA award for Togean

JAKARTA (JP): The Togean Ecotourism Network in Central Sulawesi has been distinguished in the 1998 British Airways Tourism for Tomorrow Awards, global honors which recognize an environmentally and culturally sensitive approach to tourism.

British Airways (BA) said in a statement on Monday that the Togean Ecotourism Network was "highly commended" for the Pacific region against more than 120 projects from 43 countries.

Togean Ecotourism was honored for its efforts to enhance and improve the quality of life of local communities through conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity in Togean Islands, Central Sulawesi.

It is the first Indonesian project honored since the awards were first introduced in 1992 in an attempt to encourage the tourist industry to protect the environment.

Togean is a picturesque archipelago of seven primary islands within the Indo-Pacific coral triangle in Central Sulawesi. The islands are considered a world class scuba diving destination due to the combination of unique coral reefs, warm crystal clear waters and superb fauna. (gis)