The 12 finalists were selected by an international team of independent judges in each of the four award categories for having successfully demonstrated sustainable tourism practices, including the protection of natural and cultural heritage, social and economic benefits to local people, and environmentally friendly operations.

The 2010 finalists in each category are:

Destination Stewardship Award

• Botswana Tourism Board (www.botswanatourism.co.bw);
• Country of Montenegro, Ministry of Tourism (www.montenegro.travel);
• Mount Huangshan Scenic Site, China (www.chinahuangshan.gov.cn);

Conservation Award

• Emirates Hotels & Resorts, UAE (www.emirateshotelsresorts.com);
• Inkaterra Peru SAC (www.inkaterra.com);
• Singita Grumeti Reserves, Tanzania (www.singita.com);

Community Benefit Award

• Namibia’s Communal Conservancy Tourism Sector / NACSO (www.nacso.org.na);
• Tourindia, India (www.tourindiakerala.com);
• Whale Watch Kaikoura Ltd, New Zealand (www.whalewatch.co.nz);

Global Tourism Business Award

• Accor, France & Global (www.accor.com);
• Banyan Tree Holdings, Singapore & Global (www.banyantree.com);
• Wilderness Safaris, South Africa & Global (www.wilderness-safaris.com).

The winners will be announced in May.

The Tourism for Tomorrow Awards was set up in 1989 by the Federation of Tour Operators to encourage action from all sectors of the industry to protect the environment. WTTC took over the Awards in 2004. Awarded annually, they recognize and promote the world's leading examples of best practice in responsible tourism development.

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“Given that we’re 17th in air arrivals in the Caribbean right now, that’s not a bad result,” said Tom McCallum, Cayman Islands tourism association member.

Those surveyed had an average household income of $211,000 and the average age was 47.7 years. Other information gathered from the survey showed about half of the Caribbean traveler audience has visited the Cayman Islands at some point; one third of them in the past five years.

While the Cayman Islands are known to nearly all Caribbean travelers, 51 per cent have never been to the Cayman Islands and 43 per cent feel extremely or very familiar with the Cayman Islands. 26 percent indicated that they definitely or probably will visit the Cayman Islands in the next two years – of those 20 percent had previously visited.

Those intending to come, want it to be safe, friendly welcoming and a country of integrity, with good roads. “So we need to get the message out that it’s safe here, welcoming, easy to get around,” said Ms Christian. Those likely to return to the Cayman Islands tend to prefer more developed economies while those unlikely to return are less committed to developed island economies.

The study showed that adventure travel appeals to a large number of individuals, but not the majority. Influencers on travel decisions include: friends; hotel and resort websites; travel advisory sites and magazines.

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Compared to the first quarter of 2008, divers from Germany accounted for the biggest increase (131 percent), followed by dive tourists from Korean (up by 104 percent), the US (up 37 percent), Japan (up 34 percent) and China (up 31 percent). Gross receipts from dive tourism posted an upsurge of 52.8 percent.

However, the situation may change in the future since price increases are in the works. Joseph Ace Durano, Department of Tourism secretary, urged the local governments and diving shop operators to put premium rates on diving fees “… as this kind of potential tourist-drawer product has been under-valued.”

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