Northern Experience Wildlife Tours - Leading The Wild Pack

A groundbreaking Northumberland wildlife tour company has had its commitment to the environment honoured with a prestigious national award following its first assessment.

Northern Experience Wildlife Tours (NEWT) has been given the highest possible grading by the Green Tourism Business Scheme (GTBS), making the Scotland Gate based company the only Wildlife Tour Operator in England to hold a GTBS GOLD Award for its commitment to sustainable tourism and the environment.

NEWT owner Martin Kitching said “it’s a great honour to achieve a GOLD Award from GTBS, which is the only certification scheme for tourism in the UK to be endorsed by VisitEngland, VisitScotland and VisitWales. As well as minimising our impact on the environment as far as possible we contribute to conservation research, with our offshore trips in search of whales, dolphins and seabirds generating data that has been used in the Marine Conservation Zones project, and our regular safari trips throughout Northumberland contributing records of our land-based wildlife.”

Wendy Fail, GTBS Grading Assessor said "Northern Experience Wildlife Tours is an excellent example of how a small business can become more sustainable. Martin is extremely enthusiastic and knowledgeable; this passion is infectious and is clearly displayed through his business ethic. His efforts have been rewarded with a GOLD Green Tourism Award, which is a fantastic achievement for an entry level business".

Martin will be one of the speakers at a Sustainable Tourism event for local businesses in Berwick Town Hall on March 6th, where he will describe the contribution that nature-based tourism can make to the sustainability of Northumberland’s tourism industry. As Martin explained “tourism is a vital contributor to the economy of Northumberland, and the sustainability of the environment and the sustainability of our local tourism industry go hand in hand.”

For more information about Northern Experience Wildlife Tours, visit www.newtltd.co.uk or call Martin or Sarah on 01670 827465.