Best tourism projects in Flanders announced

On Tuesday Toerisme Vlaanderen (Flanders Tourism) announced the winners of its 2014 Toerisme Vlaanderen awards. Notable winners included the Ghent Design Museum and the Botel cargo ship in Ophoven, Limburg province.

Each year Toerisme Vlaanderen seeks out inspiring tourism projects, products and people in Flanders. The best entries receive an award. In 2014, the organisation received 138 entries which were divided into seven categories.

The 2014 award for Best Innovative Tourism Product went to the Backstay Hostel in Ghent. This is a brand new youth hostel in the former building of newspaper Dagblad Vooruit. The judges deemed the concept of the hostel ‘innovative’ and particularly strong in terms of digital communication.

The award for 'Best Socially Responsible Tourist Entrepreneur’ goes to Botel in Ophoven. This cargo ship has been converted into a luxury residence with spa, meeting room and guest cabins. Furthermore, it is wheelchair accessible and organises tours with electric boats, cooking workshops, and more. Its innovative and workable mix of sustainability and corporate social responsibility earned it a prize.

The Ghent Design Museum was awarded the prize for Best Tourism Marketing Campaign for its exhibition 'Out to Sea? The plastic garbage project'.