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SOUTH AFRICAN FINALISTS DOMINATE 2017 AFRICAN RESPONSIBLE TOURISM AWARDS

Winners will be selected in seven categories as well as the much-coveted ¡¥Overall Winner¡¦ on 20 April at the Cape Town International Convention Centre.

The time to crown the African continent's best responsible tourism institution is drawing near, as the finalists for the 2017 African Responsible Tourism Awards have been outlined ahead of Africa Travel Market.

A community-based camp located in remote Namibia, two backpackers and a mountain bike tour in the Greater Mapungubwe Transfrontier Area are among the organisations selected as finalists for the 2017 African Responsible Tourism Awards, sponsored by Wesgro and organised by Better Tourism Africa.

In 2016, Mara Naboisho Conservancy in Kenya was named the Overall Winner of the African Responsible Tourism Awards. 

A panel of 14 expert judges from across the industry shortlisted 14 organisations from across Africa, including Swaziland, Namibia, Botswana, Kenya and Mozambique as contenders for the top spots.

South Africa, too, is well-represented with a total of seven tourism authorities listed as finalists.

According to Heidi van der Watt, managing director of Better Tourism Africa, "this year¡¦s finalists are worthy examples of change makers who bravely use tourism to create positive change for Africa¡¦s people and environments. From a music festival in an unlikely destination, a hard-hitting documentary and cultural tours that tells the stories of the residents of a beach town ¡V the shortlist has a lot to say about where responsible tourism on the continent is, and where it is going next.¡¨ 

Tim Harris, CEO of Wesgro agrees, saying "These forward-thinking and innovative organisations are true examples of how we can take the tourism industry to new heights in a sustainable and attractive manner."

The finalists are:

  • African Impact, South Africa
  • All Out Africa, Swaziland
  • Blood LionsTM, South Africa
  • Coffee Shack Backpackers, South Africa
  • Wilderness Safaris Damaraland Camp, Namibia
  • Ilha Blue Island Safaris, Mozambique
  • Isibindi Africa Lodges, South Africa
  • Maboneng Township Arts Experience, South Africa
  • MTN Bushfire, Swaziland
  • Serena Hotels, Kenya
  • Nedbank Tour de Tuli, Botswana, Zimbabwe and South Africa
  • Uthando, South Africa
  • Wildlife ACT, South Africa
  • The Backpack, South Africa
The African Responsible Tourism Awards are part of the responsible tourism programme at WTM Africa.

The responsible tourism programme includes three-panel discussions on market access for small businesses, responsible tourism and the sustainable development goals and the cultures and heritages of Africa, as well as a social media challenge for digital influencers, the media and travel trade.

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