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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