A community of tourism businesses working together to make better places to live in and great places to visit was announced Overall Winners this afternoon at the African Responsible Tourism Awards 2015 in Cape Town, sponsored by Wesgro.
In a special ceremony at World Travel Market Africa, Gansbaai took the coveted position of Overall Winner from of a selection of 22 finalists gathered from around Africa.

“It is exciting to bring the Word Responsible Tourism Awards family of the Awards to Cape Town & Africa” says Harold Goodwin, Chair of the Judging Panel. “There are many world class winners being announced today. Since 2004 African businesses from 14 countries have won awards, 20% of the Awards winners have been from Africa, 20% of all of those awarded. “

Speaking before a packed audience of over 100 tourism professionals, media, ministers and officials, Heidi van der Watt, managing director of Better Tourism Africa pinpointed what makes the Award winners the leaders in responsible tourism in Africa:

“Our winners have a vision that extends beyond the commercial – linking business success with the wellbeing of local communities and the longevity of their environments. They want to make profits with principles, communicate balance sheets alongside beliefs, and won't undermine passion in the pursuit of professionalism. They are resilient, determined, humanising advocates for their destinations. They are the future of tourism in Africa.”

1. Overall Winner - sponsored by Wesgro

Gansbaai www.gansbaaiinfo.com  @GansbaaiTourism

Contact:  Brenda du Toit, Brenda1dutoit@gmail.com

 

2. Best for Beach Tourism - supported by BulkSMS and Shark Spotters

Gold Winner:

Chumbe Island Coral Park www.chumbeisland.com  @ChumbeIsland

Contact: Kevin Macdonald, chumbe@zitec.org

 

Silver Winner: Nuarro Lodge @Nuarro

Contact: Kim Rossi, reservations@nuarro.com, www.nuarro.com/en/

3. Best Blog for Responsible Tourism - sponsored by Cape Town Tourism

Gold Winner:  The Good Holiday http://thegoodholiday.com/

Contact:  Dee Lourens, dee@thegoodholiday.com  @the_goodholiday

 

Silver winner: My Slow Journey http://myslowjourney.com/

Contact:  Katarina Mancama, k.mancama@gmail.com,  @KatarinaMancama

4. Best Destination for Responsible Tourism, sponsored by the V&A Waterfront

Gold Winner: Gansbaai  www.gansbaaiinfo.com  @GansbaaiTourism

 

Contact:  Brenda du Toit, Brenda1dutoit@gmail.com

Silver Winners:

• Bigodo Wetlands Sanctuary http://www.bigodi-tourism.org/6601.html

Contact:  Tinka John, tinkabigodi@gmail.com

• Cape Town www.responsiblecapetown.co.za @RespCPT

Contact:  Nombulelo Mkefa, nombulelo.mkefa@capetown.gov.za

5. Best for engaging people and cultures, sponsored by Gauteng Tourism Authority

Gold Winner: Coffeebeans Routes, Cape Town, South Africa  http://coffeebeansroutes.com/ @coffeebeansrout

Contact:  Iain Harris, iain@coffeebeansroutes.com,

 

Silver Winners: 

• !Khwa ttu San Culture and Education Centre @KhwattuSan

Contact:  Michael Daiber, michael@khwattu.org, www.khwattu.org

• Nkwichi Lodge @nkwichi

         Contact:  Kim Rossi, info@nkwichi.com, www.nkwichi.com

• TFPD Foundation, for the work done at Baleni Camp @TFPD_SA

         Contact:  Eleanor Muller, Eleanor@tfpd.co.za, www.africanivoryroute.co.za

6. Best for Poverty Reduction, sponsored by Marine Dynamics

Joint Gold Winner:

Grootbos Private Nature Reserve in partnership with the Grootbos Foundation www.grootbosfoundation.org @GrootbosNGOZA

Contact:  Julie Cheetham, julie@grootbosfoundation.org

Transfrontier Parks Destinations www.tfpd.co.za @TFPD_SA

Contact:  Eleanor Muller, Eleanor@tfpd.co.za

 

Silver Winner:

Stormsriver Adventures www.stormsriver.com @Tsitsikamma

Contact:  Anneline Wyatt, anneline@stormsriver.com

7. Best for resource management, supported by the National Cleaner Production Centre of South Africa

Gold Winner: Chobe Game Lodge, Botswana www.chobegamelodge.co.bw @chobegamelodge

Contact:   Johan Bruwer, johan.bruwer@chobegamelodge.co.bw

 

Silver Winners:

• Hoanib Skeleton Coast Camp www.wilderness-safaris.com @WeAreWilderness

Contact:  Sue van Winsen, SueW@wilderness-safaris.com

 

• Sandele Eco-Retreat and Learning Centre www.sandele.com

Contact:  Maurice Phillips, maurice@sandele.com

• Table Mountain Aerial Cableway Company www.tablemountain.net @TableMountainCa

Contact:  Collette van Aswegen, collette@tablemountain.net

• Vineyard Hotel www.vineyard.co.za @Vineyard_Hotel

Contact:  Chris van Zyl, hotel@vineyard.co.za

8. Best for Wildlife Conservation, sponsored by South African National Parks

Gold Winner: Marine Dynamics, South Africa  www.sharkwatchsa.com @Marine_Dynamics

Contact:  Brenda du Toit,  apss@dict.org.za

 

• andBeyond's Rhinos Without Borders www.andbeyond.com/conservation-community/rhinos-without-borders.htm

Contact:  Valeri Mouton,  valeri.mouton@andbeyond.com

• Bartholomeus Klip Farmhouse www.bartholomeusklip.com

Contact:  Lesley Gillett, bartholomeus@icon.co.za

Notes to editors

High resolution jpg images of logos and interviews available upon request.

About the awards

For more information on the African Responsible Tourism Awards visit www.africanresponsibletourismawards.com

The African Responsible Tourism Awards celebrate the most inspiring stories in responsible tourism on the African continent and showcase tourism organisations which are, actively and demonstrably, taking responsibility for making tourism stronger. The first African Responsible Tourism Awards is a regional programme, which with the Irish Responsible Tourism Awards form part of the World Responsible Tourism Awards family. The World Responsible Tourism Awards, founded in 2004 by Responsible Travel and now in their 12th year are presented at WTM in London on World Responsible Tourism Day.

The awards are organised by Better Tourism Africa (formerly International Center for Responsible Tourism - South Africa), in partnership with Responsible Travel.

The awards ceremony is hosted by World Travel Market Africa. Winners in the African awards will automatically qualify for the World Responsible Tourism Awards.

Note to editors

For media enquires information contact:

Better Tourism Africa

Jacques Maritz

Email: Jmps@worldonline.co.za

Tel: +27 (0)83 389 2523

Website: www.africanresponsibletourismawards.com

About Better Tourism Africa

Better Tourism Africa - a non-profit company established in 2006 - works alongside government, the private sector and communities in Africa to implement the objectives of Responsible Tourism as described in the Cape Town Declaration. We believe tourism should be harnessed to create better places for people to live and to visit. Our work includes advocacy, training and capacity-building, research and technical advisory services.  For more information, visit www.bettertourismafrica.org

About Wesgro

The Western Cape is a region of unlimited potential, and this translates into unlimited opportunity. Whether you're interested in travel, business or export, Cape Town and the Western Cape has something for you. Let Wesgro, the official tourism, trade and investment promotion agency for Cape Town and the Western Cape, help you uncover the opportunities. For more information, visit www.wesgro.co.za

About World Travel Market Africa

World Travel Market Africa is a must attend business-to-business travel and tourism event, that in 2014, boasted 370 exhibitors, 476 Buyers, 2132 trade visitors and attracted over 3091 industry professionals from over 60 countries around the world. www.wtmafrica.com   

World Travel Market Africa is part of Reed Travel Exhibition's WTM portfolio, which also includes World Travel Market, World Travel Market Latin America and Arabian Travel Market.  www.wtmworld.com 

About Responsible Travel:

Responsible Travel is the world's leading market place for small and tailor-made tour operators, all screened for their commitment to responsible tourism.

Responsible Travel connects these operators with people looking for real & authentic holidays.  Starting with just two tour operators in 2001, Responsible Travel has become the leading place to find tours from over 400 small and specialist tour companies in 197 countries. As tourism grows globally the opportunity for authentic experiences diminishes, and the impacts of tourism on places and local people (not always positive) grows. We've found the secret to authentic travel is treating local people and places responsibly.   

In addition, Responsible Travel

• campaigns for positive change in the travel and tourism industry.
• publishes an expanding collection of open, honest travel guides

CEO Justin Francis has been included in Courvoisier's The Future 500, Thames and Hudson's 60 Innovators Shaping Our Creative Future and taken his place on the Advisory Board of The International Centre for Responsible Tourism.