Gansbaai, a community of tourism businesses working together to make better places to live in and great places to visit was announced as the 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 and 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."
The Awards were sponsored by the Wesgro. Tim Harris, Chief Executive Officer of Wesgro, who handed out the Awards, said: "As the proud headline sponsor of the inaugural African Responsible Tourism Awards, Wesgro is delighted to pay tribute to this year's inspirational winners. As the official Tourism, Trade and Investment Promotion agency for Cape Town and the Western Cape, we continue to show our commitment to responsible tourism development both in our province and on the African continent. We are pleased to recognise the vision of the Award winners for providing leadership in their respective sectors throughout Africa, and effectively contributing to growing tourism in a sustainable manner."
Overall Winner - sponsored by Wesgro: Gansbaai - www.gansbaaiinfo.com
Best for Beach Tourism - supported by BulkSMS and Shark Spotters
Gold Winner:
Chumbe Island Coral Park - www.chumbeisland.com
Judges' reasons for winning: "Chumbe was highly commended for water conservation in the World Responsible Tourism Awards in 2013 and they won the marine environment category in 2004. This time the judges wanted to recognise them for their careful review of progress to 2006 and the development of the new Management Plan 2006-2016. The judges saw this as an example of good practice and one which others should emulate."
Silver Winner: Nuarro Lodge
Best Blog for Responsible Tourism - sponsored by Cape Town Tourism
Gold Winner: The Good Holiday - thegoodholiday.com
Judges' reasons for winning: "The Good Holiday has authenticity, a real sense of care and a true desire to facilitate experiences that are beneficial to all it comes in contact with at the heart of stories told. Interactive and visually appealing, the blog inspires travellers to journey to African places with a unique cultural heritage, places that inspire people to consider a life seeking simple pleasures that tread lightly on the earth.
Silver winner: My Slow Journey
Best Destination for Responsible Tourism - sponsored by the V&A Waterfront
Gold Winner: Gansbaai - www.gansbaaiinfo.com
Judges' reasons for winning: "Since 1995 Gansbaai Tourism has worked to create awareness of and market the area as a tourism destination. The cluster of businesses in the area, some of them with international reputations, have worked together to develop an exemplary destination, a quality guest experience which has conserved fynbos and marine wildlife, created significant direct and indirect employment and they are now working together to quantify their environmental impacts.
Silver Winners:
Best for Engaging People and Cultures - sponsored by Gauteng Tourism Authority
Gold Winner: Coffeebeans Routes, Cape Town, South Africa - coffeebeansroutes.com
Judges' reasons for winning: "Setting an example that could be replicated in other destinations, Cape Town-based Coffeebeans Routes creates travel experiences around urban stories. These are contemporary, urban, African experiences that provide deep insights, and plenty of fun. The experiences bring visitors and locals together across boundaries. Unapologetic about the pushing social justice agenda, Coffeebeans Routes employs tourism as a tool to unlock economic potential and address societal inequalities through exploring cultural diversity and legacy."
Silver Winners:
Best for Poverty Reduction sponsored by Marine Dynamics
Judges' reasons for winning "Here we have two winners working at different scales - each in their own way using tourism as a vehicle for poverty reduction.
Grootbos is not a stranger to winning Responsible Tourism Awards. What stands out is the long history of interventions that amplify each other. The programmes of the Grootbos Foundation focus on improved livelihoods through self-reliance, development of viable enterprise development, gender balance and empowerment of women. Impacts are well quantified and information about projects easily accessible to the willing reader.
The scale and ambition of the Transfrontier Parks Destination's work is truly remarkable. To actively seek out failing tourism businesses in areas of very high unemployment is very admirable but to them turn them round into viable businesses again employing many locals on a living wage giving them long term stability and income displays true leadership."
Silver Winner: Stormsriver Adventures
Best for Resource Management - supported by the National Cleaner Production Centre of South Africa
Gold Winner: Chobe Game Lodge, Botswana www.chobegamelodge.co.bw
Judges' reasons for winning: "Chobe Game Lodge is over 40 years old, to refurbish an old structure the size of this lodge, making it more eco-friendly is a mammoth and on-going task. The lodge has a long term approach to energy efficiency with the ultimate aim of reducing dependency on the grid. The most noticeable innovation is the use of All Electric Game Drive Vehicles and Electric game viewing boats.
Silver Winners:
Best for Wildlife Conservation - sponsored by South African National Parks
Gold Winner: Marine Dynamics, South Africa - www.sharkwatchsa.com
Judges' reasons for winning: "Marine Dynamics provide very high quality shark cage diving experiences. They operate in a sector where there is rightly a lot of criticism of current practice. Marine Dynamics are industry leaders, a commercial operation which operates to the highest conservation standards, where every trip has a marine biologist aboard to provide interpretation and collect data for scientific research. An operator that makes a significant contribution to conservation and the local economy.
Silver Winner:
