Wesgro to sponsor 2016 African Responsible Tourism Awards

Winners of the 2016 African Responsible Tourism Awards, a part of the World Responsible Tourism Awards, will be announced in Cape Town at the CTICC during Africa Travel Week 2016. The African Responsible Tourism Awards are organised by Better Tourism Africa, with support from Responsible Travel and hosted by World Travel Market Africa (WTM Africa).

The World Responsible Tourism Awards recognises achievement and innovation in responsible tourism. In 2015 the awards, founded by Responsible Travel, celebrated 12 years at WTM London. Twelve tourism businesses from Africa were gold and silver winners in the 2015 World Responsible Tourism Awards - several of these were category winners in the 2015 African round.

Hard work and commitment

Wesgro chief marketing officer, Judy Lain, congratulated Gansbaai for winning the award for the Best Destination at the 2015 Responsible Tourism Awards. "Awards like these are achieved as a result of hard work, a common vision and the commitment undertaken by all industry role players in Gansbaai to develop tourism in a sustainable manner. It is also important that we congratulate Bushmans Kloof and Grootbos who took silver in their respective categories."

"As WTM Africa grows and develops as Africa's leading travel and tourism event we are so encouraged by the incremental interest shown in the importance of responsible tourism," Carol Weaving, managing director for Thebe Reed Exhibitions, organiser of WTM Africa, said. "It is integral to the success of tourism on the continent. All stakeholders have a duty to ensure education, sustainability and authenticity when promoting the unique experiences that Africa has to offer."

Justin Francis, managing director of Responsible Travel, said the success of African businesses at the recent World Responsible Tourism Awards shows there is real energy around responsible tourism across Africa. "With the launch of the second African Responsible Tourism Awards, we're excited to uncover more businesses which are changing the face of African tourism; the passionate individuals and organisations who by caring for communities and conservation are creating better places to live as well as better places to visit."

Encourage entries

Heidi van der Watt of Better Tourism Africa, the organisers and founders of the African Responsible Tourism Awards, said watching one after the other winner from Africa taking the stage at the 2015 World Responsible Tourism Awards was exhilarating. "A full 16 countries, covering Africa from north-south and east-west, were represented in the 2015 African Responsible Tourism Awards.

"In 2016, we hope to extend the reach of the African Responsible Tourism Awards into all countries in Africa. We encourage our partners on the continent to help encourage entries - help us showcase to the world the vast array of African tourism business following the beat of a different drum."

Entries for the 2016 African Responsible Tourism Awards opened on Thursday 3 December 2015, and can be made on the awards website until 15 January 2016.