Tsitsikamma Canopy Tours was not only voted best visitor experience of the year in the action and adventure category, but also trumped the competition for top honours for best practice: economic impact and the BBEEE categories.
These awards recognise and reward tourism players and businesses who work “passionately and with pride” to deliver a world-class product and service and whose delivery grows South Africa’s global destination competitiveness.
Chief executive Ashley Wentworth said the recognition was the culmination of 16 years of dedication by his team.
“Sixteen years of dedication to responsible tourism by the team and managing director Anneline Wyatt has culminated in these fantastic accolades,” Wentworth said.
He added the operating company was now 48% employee-owned endorsing the company’s commitment to transformation.
“The company will continue to champion the principles of responsible tourism under the strong leadership Wyatt and her dedicated team.”
The awards ceremony was held at the Sandton Convention Centre in Johannesburg on Friday, October 23 and was hosted by Minister of Tourism Derek Hanekom.
The awards, which was established in 2013, firstly honours establishments on a provincial level and then the national winners are selected from a shortlist compiled of provincial winners.
The awards have grown substantially since its inception and this year saw more than 1 100 entries across the various categories.
During the country-wide provincial awards, 219 tourism product owners and service providers in the industry were recognised and rewarded for their contribution to service excellence in tourism and upholding the promise of quality assurance.
Hanekom congratulated those who worked in this ever-growing industry in and commended them for contributing to the transformation and growth of tourism.
South African Tourism chief executiveThulani Nzima also congratulated the finalists and winners.
“The contribution of tourism businesses nominated for the Lilizela Tourism Awards keeps the sector on an upward trend. We congratulate all the winners and hope they will continue to serve as tourism ambassadors by continuing to showcase the best of our country to the world as tourism continues to be one of the fastest growing sectors,” Nzima said.
ARTICLE: YOLANDE STANDER, KNYSNA-PLETT HERALD - CORRESPONDENT
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