PLETTENBERG BAY NEWS - It seems 11 is the charm for Plettenberg Bay after winning a World Travel Award this week.
The town has been nominated in the Africa's Leading Beach Destination category of this prestigious competition 11 times and has now finally won.
As part of this global initiative to recognise and reward excellence in travel and tourism, organisers conduct a year-long search for the world's best travel, tourism and hospitality destinations and brands.
Votes are then cast by travel industry professionals and the public, with the nominee gaining the most votes in a category named as the winner. Among the top contenders for this year's leading beach destination was Cape Town, but Plett's 20km of pristine coastline however edged the town into the top spot.
"We are honoured that our work and passion in promoting Plettenberg Bay has been recognised by the World Travel Awards, and we thank all of those who live in Plett and those who voted for us," said Plett Tourism's acting chief executive, Patty Butterworth, who added that it is no surprise that Plett has been continuously nominated for the award as the entire bay is a marine-protected area and one of the few scientifically identified "hope spots" in the world.
"For Plettenberg Bay it's not about just being Africa's leading beach destination. It is also about being recognised as a world-class tourism destination that recognises the importance of maintaining a careful balance between providing visitors with inspiring experiences they desire while preserving and maintaining our valuable natural assets.
"We encourage guests to respect the beautiful destination that many of us call home, to stay safe during their trip and 'leave no trace' by being mindful of our environment."
According to Graham Cooke, founder of the World Travel Awards, the 2020 programme received a record number of votes cast by the public.
"This shows that the appetite for travel and tourism has never been stronger and bodes well for the industry's future as the global recovery begins," he said.
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