Best African beach again?

PLETTENBERG BAY NEWS - Fresh off last year's win, Plettenberg Bay has set its sights on scoring a back-to-back victory as Africa's leading beach destination following the town's 12th nomination in the World Travel Awards this year.

The coastal holiday town won the category "Africa's leading beach destination" in this annual global travel and tourism competition last year after having being nominated 11 times. This year Plett was nominated once again.

"We are thrilled to have received another nomination - 12 years running and hot on the heels of our win last year," said Plett Tourism chief executive Patty Butterworth. "We encourage travel professionals, guests and those who live in Plett to vote."

This comes after a tough year in the tourism industry, especially for Plettenberg Bay which relies heavily on tourism to keep the economy going. According to statistics gathered by Plett Tourism, the industry had bled more than R670-million and more than a thousand jobs in just three months as a result of Covid-19 restrictions.

However, Butterworth said it was no surprise that Plett had been nominated again as the area is home to some of the "most beautiful beaches in South Africa".

"The town's 35km of picturesque Indian Ocean coastline features 15km of pristine, unspoilt sandy beaches. Throughout the year, beach enthusiasts of all ages soak up the sun and enjoy the many outdoor activities Plett is well known for."

Plett is also home to six beaches with Blue Flag status and has won several accolades and awards over the years.

The World Travel Awards were established in 1993 to acknowledge, reward and celebrate excellence across all sectors of the tourism industry. Today, the World Travel Awards brand is recognised globally as the ultimate hallmark of quality, with winners setting the benchmark to which all others aspire.

Each year, World Travel Awards covers the globe with a series of regional gala ceremonies staged to celebrate the achievements and strengths of the travel industry, within each key geographical region.