top of page
Search
Chidozie Uzoezie

WTM Africa Announces Winners for Responsible Tourism Awards



The winners of the prestigious World Travel Market Africa (WTM Africa) Responsible Tourism Awards were announced at Africa Travel Week 2024 in Cape Town. Bangu Masisi of Transfrontier Parks Destinations revealed the honorees, celebrating businesses and initiatives that are making a positive impact through responsible tourism practices.


"These awards are integral to WTM Africa's responsible tourism programme, and spotlighting those that have truly made a difference is important for the encouragement of others to do the same," said Masisi.


Alderman James Vos opened the awards ceremony, congratulating the winners and emphasising the importance of sustainable business practices in the tourism industry. "When it comes to sustainable business practices, let's keep pushing those boundaries," said Vos.


The 2024 awards included six categories, with gold and silver winners presented with trophies created by Ngwenya Glass, five of eight global winners came from Africa in the Global Responsible Tourism Awards in 2023.


Harold Goodwin, WTM Africa's responsible tourism advisor and one of the judges, said, "Congratulations to the winners. I am also very excited about those acknowledged as 'ones to watch' in the awards. Those are often new ideas from new people, and it's very exciting to see these businesses come to the fore."


The winners of the World Travel Market Africa (WTMA) Responsible Tourism Awards 2024 are:


1.NATURE POSITIVE


Gold: Denis Private Island – Seychelles


Denis Private Island was recognised for its holistic approach to sustainable tourism, which prioritises the restoration and conservation of the island's natural habitats and wildlife. The eco-lodge's operations fund this work and are driven by the owners' deep commitment to the Seychelles' environmental heritage.


Silver: !Khwa ttu San Culture and Education Centre – South Africa


One to Watch: HBD Príncipe - São Tomé and Príncipe


One to Watch: Plett Ocean – South Africa

2. EMPLOYING AND UPSKILLING LOCAL COMMUNITIES


Gold: Grootbos Lodge & the Green Futures College – South Africa


The Grootbos Foundation won a Responsible Tourism Award for leveraging tourism to drive sustainable development.


Funded by the business and donors, the foundation has provided training to over 200 graduates, entrepreneurship support to nearly 1,000 individuals, and empowered female biodiversity stewards. These initiatives demonstrate the foundation's commitment to investing in local communities and conserving the unique fynbos ecosystem.


Silver: Save Wildlife - Uganda


One to Watch: Matoke Tours – Uganda


One to Watch HBD: Príncipe - São Tomé and Príncipe

3. MAKING TRAVEL INCLUSIVE


Gold: Warrior on Wheels Foundation – South Africa


Warrior on Wheels won a Responsible Tourism Award for its work providing empowering sport and adventure experiences for children with disabilities, changing perceptions and bridging gaps between able-bodied and differently-abled communities.


As a not-for-profit reliant on sponsorships and partnerships, Warrior on Wheels has hosted over 89 experiences for more than 100 families since its founding eight years ago.


One to Watch: Bontel Adventures – Kenya


4. INCREASING LOCAL SOURCING – CREATING SHARED VALUE


Gold: Okavango Gin


Okavango Gin won a Responsible Tourism Award for its sustainable and community-focused practices. The gin uses locally sourced ingredients, is distilled off-grid, and incorporates recycled materials - creating an authentic product that supports the local economy.


The company's innovative approach has driven 75% revenue growth and now employs six people directly, with additional jobs in the supply chain. The judges were impressed by how Okavango Gin captures the essence of the Okavango Delta while delivering a positive impact.


Silver: Muhabura Cultural Experience and Craft Centre – Uganda


5. WHAT ARE YOU DOING ABOUT CLIMATE CHANGE?


Gold: Ecodrop – Zimbabwe


Ecodrop won a Responsible Tourism Award for its innovative solution to eliminate single-use plastic bottles in Southern Africa's tourism sector.


Ecodrop provides reverse osmosis water dispensers and reusable bottles, removing over 72,000 plastic bottles at Victoria Falls in just ten months. The judges were impressed by Ecodrop's scalable, destination-level system that reduces waste and petroleum demand, showcasing the viability of this model in tackling plastic pollution in tourism.

Silver: Century City Conference Centre – South Africa


One to Watch: Sunsail and The Moorings


6. CHAMPIONING CULTURAL DIVERSITY


Gold: Trip to Help - Kenya & Tanzania


Trip to Help, a travel agency in East and North Africa, won a responsible tourism award for its sustainable and ethical practices. The company's mission is to "Travel Consciously, Sustainably and Fairly," offering experiences that benefit local communities.


Trip to Help ensures 80% of payments go directly to the local economy, and the people they work with earn a living wage. The company also supports over 3,000 children's access to free education, including English lessons, in Maasai areas, contributing to its industry recognition.


Silver: Traditional African Homestays - South Africa


One to Watch: Come Make We Go – Nigeria

One to Watch: Cultural Oneness Festival Ghana


The Gold winners in the WTM Africa Responsible Tourism Awards being presented here now are automatically entered into the Sabre Global Responsible Tourism Awards.

Comments


A4-print-explore the world with ethiopian-R-1022-compressed.jpg
SAT2.jpg
20241112_103529.jpg
SAA2.jpg
ATWMediaAwards_(1080pxX1080px)_(Nov2024)-01.jpg
300x300px.jpg

 Featured Posts 

Comments (33)

Guest
Sep 21, 2022

We just booked our QATAR 🇶🇦 HÔTEL yesterday for 2 différent short stars of 2 nights and 3 nights for the Final… https://www.14sb.com/fifa-world-cup-hotels.html . Not exactly cheap but ok price for 4.5 Stars luxury and in Doha Center City! Thanks and Good Luck everyone! Vamos MEXICO!

Like

Guest
Sep 30, 2022

Wow! Stunning! Hilton seems to be taking Africa by storm. Just a couple of years back, they opened the first ever in Eswatini.

Like

kasarokcaesar
Oct 24, 2022

Wonderful event and topics discussed, hopefully we see the manifestations in our African airline businesses in the nearest future. Kudos to you all.

Like

Guest
Nov 10, 2022

Hi, I'm Lucy. Please how do I embark on my travel/ tour business. I am newbie and help..

Like

Guest
Nov 18, 2022

Prices in the Sol Torremolinos Don Pablo are the same than two weeks ago.

Like

Guest
Dec 04, 2022

Good location astounding but the staffs are rude and they make me wait so long for the service. They charge me more than what is on the website and did not refund me the manager is not helping with the issue


Like

Guest
Dec 15, 2022

WoW. Amazing Review. 👍

Like

Guest
Jan 07, 2023

I spent the holidays here, I don't know why but during the holidays their reception smells like a piss Id rather not spend my special occasions here

Like
Guest
Aug 07, 2023
Replying to

Where is here.

Like

Guest
Jan 27, 2023

Thank you for sharing such a detailed review about ethiopian airlines in your post. I am an avid traveller and keep reading flight reviews to assess the options available. Your review particularly drew my attention because you have shared so many pictures to capture every aspect of the flight experience. It is a very nice effort.


More Info : https://www.cleartrip.ae/flight-booking/ethiopian-air-airlines.html

Like

Guest
Feb 27, 2023

I am really tempted to book the next ethiopian airlines ticket and relive your journey. The pictures shared with the post also reflect that you truly enjoyed the travel. Great post! I also like the fact that you have covered nuances about the food and entertainment service through the pictures. It helps people know what to expect on their travel by this airline.


More Info : https://www.cleartrip.ae/flight-booking/ethiopian-air-airlines.html


Like