Following a rigorous evaluation process by the Africa Tourism Leadership Awards (ATLA) adjudication committee, the finalists for the 2019 Awards have been announced.
The committee was co-chaired by Judy Kepher-Gona, Executive Director at Kenya’s Sustainable Travel & Tourism Agenda, and Marina Novelli, Professor of Tourism and International Development and Responsible Futures’ Academic Lead at the University of Brighton, UK.
The awards’ ceremony will bring together thought leaders and other industry stakeholders of the African travel and tourism sector at the close of the 2019 Africa Tourism Leadership Forum scheduled for 27-29 August, and to be held under the theme, “Stimulating intra-Africa travel through thought leadership.”
Categories for the African Tourism Leadership Awards included:
• Leading in Progressive Policies’ Award
• Outstanding Entrepreneurship Award
• Women in Leadership Award
• Most Innovative Business Tourism Destination Award
• Outstanding Accommodation Facility / Group Award
• Outstanding Tourism Transportation Award
• Outstanding Africa Tourism Media & Marketing Award
• Championing Sustainability Award
• Destination Africa – Lifetime Award
Announcing the finalists, Judy Kepher Gona said, “The African tourism sector is growing with many new entrants offering competitive tourism products. It was quite a task for the evaluation team to reduce the over nominees to 24 finalists. We are however confident that we have managed to identify the individuals and enterprises who are doing excellent work in the sector.”
The list of finalists in, no particular order, are as follows:
Leading in progressive Policies
Botswana Ministry responsible for Tourism
Rwanda Tourism Development Board
Ghana Tourism Authority
Outstanding Entrepreneurship Award
CAM Consulting Group – South Africa
WeMove Technologies Ltd – Nigeria
Wojo Ghana – Ghana
Women in Leadership
Elcia Grandcourt – Seychelles
Francine Zana – South Africa
Belise Kariza – Rwanda
Innovative Business Tourism Destination
Cape Town
Ghana
Kigali
Outstanding Accommodation
Mantis Collection – South Africa
Azalai Hotel Group – Mali
Wilderness Safaris – Botswana
Outstanding Tourism Transportation
Ethiopian Airways
Fly Mango
Avis South Africa
Outstanding Africa Tourism Media
Rainmaker Digital – Namibia and South Africa
Voyages Afriq – Ghana
Pen It Multi Media Limited – Nigeria
Championing Sustainability
Africa Wildlife Foundation (AWF) – Kenya
African Parks – South Africa
Mantis Collection – South Africa
According to Professor Novelli, the Awards recognise innovators and game-changers in Africa’s travel and tourism sector. “Particular attention and recognition is given to nominees who have shown commitment to leadership through sustainability and innovation in tourism practices,” she says.
“ATLA is the only Pan-African travel and tourism awards that seek to recognise these key attributes. It focuses on change-making pioneered by Africans, in Africa and for Africans. Winners will be announced at the awards’ night, an ultimate and must-attend Pan-African travel and tourism networking gathering.
