LILIZELA TOURISM AWARDS - PROVINCIAL

The Eastern Cape Parks and Tourism Agency (ECPTA) announced the names of the Lilizela Tourism Awards provincial winners at a glittering awards ceremony held on Tuesday, 09 September 2014.

The Lilizela Tourism Awards were launched by National Tourism Minister, Marthinus van Schalkwyk, at INDABA 2013 in May and aim to identify and reward tourism businesses who work passionately and with pride to help enhance South Africa’s global destination competitiveness. They are an initiative of the National Department of Tourism (NDT) and managed and delivered by the Tourism Grading Council of South Africa (TGCSA), the only official and formal quality assurance body and a business unit of South African Tourism.

“The improved standard of entries received for the second Lilizela Tourism Awards is an indication of the strides that had been made by the tourism industry. They are an indication of the innovation, growth and motivation that is clearly prevalent products in the Adventure Province. The provincial winners this year has set the bar very high and from here on we can only get better,” said Vuyani Dayimani, Chief Executive Officer of the Eastern Cape Parks and Tourism Agency.

“I am extremely proud to be part of the Eastern Cape team that has consistently delivered on such a world class event. The rest of the provinces now have an interesting challenge to keep or improve on the high standard set by Eastern Cape. I look forward to more entrants in this prestigious awards programme next year and to engaging with all the Eastern Cape product owners again,” said Thembi Kunene, interim Chairperson of the Lilizela Tourism Awards.

The Lilizela Tourism Awards is an important platform to celebrate tourism businesses and, in the case of the service excellence category, offer the public an opportunity to cast their vote for the establishment that offers excellence beyond the ordinary.

The event was attended by leaders in the tourism industry including product owners and the MEC for the Department of Economic Development, Environmental Affairs and Tourism.

Present to deliver the keynote address was the Deputy Minister Ms Tokozile Xasa. She urged the province to strive for number one position in the tourism market as they have the best tourist offering in the whole of South Africa.

The national Lilizela winners from each category will be selected from the pool of all nine provincial winners and announced at the inaugural national award ceremony taking place on the 9th of October 2014 in Tshwane. 

The provincial winners excluding the Lilizela Imvelo Tourism Award and the Ministers Awards which will be announced at the national event across all the categories as selected by independent judges are attached.