Finalists for the 2017 African Responsible Tourism Awards announced

Following a Judging Day in Johannesburg on 7 April, the panel of 14 expert judges from across the industry shortlisted 13 organisations from across Africa. The finalists are:

• African Impact @African_Impact
• All Out Africa @alloutafrica
• Blood Lions^TM @Blood_Lions
• Coffee Shack Backpackers @CoffeeShackBP
• Wilderness Safaris Damaraland Camp @WeAreWilderness
• Ilha Blue Island Safaris @ilhablue.islandsafaris
• Isibindi Africa Lodges @IsibindiAfrica
• Maboneng Township Arts Experience @MabonengArts
• MTN Bushfire @bushfirefest
• Serena Hotels @serenahotels
• Nedbank Tour de Tuli @WeAreWilderness
• Uthando @UthandoSouthAfr
• Wildlife ACT @wildlifeact

The 2017 African Responsible Tourism Awards winners will be announced during WTM Africa at an awards ceremony to be held on Thursday 20 April 2017 at 16.30 at the Cape Town International Convention Centre, Cape Town, South Africa. A celebratory function will follow the ceremony. Winners will be available on the WTM Responsible Tourism Stand (W54) from 10.30 – 11.30 on Friday 21 April 2017 for media interviews.

“This year’s finalists are worthy examples of change makers who bravely use tourism to create positive change for Africa’s people and environments,” commented Heidi van der Watt, managing director of Better Tourism Africa. “From a music festival in an unlikely destination, a hard-hitting documentary and cultural tours that tells the stories of the residents of a beach town  – the shortlist has a lot to say about where responsible tourism on the continent is, and where it is going next.”

The African Responsible Tourism Awards are part of the responsible tourism programme at WTM Africa. The responsible tourism programme includes three panel discussions on market access for small businesses,  responsible tourism and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and the cultures and heritages of Africa, as well as a social media challenge for digital influencers, the media and travel trade. The WTM Responsible Tourism Stand will host past winners of the World and African Responsible Tourism Awards.