Entries are open for the one of the South African tourism industry’s most prestigious awards, the Lilizela Tourism Awards. Alan Winde, MEC of Finance, Economic Development and Tourism, said the Western Cape’s tourism sector scooped top honours at last year’s ceremony.
The province’s industry won 15 accolades at the 2013 awards ceremony. The winners included city-based entrepreneur, Citi Hopper, who was recognised for excellence in black-owned small businesses.
The National Department of Tourism has billed the Lilizela Awards as a “benchmark for excellence” in South Africa’s industry. Winners enjoy national publicity for their establishments and destinations.
This year’s focus areas include service excellence, entrepreneurship, sustainable development and the MEC’s Award.
Provincial winners will be selected at events across the county later this year and the national awards ceremony will follow in September.
MEC Winde encouraged local businesses to enter.
“This competition is a good measure because tourists are the ones voting. Great service is one of the key factors in repeat visits and the Western Cape’s establishments have set a high standard for service excellence. After a great showing last year, I wish our sector the best for this year’s awards. “
Annually, visitors spend more than R18 billion in the Western Cape. The region is expected to welcome over 3 million international arrivals over the next three years. MEC Winde said the tourism sector was a key economic driver and employer.
“The national industry contributes R189 billion to the country’s gross domestic product. In the Western Cape we aim to grow the tourism sector’s contribution to the region’s GDP from 10% to 15% by 2015. To ensure we reach this goal, we must embrace service excellence and continue to give potential visitors new reasons to travel to the province.”
Entries close on 30 May 2014. For more information on the competition and to enter visit the awards official website www.lilizela.co.za
For media queries, kindly contact:
Bronwynne Jooste
Spokesperson for MEC Alan Winde
Tel: 021 483 3550
Cell: 082 454 4365
E-mail: bronwynne.jooste@westerncape.gov.za
