MEC Desbo Mohono on Lilizela awards | South African Government

21 Sep 2015

North West Honors Tourism product owners through Lilizela awards

North West MEC for Tourism Desbo Mohono has called on those in charge of marketing the province to also elevate the warm hearted people of the province and their rich heritage. MEC Mohono said this during the glittering Lilizela awards ceremony held at the Rio Hotel Casino Resort in Klerksdorp on Friday.

According to MEC Mohono the country has since 2010, been putting more focus on marketing its infrastructure and not saying anything more about its people, the rich culture and Heritage. She said the Lilizela awards are a new platform and the beginning of selling Tourism by the people for the people. She said that the awards should also be seen as celebrating tourism product owner’s efforts, sacrifice, their ambassadorship, their will and sheer drive of making sure that Tourism in the North West is noticed and is taken to greater heights at all costs.

“In Tourism we say our strength is in our Tourism Product Owners, from Tour Guides, Artists, Rangers, Hoteliers, Chefs, Marketers, Crafters, Operators and everybody else who continue to contribute immensely to this morose Industry. We salute and give kudus to you all in helping us to realize the dream of “A re yeng Bokone Bophirima” as a destination of choice,” said the elated Mohono.

Lengau Tours from Bojanala stole the night when they were honored and awarded the MEC’s Lilizela awards for its contribution in the tourism industry and its social corporate responsibilities. The Owner Lester Ntsabo accepted the award with great excitement. He attributed his success to his company’s corporate social responsibility to communities. “We always have community’s interests at heart and this award is an encouragement to the company to continue to make a difference in the lives of ordinary people in our communities,” said Ntsabo. Meanwhile the Tour operator category was scooped by Kay 2ze Gee Tours. The company operates from Brits, Zeerust, Tlokwe with its regional offices in Botswana capital Gaborone.

Encouraging those making a mark in the Tourism industry, the CEO of Tourism South Africa Mr Thulani Nzima, advised them to work closely with government and further contribute positively in the industry within the province. He said that through the Lilizela awards government wants to make sure that product owners are encouraged further reassured that government recognizes their undying efforts in raising the bar within tourism in the province. He said that the will surely represent the province very well during the national awards.

The Lilizela Tourism Awards serve as platform for the department to assure that the Tourism and Hospitality industry continuous support and also celebrate excellence beyond the ordinary by these establishments in the province. The awards recognize and reward tourism players and businesses who work passionately with pride to deliver world class products and services whose delivery grows South Africa’s global destination competitiveness.

North West Winners of the 2015 Provincial Lilizela Awards are as follows:

Accommodation: