The very popular Northern Cape guide, Conraad Mouton, walked away with top honours in the tourist guide category of the annual Welcome Awards held at the Tourism Indaba in Durban.
Previously part of the opening ceremony, 2008 sees the awards come of age with their own stand and stand-alone ceremony. The accommodation category was won by Le Quartier Francias and the tour operator category by Arrive in Africa. The best on-line presentation of product was awarded to Cabana Beach Resort.
"This year's 156 percent increase bears testimony to the growing significance of these awards to the South African tourism industry," said Moeketsi Mosola, chief executive officer of SA Tourism.
The Welcome Awards are sponsored by First National Bank in conjunction with the Southern Africa Tourism Serivices Association (Satsa), the provincial tourism authorities, the Tourism Grading Council of South Africa and the department of environmental affairs and tourism. It is facilitated by South African Tourism.
