Published on : Wednesday, May 30, 2018
There is an urgent call for KZN businesses in the tourism sector to take part. The province has much to offer and taking part in the awards will allow the province to be projected on the national and global stage.
Famous for its tourism offering that ranges from the majestic Drakensberg Mountains to the beautiful beaches along the Indian Ocean, KZN also boasts of a kaleidoscope of cultures and people.
Tourism plays a vital role in the economy of KZN, with the conference and events sector boasting of excellent facilities. The recent annual Africa Tourism Indaba is a testament to the region’s world-class facilities.
In 2017, the awards attracted a record number of 1 649 entries, which saw an increase of 40% from 2016’s figure of 1122.
In 2017, there were 218 entrants from KZN, with 140 entrants in 2016, marking a steady increase.
Acting CEO for Tourism KwaZulu-Natal, Phindile Makwakwa said, “The awards give local individuals and business the opportunity to showcase the ‘best of the best’ that KwaZulu-Natal has to offer. The increase of entries, shows, not only the maturity of our tourism industry, but also helps to grow visitor confidence for the destination. It encourages all tourism players to up their game in service levels and delivery. When a destination has a good reputation about their service, more visitors tend to flock because of the customer confidence that they will get value for money.”
Tourism contributes eight percent to the gross domestic product, employing 6.5 percent of the country’s work force.
Tags: Lilizela Tourism Awards