Best of tourism industry players awarded

THE provincial Lilizela Tourism Awards ceremony was held at Hans Merensky Golf Estate in Phalaborwa last Wednesday. The event was part of the premier tourism awards programme for tourism businesses in the country, which aims to reward and celebrate excellence across the tourism industry.

Lilizela is a nguni word which means to ululate: a uniquely African way of congratulation when someone has done something well.

According to the acting CEO of the Limpopo Tourism Agency, Seipati Tlaka, the awards recognised and rewarded tourism players and businessed that worked passionately and with pride to deliver world class service and whose delivery grew South Africa’s global competitiveness as a destination.

“Testimonies received from tourism products and services that have previously participated in such highly contested national competitions and awards, suggest that the marketing exposure and mileage received has been very beneficial towards the various tourism products and services, hence our request to have more products participating in future competitions and awards,” said Tlaka.

The MEC for economic development, environment and tourism (Ledet), Seaparo Sekoati congratulated the winners and urged them to double their efforts so that they could win the national awards, which will take place later this year.

“We congratulate all tourism products and individuals that showed entrepreneurial courage by participating in these awards, and all the provincial winners who will proceed to the National Tourism Lilizela Awards, where they will compete with winners from other provinces,” said Sekoati.

Orion Makgoebaskloof Hotel scooped the best three-star hotel in the province award, Fusion Boutique Hotel won the best five- star hotel title, Jack Safari Lodge was awarded the best five-star lodge, while Forever Resort Blyde Canyon Chalets was announced as the best three-star self-catering shared vacation.

Limpopo Guest Manor won the provincial Emerging Tourism Entrepreneur of the Year Award (Eteya).

Mpho Setlhako won the tourist guide award in the culture category, while Tshamane Banda won the tourist guide award in the nature category.