Cape Town, 7 January 2026 – Entries are officially open for the WTM Africa Responsible Tourism Awards 2026. Businesses, destinations, and individuals who are making a positive impact through sustainable and responsible travel are encouraged to enter before the submission deadline on 20 March 2026.
Winners of the Gold awards at WTM Africa will go on to compete at the Global Responsible Tourism Awards, elevating Africa’s top performers to compete against the best from around the world.
Set to take place on 14 April 2026 at the Cape Town International Convention Centre (CTICC) during WTM Africa, the awards honour the organisations transforming tourism across Africa – economically, socially, and environmentally.
Africa’s strong global track record
“In 2025, the WTM Africa Responsible Tourism Awards discovered many examples of replicable good practice, and there was a real buzz of celebration,” said Harold Goodwin. “Foxes Safari Camps went on to win Gold at the 2025 Global Responsible Tourism Awards in the ‘All-Inclusives Responsible Tourism Award’ category, while !Khwa ttu San Culture and Education Centre won Gold in the “Increasing Local Sourcing & Creating Shared Value” category.”
Additionally, three of WTM Africa’s Gold winners – Township & Village, Dlala Nje, and !Khwa ttu San Culture and Education Centre – secured international recognition at the ICRT Global Awards.
Township & Village won Gold at WTM Africa and Silver in the ICRT Global Awards for strengthening local economic opportunities in Stellenbosch townships.
Dlala Nje, a trailblazer in community-driven cultural tours in Hillbrow, Johannesburg, earned both the WTM Africa Gold and an ICRT Global Silver in the category of economic inclusivity.
!Khwa ttu San Culture and Education Centre achieved the rare feat of scoring Gold at both the regional and global levels, recognised for their exceptional commitment to cultural preservation and education.
“These awards give responsible tourism practitioners across Africa a chance to be recognised not only on a regional stage but also globally,” says Megan De Jager, Portfolio Director – Travel, Tourism & RX Africa Marketing. “It’s a celebration of those paving the way for a more inclusive, sustainable, and transformative travel industry.”
“We are very excited for the upcoming World Travel Market Africa Responsible Tourism Awards, and I am looking forward to seeing the range of entries representing the travel and tourism practitioners who are making a positive difference in our country, and particularly here in Cape Town,” commented Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis.
“As a city that has built such a strong global reputation as a travel destination, we understand very well the value that tourism holds for our economy. But it is equally important that this tourism is managed sustainably, that local communities benefit, that we celebrate the full spectrum of our cultural diversity, and that we preserve our natural resources for generations to come. That’s why these awards are so important to us, and I have no doubt we will see some very deserving winners next year.”
Free to Enter – Multiple Categories Available
Participation is free and open to initiatives across the continent. A panel of independent experts will select winners in six categories:
Local Economic Benefits – Supporting local businesses, growing SMMEs, and keeping tourism spend in local hands.
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion – Creating platforms for underrepresented voices in tourism’s workforce.
Nature Positive – Enhancing biodiversity and protecting natural heritage through tourism.
Championing Cultural Diversity – Offering experiences that promote understanding, dignity, and pride in local communities.
Adapting to Climate Change – Building resilience in tourism through design innovation, adaptation, and preparedness.
Regenerative Tourism – Going beyond sustainability to restore, renew, and transform communities and ecosystems.
Nomination forms and detailed descriptions of each category are available for download directly on the WTM Africa website. All completed applications must be uploaded here.
A Call to Africa’s Changemakers
“We’re not just looking to recognise people – we’re looking to inspire action,” adds De Jager. “By sharing your work or nominating others, you’re helping to spark real change. When we showcase what’s possible, we empower more people to take action, amplifying the impact across the travel industry and beyond.”
The WTM Africa Responsible Tourism Awards remain a landmark celebration for the continent, offering meaningful industry recognition while inspiring others to do better – for people, for places, and for the planet.
-ENDS-
Issued by: Big Ambitions
Contact: Sonnette Fourie
Tel: +27 81 072 2869
Email: sonnette@bigambitions.co.za
Notes to editors:
About CBISN
CBISN is a leader in market intelligence and capacity-building services for those engaging with the Chinese outbound tourism market. Their partnership with WTM Africa aims to provide African stakeholders with actionable insights and tools to welcome and serve Chinese visitors more effectively.
Now in its 33nd year, Arabian Travel Market (ATM) is the leading international travel and tourism event in the Middle East for inbound and outbound tourism professionals. Held annually at the Dubai World Trade Centre, ATM 2024 spanned 12 halls, making it the largest edition to date. The event attracted over 47,000 attendees and more than 35,000 visitors (including 6,000+ high-value buyers) and over 2,550 exhibitors and representatives from over 161 countries. In 2025, ATM will expand to 13 halls, growing across all sectors, and will continue to be a crucial gathering for the global travel and tourism industry. Arabian Travel Market is part of Arabian Travel Week. #ATMDubai
ATM takes place from 4 - 7 May 2026, at the Dubai World Trade Centre, Dubai.
https://www.wtm.com/atm/en-gb.html
Arabian Travel Week is a week-long festival of events alongside Arabian Travel Market 2025. Providing a renewed focus for the Middle East’s travel and tourism sector, it includes Start-Up Competition, Influencers' Event, GBTA Business Travel Forums, and ATM Travel Tech. The event also features ATM Buyer Networking and a series of country forums.
https://www.wtm.com/arabian-travel-week/en-gb.html
About RX
RX is a global leader in events and exhibitions, leveraging industry expertise, data, and technology to build businesses for individuals, communities, and organisations. With a presence in 25 countries across 42 industry sectors, RX hosts approximately 350 events annually. RX is committed to creating an inclusive work environment for all our people. RX empowers businesses to thrive by leveraging data-driven insights and digital solutions. RX is part of RELX, a global provider of information-based analytics and decision tools for professional and business customers. For more information, visit www.rxglobal.com.
About RELX
RELX is a global provider of information-based analytics and decision tools for professional and business customers. RELX serves customers in more than 180 countries and has offices in about 40 countries. It employs more than 36,000 people over 40% of whom are in North America. The shares of RELX PLC, the parent company, are traded on the London, Amsterdam and New York stock exchanges using the following ticker symbols: London: REL; Amsterdam: REN; New York: RELX. *Note: Current market capitalisation can be found at http://www.relx.com/investors
World Travel Market (WTM) Portfolio comprises leading travel events and online portals across four continents. The events are Arabian Travel Market, WTM London, WTM Latin America and WTM Africa.
WTM London is the world’s most influential travel & tourism event for the global travel community. The show is the ultimate destination for those seeking a macro view of the travel industry and a deeper understanding of the forces shaping it. WTM London is where influential travel leaders, buyers and high-profile travel companies gather to exchange ideas, drive innovation, and accelerate business outcomes.
Next event: 3 to 5 November 2026 at ExCel London
WTM Latin America is held annually in São Paulo and attracts more than 29,000 tourism professionals during the three-day event. The event offers a qualified content combined with networking and business opportunities. In its most recent edition, in 2024, WTM Latin America maintained its focus on the effective generation of business and managed to secure the early scheduling of more than six thousand meetings that were held between buyers, travel agents, and exhibitors. WTM Latin America contents are available in English, Spanish and Portuguese.
Next event: 14 to 16 April 2026, Expo Center Norte, São Paulo, Brasil
latinamerica.wtm.com
WTM Africa launched in 2014 in Cape Town, South Africa. In 2024, WTM Africa facilitated more than 10 thousand unique pre-scheduled appointments, an increase of more than 8% compared to 2023 and welcomed more than 10 thousand visitors (unaudited), 25% more than 2023.
Next event: 13 to 15 April 2026 – Cape Town International Convention Centre, Cape Town http://africa.wtm.com/
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WTM Global Hub, is the WTM Portfolio online portal created to connect and support travel industry professionals around the world. The resource hub offers the latest guidance and knowledge to help exhibitors, buyers and others in the travel industry face the challenges of the global coronavirus pandemic. WTM Portfolio is tapping into its global network of experts to create content for the hub. https://hub.wtm.com/
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