By now, you’ve probably caught wind that voting for the World Travel Awards has opened and several South African cities have been nominated.
The city of Cape Town has been nominated for six awards, including the award for ‘Africa’s Leading City Destination.’ Durban and Johannesburg were also nominated, with quite a few awards from previous years under their belts as well.
READ MORE: Cape Town bags another award: World’s best festival and event destination
Did you know that Cape Town won the first-ever ‘Africa’s Leading Destination’ and ‘Africa’s Leading Airport’ awards? The Mother City won both awards from 1998-2003, its longest streak to date. Cape Town has been named ‘Africa’s Leading Destination’ 14 times, more than any other South African city.
OR Tambo International Airport was named the ‘Leading Airport’ for 10 years straight, after which Cape Town claimed the title from 2017 onwards, racking up a total of 11 times.
The ‘Africa’s Leading Festival & Events Destination’ and ‘Africa’s Leading City Destination’ awards were introduced for the first time in 2018 and 2017 respectively – both of which were won by Cape Town.
The iconic Table Mountain range has also been named ‘Africa’s Leading Tourist Attraction’ four times.
However, despite the endless pristine and picturesque beaches in our country, South Africa has only won ‘Africa’s Leading Beach Destination’ twice – Cape Town in 2012 and Plettenberg Bay in 2020.
Another category was introduced in 2019, the ‘Business Travel Destination’ award, which South Africa has not won to date.
Even though South Africa is well known for its extraordinary national parks, since the category was created in 2013, no South African Park has been named ‘Africa’s Leading National Park.’ But, Kruger National Park has been nominated for this year.
Have a look at some of the other nominations for 2022:
Africa’s Leading Beach Destination: Cape Town and Plettenberg Bay
Africa’s Leading Business Travel Destination: Cape Town, Durban, Johannesburg and Pretoria
Africa’s Leading City Destination: Cape Town, Durban and Johannesburg
Africa’s Leading Destination: South Africa
Africa’s Leading Festival & Event Destination: Cape Town, Durban and Johannesburg
Africa’s Leading Meetings & Conference Destination: Cape Town, Durban and Johannesburg
Africa’s Leading Airport: King Shaka International Airport and OR Tambo International Airport
Africa’s Leading Tourist Attraction: Table Mountain, Robben Island and V&A Waterfront
Africa’s Leading National Park: Kruger National Park.
For a complete list of nominations and to vote, click here.
Picture: Getaway Gallery
ALSO READ
Semakaleng Mathebula is SA’s first black female hot air balloon pilot
