SA steals the show at tourism awards

Over 500 of the world's leading travel industry figures converged in Durban last night for the first World Travel Awards Africa Ceremony.

The event honoured the excellence of the African travel and tourism industry. It was almost a clean sweep for South Africa with one of the country's coastal cities stealing the show. It was a spectacular night. The ‘Mother City’ picked up Africa's leading destination, beating places like Luxor in Egypt, the Serengeti and Zimbabwe's Victoria Falls.

Winners were judged on a range of business dynamics, notably an understanding of visitors' needs. But it was the City of Cape Town who proved to be the belle of the ball.

South African Airways scooped the continent's best Airline award. Durban's International Convention Centre beat fellow rivals Cape Town, Johannesburg and Cairo to win Africa's leading Conference Centre.

Experts believe South Africa has placed itself firmly on the global tourism market. The Africa event is part of a World Travel Awards Grand Tour. The finals will be held in the Caribbean at the end of the year.