Minister David Maynier congratulates Provincial Lilizela Award Winners

The Western Cape tourism industry was celebrated on Friday, 13 September with Provincial Minister for Finance and Economic Opportunities, David Maynier, congratulating winners and finalists of the Provincial Lilizela Tourism Awards 2019 at a red-carpet affair at the Devonvale Golf and Wine Estate in Stellenbosch. 

As expressed by Minister Maynier, “The Lilizela Tourism Awards recognises and rewards those in the tourism sector who work passionately and with pride to deliver a world class product or experience for visitors to the Western Cape.”

“The tourism sector remains the backbone of the Western Cape economy, supporting over 300,000 direct and indirect jobs in our province alone thanks to the millions of tourists who flock to the region annually to enjoy some of the most scenic and breath-taking locations that the globe has to offer.”

“Every stakeholder in this industry, no matter how small, fulfils an incredibly important role in delivering a culture of service excellence which supports the tourism industry and in turn, grows our economy and creates jobs.  They are the everyday heroes in our communities.”

In addition to announcing the 40 winners across the 25 award categories, Minister Maynier awarded the Lilizela I Can Do Tourism Award (MEC Award) to Ashia, a world-class cheetah sanctuary and working farm outside Paarl in the Western Cape that has demonstrated great impact in growing tourism within their community within a very short time span. 

South African Tourism (SAT) and the National Department of Tourism are responsible for the implementation of the Lilizela Tourism Awards. The Western Cape Department of Economic Development and Tourism is responsible for the Western Cape Provincial Lilizela Tourism Awards Ceremony.

The Lilizela Tourism Awards is a prestigious annual event that has grown since its inception in 2013. The 40 winners of the Western Cape Povincial Lilizela Tourism Awards will now go on to represent the province at the Nationali Lilizela  Tourism Awards which will take place on the 9 November 2019 at the Sun Arena in Tshwane, Gauteng.

We wish all the Western Cape Provincial Lilizela Tourism Awards the best of luck for the National Lilizela Awards.

For more information on the Lilizela Tourism Awards visit www.lilizela.co.za