South Africa’s Safari & Tourism Insurance Brokers (SATIB) soared to new heights as joint winners with Kenya’s Eagle Africa in the Business Tourism insurer category at the inaugural Ai tourism investor awards held in Johannesburg. Eagle Africa’s extensive portfolio exceeds US$1 billion, with global networks on par with their international counterparts.
South African Minister Hon Marthinus van Schalkwyk, took gold in the highly acclaimed Tourism Minister of the year category. Other SA companies to sweep the board included IFA Hotels & Resorts, Protea Hotels, and IDC.
The awards were established to showcase Africa’s opportunities and achievements to the rest of the world, collectively raise awareness about Africa as a tourist destination and reward those groups developing the African tourism industry as a vehicle to drive sustainable economic growth.
The Awards were presented at a glittering ceremony attended by venture capitalists, investors, leading developers, and principal tourism experts. The heavily oversubscribed event attracted global heavyweights, and set the standard for Tourism development in Africa.
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“Tourism in Africa is growing at the fastest rate in the world. According to the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO), tourism across the African continent is growing at nearly 10% compared to global tourism growth of 5%. The businesses driving tourism investment are making a significant and measurable contribution to the creation of jobs and sustainable development in Africa.“ commented Dr Alhaji Bamanga, Chairman of Africa investor Group.
Botswana & the EU were recognised for the $40 million dollar European Commission-Botswana Government Infrastructure Development Deal coming top of the best Tourism Investment Programme.
The Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region were represented by Qatar Airlines and the EMAAR Group. Qatar Airlines have come into the continent unbridled, with 70 destinations across Europe, Middle East, Africa, Indian and the Far East. Qatar Airlines claimed the Best Business Airline Award whilst EMAAR Properties PJSC took home Best Business Resort of the Year.
Trade & Investment KwaZulu-Natal won the Tourism Promotion Agency Award; the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) won the award for TI 2010 Legacy Investment, Household names such as Protea HHHotels took gongs in the Hospitality Management Team Award and IFA Hotels & Resorts took the honours in the Hotel Investment category.
Finalists were drawn for leading players in Africa tourism investment community and were assessed against a rigorous criteria that took into account financial indicators, sustainability of projects, and local content in the development of projects.
The judges included Professor Geoffrey Lipman, Assistant Secretary General of the UNWTO and (Chair of judging panel), Estherine Lisinge-Fotabong, NEPAD; Irene Visser, International Finance Corporation (IFC); Trevor Ward, W Hospitality Group; Kate Rivett-Carnac, Director of Tourism, DTI, South Africa and the driving force behind TINAPA, (Africa’s prestigious Business Resort), H.E. Donald Duke, Former Governor of Cross Rivers State, Nigeria.
The event was sponsored by Cross River State, Nigeria, the Gauteng Tourism Authority and was supported by the Africa Travel Channel, the UN World Tourism Organisation, the Africa Travel Association and the SABC.
Full list of Winners: AI Tourism Investor Awards 2008
Tourism Investment Programme
European Commission-Botswana Gov. Infrastructure Development Deal
Business Resort
EMAAR Properties PJSC
Tourism Promotion Agency
Trade & Investment KwaZulu-Natal
Hospitality Management Team
Protea Hotels
Sustainable Tourism Investment
Cradle of Humankind World Heritage Site and Dinokeng Blue-IQ projects
Best Initiative in Facilitating SME Tourism Investment
Tourism Enterprise Programme
Hotel Investment
IFA Hotels & Resorts
Tourism Investment Advisor
W Hospitality Group
Business Airline
Qatar Airways
TI 2010 Legacy Investment
Industrial Development Corporation (IDC)
Business Travel Insurer
Safari & Tourism Insurance Brokers (SATIB)
Eagle Africa Insurance Brokers Kenya Ltd
Tourism Minister of the year
Hon Mr Van Schalkwyk (South Africa)
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