IN an effort to involve the community in tourism and make people aware of the importance and benefits of tourism development, the Western Cape Tourism Board (WCTB) will be launching its first regional tourism awards next month, endorsed by the Premier of the Western Cape, Gerald Morkel.
According to WCTB's corporate manager, Marlotte Crous, the awards - known as the Premier Tourism Awards - will be presented on World Tourism Day on September 27 this year.
"We aim to recognise service excellence and community advancement by presenting awards in 10 categories, several of them relating to tourism efforts by disadvantaged communities."
She says the awards will be officially launched only in May as the criteria and categories have not been finalised yet.
(Adele Mackenzie)