30 November 2006
Grand West Market Hall, Grand West Casino

From left: Farhaana Allie Noxolo Ntenetya

From left: Brent Walters Enver Mally Noxolo Ntenetya Lynn Maggot

This is an initiative launched by Minister of Environmental Affairs and Tourism; Mr Marthinus van Schalkwyk at Tourism Indaba in 2005 and already had successfully announced winners at Indaba 2006. The project aims to find the shining examples of businesses and individuals in South Africa who are raising the level and standards of customer service in the tourism industry.

The Welcome Awards are presented in four categories:

• Accommodation
• Tour operators
• Tour guides
• Travel agents

On Thursday, 30 November 2006, The Western Cape Provincial Department of Economic Development and Tourism will be announcing the Three Provincial Welcome Award Winners 2007 for the Tourist Guide Category. Entries for the awards were received from registered tourist guides and the judges looked for the following:

• has to be successful in adding value to the customer experience
• must be committed to excellence in serving customers
• actively develop skills in their employees to improve visitor experience and not only provided service of a world class standard
• have exceeded expectations and turn their clients into ambassadors for South Africa

The Three Provincial winners will be entered into the National Competition to compete with other tourist guides from other provinces. A finalist from the Province will be chosen following a mystery tourist programme. The overall winner who has demonstrated most innovative, inspiring case study of a world class visitor experience will be announced at the Tourism Indaba 2007 and will receive a Grand Prix Award.

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