What we know so far
Six South African organisations claimed awards at the 2026 WTM Africa Responsible Tourism Awards, held in Cape Town in April, making South Africa the standout national performer in a competition that recognised 22 organisations across 13 African countries.
The awards were administered by the International Centre for Responsible Tourism (ICRT Global) and presented at WTM Africa. South Africa secured three gold awards, two silver awards, and one one-to-watch recognition, spanning categories including local economic benefit, cultural diversity, nature positive, and diversity, equity and inclusion.
Rachel Nxele, a board member of South Africa National Parks who presented the awards, said the results demonstrated how African destinations are actively shaping the global direction of responsible tourism by placing communities and ecosystems at the centre of their operations.
Why it matters
The results position South Africa as a continental leader in measurable, community-rooted tourism practice at a time when the country’s tourism sector is competing hard for international visitors and investment. Responsible tourism is increasingly a decisive factor for high-value travellers, international tour operators, and the international sustainability frameworks that guide destination funding.
The six winners span the country’s geography and economic base, from a flagship Cape Town landmark to a gorge lift in Mpumalanga and a community homestay network extending into neighbouring countries. Judges chaired by Emeritus Professor Harold Goodwin, managing director of the Responsible Tourism Partnership and founder of ICRT Global, noted that winners are now delivering measurable system-level change.
The competition drew entries from 13 countries, including Botswana, Cape Verde, Egypt, Kenya, Morocco, Namibia, Rwanda, Tanzania, Tunisia, Zambia, Zimbabwe, and Malawi. South Africa’s six recognitions represent the largest single-country haul in the 2026 awards.
Key details and figures
The Table Mountain Aerial Cableway Company (TMACC) took gold in the Local Economic Benefit category. According to the ICRT Global announcement, local procurement at TMACC increased from 29 percent in 2017 to 89 percent by the time of judging. The company now supports more than 150 small businesses and has provided mentorship and certification support to 67 SMMEs. Judges specifically highlighted TMACC’s commitment to building supplier capacity beyond its own procurement needs, helping entrepreneurs access wider tourism markets.
Traditional African Homestays Southern Africa (TAHS-SA) won gold in the Championing Cultural Diversity category. The network has generated more than R6 million in revenue, with between 70 and 80 percent of income retained within host communities. The organisation is expanding into Eswatini and Botswana, with judges noting its year-on-year growth and describing it as a scalable model of cultural preservation and community empowerment.
The V&A Waterfront Academy claimed the third South African gold, also in the Local Economic Benefit category. Since its establishment in 2023, the Academy has placed 315 young people into employment, with 90 percent securing full-time work for the first time. It also supports 15 small businesses through the Watershed craft market. Judges recognised the Academy for addressing a structural gap: supporting both young workers and the employers who take them on through the critical first six months of employment.
On the silver side, the Graskop Gorge Lift Company in Mpumalanga was recognised in the Nature Positive category. Its zero-impact access system protects critically endangered species, specifically the Graskop cliff aloe, while the company sources most of its procurement from within 100 kilometres of the site, strengthening the local Lowveld economy.
Unexplored Cape Town received the second South African silver, in the Championing Cultural Diversity category. The organisation runs inclusive food tours through neighbourhood kitchens and markets, supporting small vendors, welcoming travellers with disabilities, and showcasing African and diaspora food cultures that are typically absent from mainstream tourist itineraries.
The Cape Tourist Guides Association received a One-to-Watch recognition in the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion category for its work ensuring that guides more accurately reflect South Africa’s cultural, linguistic, and socio-economic diversity.
Olivia Gradidge, marketing manager of WTM Africa and ILTM Africa, said the results reflect the innovative strides the industry is making and reaffirmed the event’s commitment to championing tourism that benefits people, places, and nature.
The judging panel, chaired by Professor Goodwin, included representatives from Transfrontier Parks Destinations, The Long Run, the Institute of Travel and Tourism of The Gambia, and Visit Scotland, among others.
What happens next
The six South African award winners are now internationally recognised, which typically strengthens their standing with foreign tour operators and travel buyers who increasingly screen destinations and suppliers against verified sustainability criteria.
For TAHS-SA, the award comes as the organisation is actively expanding its network into Eswatini and Botswana, with the recognition likely to accelerate interest from both travellers and potential partner communities in those countries.
The V&A Waterfront Academy’s model, which has placed more than 300 young people into work in under three years, is now formally validated by an independent international panel. There is no announced replication plan at this stage, but the public-interest case for scaling the model beyond the Waterfront is implicit in the judges’ endorsement.
WTM Africa is a flagship event in the African tourism calendar. The responsible tourism awards now run as a parallel track to the main trade event, and the full list of 2026 winners across 13 countries is published on the ICRT Global website. South Africa’s next opportunity to defend and expand on its performance will come when entries open for the 2027 cycle, the timeline for which has not yet been announced.
