Tourism KZN wins UN award

iol.co.za

TKZN is the first destination marketing organisation in Africa to win the award.

Going for global glory and getting it has made Tourism KwaZulu-Natal, the Zulu Kingdom's marketing body, an international player and a force to be reckoned with, a gala event heard at the weekend.

Yet, taking a coveted first prize with the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) was even beyond the expectations of TKZN.

"It really was a surprise," said James Seymour, TKZN's general manager of tourism information services, who went to Madrid, Spain, with Dr Seshi Chonco, the chairperson of the board and Ndabo Khoza, the chief executive, to receive the Ullysses Award for Innovation in Research and Education in Tourism and Knowledge Management in Tourism Governance.

But the two men who nominated the 10-year-old organisation knew it would shine, beating stiff competition from developed countries, such as Brazil, which came second.

TKZN was nominated by Dr Alex Couts, a highly-respected figure in South African tourism circles, and Prof Ernie Heath, who is internationally recognised for his expertise in tourism destination management and the founder of one of the world's leading university departments - in Pretoria - in tourism management.

"I have worked with TKZN and it was easy for me to see that the work they are doing is of global significance," said Heath.

"From the country's point of view, this award means that TKZN has been benchmarked among the leading destination marketing organisations in the globe."

Couts and Heath were among the VIP's who attended the special celebratory dinner at the Hilton Hotel to mark the award.

Chonco said the award was not only a major image boost for the province and the country, but gave TKZN and the region credibility with investors and the tourism trade because they were assured that the research and information they got from TKZN could be used to make sound investment and business decisions.

Printable Version | published Jul 16, 2007

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