Last week, the Cape Winelands District Municipality (CWDM) hosted the Mayoral Tourism Awards to recognise outstanding contributions in promoting accessible tourism, Cape {town} Etc reports.
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The CWDM supports 13 Local Tourism Associations (LTAs) across the district. These associations receive funding from the CWDM to organise events, programmes, and activities that showcase their towns.
While they also benefit from local municipality support, most of their funding comes from membership fees collected from businesses within their areas.
To boost tourism and economic development while supporting the efforts of the LTAs, the CWDM runs targeted advertising campaigns such as the Winelands Autumn Expo.
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As part of Tourism Month, CWDM Mayor Dr Elna von Schlicht announced a competition to encourage LTAs to develop innovative itineraries that promote Universal Accessibility (UA) and cater to diverse visitor needs.
The prize: a share of a 360º advertising campaign valued at R100 000.
Ten of the 13 LTAs submitted entries which were judged according to strict criteria by:
- Louine Griessel, development manager of the Western Cape Association of and for People with Disabilities (WCAPD)
- Tarryn Tomlinson, CEO of Liveable and Able2Travel Accessible Travel
‘The quality of the submissions made this a difficult process. We judged the understanding of UA by the LTA, the quality of the submission, the creativity they applied to the scenario, and the passion and knowledge of their products that they exhibited through the itinerary,’ said Tomlinson.
On 26 September, prizes were handed to the following:
- Gold: Visit Stellenbosch, which offers an adventurous and gastronomic experience suitable for the whole family. Activities included wheelchair-friendly E-bike outings, a visit to the Elemental Play Garden, and several adventures suitable for this diverse family.
- Silver: Montagu-Ashton Tourism, which offered the family a variety of activities, including a tractor ride on a specially equipped trailer to the top of the Langeberg Mountains.
- Bronze: Drakenstein Tourism. Among their options was wheelchair-compatible tandem skydiving and picnicking on Paarl Rock.
‘Tourism has reached new levels in the CWDM, and I remind you to continue soaring like eagles and to remember that eagles do not fly with sparrows,’ said Von Schlicht.
‘In the Cape Winelands District, we remind visitors that there are “A thousand things to do and then…a little wine!” The entries to this year’s Mayoral Tourism Awards are all leaders in the field of Universal Access. I never knew that a wheelchair user could go skydiving!’
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Also read:
Robertson Steam Train Wine Tour in the Cape Winelands: Escape the city
Picture: Supplied
