Entries Open For The Responsible Tourism Awards 2027 At WTM Africa
Entries have officially opened for the Responsible Tourism Awards 2027, the flagship recognition programme run alongside WTM Africa, and tourism businesses across the continent, KwaZulu-Natal included, now have until the end of the year to put their work forward.
The awards are one of the most closely watched moments on Africa’s tourism calendar. They exist to shine a light on the operators, destinations and organisations proving that tourism can do more than move people from one place to another, it can genuinely benefit the communities, wildlife and landscapes it depends on.
Six Categories, One Underlying Question
This year’s entries are being called for across six categories, each built around a different way tourism can be done responsibly:
- Local Economic Benefit – tourism that keeps value in the communities that host it
- Disability – accessible, inclusive experiences and employment
- All Inclusive – proving all-inclusive properties can still be responsible ones
- Overtourism – rebalancing visitor numbers with the needs of residents
- Nature Positive – tourism that actively benefits conservation, not just avoids harming it
- Climate Change – measurable action on emissions and climate impact
Between them, the categories cover most of the questions any tourism business in KwaZulu-Natal should already be asking itself, whether that’s a lodge bordering a game reserve, a tour operator working with township or rural communities, or a shuttle service quietly cutting its emissions.
Where And When The Winners Will Be Announced
Winners will be revealed at the awards ceremony on 7 April 2027 at 15:00, on the Inspire Stage at WTM Africa, held at the Cape Town International Convention Centre (CTICC). Gold winners don’t stop there: they advance directly to the global Responsible Tourism Awards in London later in the year, putting African entrants on the same stage as the rest of the world’s tourism industry.
WTM Africa itself runs from 7 to 9 April 2027 in Cape Town, with ILTM Africa, the show’s luxury travel counterpart, taking place in the same window from 4 to 6 April 2027.
Why This Matters For KwaZulu-Natal Tourism
KwaZulu-Natal has no shortage of stories that fit these categories, from community-owned reserves in Zululand to accessible beachfront stays on the Dolphin Coast. Awards like this one are a chance for the province’s tourism operators to have that work recognised on a continental stage, not just a local one. For visitors, it’s a useful signal too: a past finalist or winner is generally a safe bet for anyone who wants their trip to leave a place better than they found it.
At Profound Travel and Tours, responsible tourism isn’t a category we’re chasing for the first time, it’s the standard we try to hold every KwaZulu-Natal itinerary to, from the community partners we work with to the operators we recommend.
How To Enter
Entries are free and close on 31 December 2026. Applications are submitted through the Responsible Tourism Awards portal, with a nomination form to complete for each relevant category.