Kenya and South Africa won multiple awards in this year’s prestigious World Travel Awards (WTA), with Africa’s leading tourist destination in 2020 being reserved for the East African nation.
While and South Africa basked in the glory of being picked as Africa’s destinations of choice, Ethiopia took pride in being Africa’s Leading Airline.
In 2019 more than two million international visitors travelled to Kenya for holiday, a feat that earned the country Africa Leading Destination ward.
Tanzania shared in the East Africa glory after Serengeti was picked as Africa’s Leading National Park.
According to WTA, Kenya, “With its tantalising cocktail of epic savannah landscapes, immense herds of wildlife and palm-fringed beaches” was voted Africa’s Leading Destination, whilst its thriving capital Nairobi was named Africa’s Leading Business Travel Destination and Kenyatta International Convention Centre collecting Africa’s Leading Meetings and Conference Centre award.
Cape Town won Africa’s Leading Festival and Event Destination category, while the majestic Table Mountain took Africa’s Leading Tourist Attraction award.
The fascinating South African city of Durban was voted Africa’s Leading City of Destination.
In the hospitality sector, Fairmont Mount Kenya Safari Club’s unique comforts in the shadow of the mighty Mount Kenya helped it to the title of Africa’s Leading Hotel, whilst Saxon Hotel, Villas and Spa, South Africa was awarded Africa’s Leading Boutique Hotel.
Aberdare Country Club, Kenya was voted Africa’s Leading Green Hotel.
In the aviation sector, Ethiopian Airlines lifted Africa’s Leading Airline, whilst Africa’s Leading Airport went to Cape Town International Airport. Kenya Airways picked up both Africa’s Leading Airline – Business Class and Africa’s Leading Airline – Economy Class.
The results follow a year-long search for the world’s top travel, tourism and hospitality brands. Votes were cast by travel industry professionals and the public, with the nominee gaining the most votes in a category named as the winner.
Founder of World Travel Awards Graham Cook said of the awards, “Our winners represent the very best of Africa’s travel and tourism sector and my congratulations to each of them. They have all demonstrated remarkable resilience in a year of unprecedented challenges.”
Mr Cook noted, “The World Travel Awards 2020 programme received a record number of votes cast by the public. This shows that the appetite for travel and tourism has never been stronger and bodes well for the industry’s future as the global recovery begins.”
Other winners include Tanzania’s Serengeti National Park (Africa’s Leading National Park); Thanda Island of Tanzania was voted Africa’s Leading Luxury Island. Shambala Private Game Reserve of South Africa was Africa’s Leading Private Game Reserve and The Oberoi of Marrakech was Morocco’s Leading Hotel Suite.
The country surpassed all African countries to win the award after the results were announced virtually on Monday virtually from England during the 27th WTA finals that coincided with the inaugural Africa Winners Day.
WTA recognise and reward excellence in travel and tourism, and Kenya emerged this year’s winner as votes were cast by travel industry professionals and the public.
Other winners are:

Africa’s Leading Airline 2020 Ethiopian Airlines
Africa’s Leading Airline – Business Class 2020 Kenya Airways
Africa’s Leading Airline – Economy Class 2020 Kenya Airways
Africa’s Leading Airline – Brand 2020 Kenya Airways
Africa’s Leading Airport 2020 – Cape Town International Airport, South Africa
Africa’s Leading All-Inclusive Resort 2020 – Hotel La Gemma dell’Est, Zanzibar, Tanzania
Africa’s Leading Beach Destination 2020 – Plettenberg Bay, South Africa
Africa’s Leading Beach Resort 2020 – Anantara Bazaruto Island Resort, Mozambique
Africa’s Leading Boutique Hotel 2020 – Saxon Hotel, Villas and Spa, South Africa
Africa’s Leading Boutique Hotel – Brand 2020 Mantis Collection
Africa’s Leading Business Car Rental Company 2020 – Avis
Africa’s Leading Business Hotel 2020 – Transcorp Hilton Abuja, Nigeria
Africa’s Leading Business Travel Agency 2020 – Satguru Travel
Africa’s Leading Business Travel Destination 2020 – Nairobi, Kenya
Africa’s Leading Car Rental Company 2020 – Europcar
Africa’s Leading Casino Resort 2020 – Sun City Resort, South Africa
Africa’s Leading City Destination 2020 – Durban, South Africa
Africa’s Leading City Hotel 2020 – Fairmont The Norfolk, Kenya
Africa’s Leading Conference Hotel 2020 – Radisson Blu Hotel and Convention Centre, Kigali, Rwanda
Africa’s Leading Conservation Company 2020 – Singita
Africa’s Leading Cruise Line 2020 – Oceania Cruises
Africa’s Leading Cruise Port 2020 – Port of Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
Africa’s Leading Curated Group – Travel Company 2020 Rovia
Africa’s Leading Design Hotel 2020 – Manna Bay, South Africa
Africa’s Leading Destination 2020 – Kenya
Africa’s Leading Destination Management Company 2020 – Destination Kenya
Africa’s Leading Family Resort 2020 Baobab Beach Resort and Spa, Kenya
Africa’s Leading Festival and Event Destination 2020 Cape Town, South Africa
Africa’s Leading Game Reserve Brand 2020 – Singita
Africa’s Leading Green Hotel 2020 – Aberdare Country Club, Kenya
Africa’s Leading Hotel 2020 – Fairmont Mount Kenya Safari Club, Kenya
Africa’s Leading Hotel Brand 2020 – Hilton Hotels and Resorts
Africa’s Leading Hotel Residences 2020 – Palacina The Residence and The Suites, Kenya
Africa’s Leading Hotel Suite 2020 – Nelson Mandela Platinum Suite @ Saxon Hotel, Villas and Spa, South Africa
Africa’s Leading Inflight Magazine 2020 – Índico (LAM – Mozambique Airlines)
Africa’s Leading Low-Cost Airline 2020 – fastjet
Africa’s Leading Luxury Hotel 2020 – Villa Rosa Kempinski Nairobi, Kenya
Africa’s Leading Luxury Hotel Villa 2020 – Villa Two @ Ellerman House, South Africa
Africa’s Leading Luxury Island 2020 – Thanda Island, Tanzania
Africa’s Leading Luxury Lodge 2020 – Silvan Safari, South Africa
Africa’s Leading Luxury Private Villa 2020 – Villa iZulu @ Thanda Safari, South Africa
Africa’s Leading Luxury Resort 2020 – Mandarin Oriental, Marrakech, Morocco
Africa’s Leading Luxury Safari Lodge 2020 – Four Seasons Safari Lodge Serengeti, Tanzania
Africa’s Leading Luxury Tented Safari Camp 2020 – Olare Mara Kempinski Masai Mara, Kenya
Africa’s Leading Luxury Tour Operator 2020 – Rhino Africa
Africa’s Leading Luxury Train 2020 – The Blue Train
Africa’s Leading Meetings and Conference Centre 2020 – Kenyatta International Convention Centre, Nairobi, Kenya
Africa’s Leading Meetings and Conference Destination 2020 – Durban, South Africa
Africa’s Leading National Park 2020 – Serengeti National Park, Tanzania
Africa’s Leading New Hotel 2020 – The Houghton Hotel, South Africa
Africa’s Leading Online Travel Agency 2020 – Travel.co.za
Africa’s Leading Private Game Reserve 2020 – Shambala Private Game Reserve, South Africa
Africa’s Leading Private Island Resort 2020 – Chapwani Private Island, Zanzibar
Africa’s Leading Resort 2020 – Sun City Resort, South Africa
Africa’s Leading River Cruise Company 2020 – Zambezi Queen Collection
Africa’s Leading Safari Company 2020 – Go2Africa
Africa’s Leading Safari Lodge 2020 – Thanda Safari Lodge at Thanda Safari, South Africa
Africa’s Leading Serviced Apartments 2020 – Lawhill Luxury Apartments, South Africa
Africa’s Leading Sports Resort 2020 – Pezula Resort Hotel and Spa, South Africa
Africa’s Leading Tented Safari Camp 2020 – Finch Hattons, Kenya
Africa’s Leading Tour Operator 2020 – Pollman’s Tours and Safaris
Africa’s Leading Tourist Attraction 2020 – Table Mountain, South Africa
Africa’s Leading Tourist Board 2020 – Kenya Tourism Board
Africa’s Leading Travel Agency 2020 – Club Travel, South Africa
Africa’s Leading Travel Club 2020 – Beekman Managed Portfolio
Africa’s Leading Travel Management Company 2020 – FCM Travel Solutions
Africa’s Most Romantic Resort 2020 – Anantara Medjumbe Island Resort, Mozambique
Africa’s Responsible Tourism Award 2020 – Twiga Tours

• A Tell report