BuaNews (Tshwane)
1 December 2008
Cape Town — South African Tourism (SAT) on Monday announced that South Africa's mother-city, Cape Town, has won the Telegraph Travel Award 2008, Best World City Award.
Besides this prestigious award for one of the country's cities best known for Table Mountain, great wines and the garden route, South Africa, also secured a place in the top three Best non-European Country category.
The Telegraph, one of the UK's leading daily newspapers, polled 40 000 of its readers in the 10th awards of it kind. Cape Town beat both San Francisco and Sydney to take the honours of world's best city.
Cape Town Tourism Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Mariëtte du-Toit Helmbold said: "We are thrilled with the news.
"Cape Town is well placed to receive visitors looking for value for money and an authentic experience. Cape Town has so much to offer that visitors generally end up coming back to see and do more."
UK Country Manager at SAT Lebohang Mokhesi congratulated Cape Town on its award, saying: "Cape Town is one of the world's most beautiful cities and to receive such an accolade from consumers themselves is great recognition of the wonderful tourism offering it has developed."
Value for money and the strength of the pound compared with other world currencies appears to have been a deciding factor for readers when voting.
Ms Mokhesi said as an organisation, word of mouth is a key component to spreading the good word about South Africa in the UK.
"It is near impossible for anyone to visits and not share their experiences with friends and family on their return. During this period of economic downturn, value for money is at the forefront of travellers' minds.
"South Africa has always offered value for money, and with the current exchange rate as it stands, the visitor's money goes even further," Ms Mokhesi said.
Cape Town was also recently voted one of ten cities in the world that are most likely to become a global sustainability centre by 2020.
This latest award comes on the back of Cape Town's already impressive list of accolades including Africa's Best City (US Travel and Leisure Best in the World Awards, July); Best Travel Destination in Africa and Middle East (US Travel & Leisure magazine, 2004 through 2007); and One of the World's five Bluest Sky Destinations (expedia.co.uk).
Cape Town Mayor Helen Zille was recently also honoured being the world's number one mayor by City Mayors, a global local government think-tank. Ms Zille came out tops out of a group of 820 mayors from around the world in the competition which spanned 18 months.
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