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Welcome Awards 2010
The Awards aim to:
* enhance the visitor's experience, fundamental to the growth of tourism;
* promote the best-of-the-best as examples to the industry and in doing so, encourage industry to focus on service excellence;
* recognise organisations and individuals in South Africa who raise the level and standards of customer service those that enhance visitors' experiences;
* inspire longer stays and repeat visits;
* turn guests into ambassadors for our country;
* identify and add to innovations that embrace authentically South African experiences; and
* encourage the industry to share ideas and best practice on improving service.
The Judging Process
The Judges' undertaking and process will take care to ensure that all assessments are fair, valid, reliable and practicable.
To achieve this, we may request further information from you, either orally or in writing, to clarify any misunderstandings that may arise during our visits.
All evaluations will be carried out by people of suitable training and expertise.
Data will be gathered by sampling the product or service on offer and observation. All care will be taken that observation remains as unobtrusive and stress-free as possible.
* Short-listed candidates will be selected, based on the entry forms submitted.
* Semi-finalists will be selected, following an official visit.
* Finalists will be selected, based on their evaluation through the mystery visit programme.
* Finalists will be invited to attend INDABA in 2011.
* Sub-category and category winners will be announced at INDABA in 2011.
Judging Criteria
Tourist Guides
Award categories
There are 3 sub-categories for Tourist Guides in the Welcome Awards:
* National
* Provincial
* Regional or local (includes site guides and game rangers.)
Entry criteria
In order to be eligible for the Tourist Guides Welcome Award, you must satisfy the following criteria:
* You must be a registered tourist guide (in terms of the Tourism Second Amendment 70 of 2000).
* You must have been operating as a tourist guide for more than 2 years.
* You can nominate yourself or be nominated by your employer or an association.
* You must have knowledge of the tourism products in the area within which you operate.
* You must be aware of the economic status of your area (regional, provincial or national).
* You must complete all the questions in the entry form.
* Top tourist guides will be selected at provincial level. The provincial nominees will then be entered into the 2010 Welcome Awards.
* The DEAT will oversee and run this category of the Welcome Awards. You are welcome to contact the department for any assistance you may need when entering.
How to enter
Please complete the information in the entry form.
Its important to be as detailed as possible, as this will increase your chances of being shortlisted. You must complete all the questions on the entry form and include examples of how you exceeded expectations in welcoming and making guests feel special and how you offer ever-improving service.
Your entry form may be submitted for further competing at a provincial level.
Should you have any queries, please email welcomeawards@southafrica.net or call 083 123 6789 (tourism information line).
Please complete the information in the entry form.
