Africa Travel Week is pleased to announce the 2024 winners of the Africa Travel Week (ATW) Media Awards. In its inaugural year, the ATW Media Awards recognise outstanding travel journalism spotlighting Africa’s tourism landscape. “Congratulations to all our winners and runner-ups on their well-deserved success, and a heartfelt thank you to all those who submitted their work,” says Megan De Jager, Portfolio Director – Travel, Tourism & RX Africa Marketing.
“We are thrilled with the support for this year’s awards and are looking forward to featuring it in our annual show programme. It’s a chance for us to honour media professionals working hard to capture our continent’s travel news, remarkable stories, and experiences.”
The awards are open to all media practitioners, including journalists, bloggers, videographers, and photographers who produce content related to African tourism. The 2024 winners as per each category are as follows:
SUSTAINABILITY FEATURE AWARD
WINNER: Alexander Okere
Alexander Okere writes about how illegal trading and hunting of animals continue to undermine wildlife tourism.
Read the full article here.
Runner-Up: Gerald Tenywa Gorillas give dollars
Read full article here.
VISUAL TOURISM AWARD
WINNER: Kelly Hammond
Runner-Up: Arnie Weissman
DESTINATION FEATURE AWARD
WINNER: Phoebe Smith
A day in the life of Onguma’s anti-poaching unit Running with lions, sleeping in trees and never taking a day off… Phoebe Smith meets the man in charge of one of Namibia’s APU’s who fights tirelessly to protect the critically endangered black rhino.
Read full article here.
Runner-Up: Keith Baine
Read full article here.
Runner-Up: Steve Nukwu
TOURISM NEWS AWARD
WINNER: Adele MacKenzie
Massive visa delays, a great number of visas denied and poor service (mostly lack of reciprocal communication)
are the three biggest challenges to inbound tourists visiting South Africa.
Read full article here.
Runner Up: Odimegwu Onwumere
Read full article here.
Entries for the 2025 Media Awards will kick off soon. Watch this space!
The Africa Travel Week Media Awards are a unique celebration of the indispensable role that media plays in the growth of Africa’s tourism industry.
By significantly contributing to showcasing the continent’s rich tourism potential, media practitioners cultivate essential connections between stakeholders, and drive the industry’s growth.
The Africa Travel Week Media Awards recognise this vital work, honouring those who tell Africa’s unique travel stories through exceptional journalism, compelling narratives, and breath-taking imagery.
Sustainability Feature Award
Championing a greener future in travel, our Sustainability Feature Award recognises compelling narratives that spotlight sustainability practices in the African travel industry.
- Feature must be focused on a sustainability issue or initiative in African travel.
- Provides in-depth analysis or investigative reporting.
- Highlights innovative solutions, impactful sustainability practices, or inspiring individuals/organisations.
- Inspires and educates audiences about sustainability in travel.
Criteria
- The submission must be a feature-length article, video, podcast, or blog post published or broadcast within the qualifying year.
- The content must focus on a sustainability issue or initiative within the African travel sector.
- The feature must provide in-depth analysis or investigative reporting on the chosen topic.
- It should highlight innovative solutions, inspiring individuals or organisations, or impactful sustainability practices.
- The feature should inspire and educate audiences about sustainability in travel and its importance in Africa.
- Judging will be based on quality of storytelling, research, creative presentation, and impact on audience.
- Entries provided must have appeared in print or online between 1 January 2023 and 30 January 2024.
- Deadline for entries is 30 January 2024.
Visual Tourism Award
The Visual Tourism Award celebrates the power of visual storytelling in African tourism. This award recognises extraordinary photographers and digital artists whose work captures the diverse beauty, culture, and spirit of Africa’s destinations, helping us see the continent through a unique lens.
- Photo or artwork must depict an aspect related to African tourism.
- Captions should be unique and descriptive.
- Judged based on the photo or artwork’s quality, composition, originality, and emotional resonance.
Criteria
- The photo or artwork submission must have been taken within the qualifying year.
- The photo or artwork must depict a place, event, person, or aspect related to African tourism.
- Entrants can submit multiple photos and artworks, but each one must be accompanied by a unique, descriptive caption.
- Judging will be based on the photo or artwork’s quality, composition, originality, and its ability to capture the essence of the subject matter.
- The photo or artwork should evoke an emotional response and inspire travel or a greater understanding of African tourism.
- For photo submissions, all photos shall comply with the following requirements:
- Photos in JPEG format with high quality of compression (but not more than 5 MB).
- Photos are to be uploaded in their original size. The Participant must not scale the photo or otherwise change its resolution.
- ICC profile is to be embedded in the photo.
- Only images with a single exposure and in One (1) frame may be accepted.
- Only original camera images are allowed to participate in the Awards.
- Minimum adjustments of exposure and colour and cropping are allowed.
- Entries provided must have appeared in print or online between 1 January 2023 and 30 January 2024.
- Deadline for entries is 30 January 2024.
Destination Feature Award
The Destination Feature Award recognises outstanding storytelling that brings African destinations to life. This award honours the creatives who capture the unique essence of a place, diving deep into its culture, heritage, and attractions, and compelling us to embark on our own African journey.
- Feature must focus on a specific African destination.
- Provides a comprehensive understanding of the destination.
- Captures the unique culture, history, natural beauty, or attractions of the destination.
Criteria
- The submission must be a feature-length article, video, podcast, or blog post published or broadcast within the qualifying year.
- The content must focus on a specific African destination.
- The feature should provide in-depth coverage, offering readers or viewers a comprehensive understanding of the destination.
- The entry should capture the unique culture, history, natural beauty, and/or attractions of the destination.
- Judging will be based on the depth of research, quality of storytelling, creative presentation, and its ability to inspire travel to the featured destination.
- Entries provided must have appeared in print or online between 1 January 2023 and 30 January 2024.
- Deadline for entries is 30 January 2024.
Tourism News Award
The Tourism News Award honours outstanding journalism in African tourism. This accolade is given to journalists who skilfully report on important developments, bringing clarity and context to events that shape the industry, and influencing the way we perceive and understand African tourism.
- Content must focus on a significant development, event, or issue in African tourism.
- Demonstrates solid journalism ethics, including accuracy, fairness, and impartiality.
- Provides valuable insights and analysis on the reported event.
Criteria
- The submission must be a news article, video, podcast, or blog post published or broadcast within the qualifying year.
- The content must focus on a significant development, event, or issue in the African tourism industry.
- It must demonstrate solid journalism ethics, including accuracy, fairness, and impartiality.
- The news piece should provide valuable insights and analysis, helping readers or viewers understand the implications of the reported event.
- Judging will be based on the timeliness, relevance, depth of reporting, and impact on the tourism industry.
- Entries provided must have appeared in print or online between 1 January 2023 and 30 January 2024.
- Deadline for entries is 30 January 2024.
