ASILIA AFRICA WINS PRESTIGIOUS ‘TOURISM FOR TOMORROW’ AWARD BY WTTC
(Posted 09th May 2014)
The World Travel and Tourism Council in London has for their 2014 award season named Asilia Africa as the winner of the prestigious ‘Tourism for Tomorrow’ award, recognizing excellence and best environmental practice across the operations of Asilia in Kenya and Tanzania including Zanzibar.
Asilia Africa beat such global brands like TUI Travel and Cathay Pacific to the prestigious World Travel and Tourism Council’s Tourism for Tomorrow Business Award which recognises tourism businesses which successfully integrate sustainable tourism best practices into their planning and operations.
Bas Hochstenbach, Co-Founder of Asilia Africa and Commercial Director said when told about the award: ‘As we are approaching our 10th birthday as a company this is the best birthday present imaginable. It’s a great honour to our entire team, and a strong motivator to work harder at our goal of turning the fragile areas we operate in into lasting conservation economies’.
Costas Christ, Chairman of the Judges of the Awards, for the final time after 10 successful years, when making the announcement, said: ‘Hundreds of unique applicants applied for the Awards this year. This year’s winners show that embracing sustainable tourism principles and practices is a full time responsibility to both current and future generations of this finite and fragile planet that we all share’.
Asilia Africa is known to pioneer a unique approach when setting up camps and lodges in areas where tourism has
little foothold and making long-term commitments to allow these places to thrive. Ultimately, bringing sustainable
tourism to new areas can transform them into viable and lasting conservation-based economies, with perpetual
revenue for both its people and the protection of wildlife.
In a related development it was learned yesterday that Asilia Africa to mark their 10th anniversary, will open their new Serengeti based camp, Namiri Plains, on the 1st of July.
Namiri means ‘big cat’ in Swahili and the name could not be more apt for this beautiful region of the Serengeti.
Closed to the world for over 20 years to create a safe haven for cheetah breeding and research, today the area has
an exceptional population of big cats including the arguably highest density of cheetah in East Africa.
Namiri Plains is set in a small fever tree forest with uninterrupted views of the sweeping plains ahead. These plains
are home to the Great Migration from November to June as a million and a half of wildebeest and zebras continue their endless cycle of journeys for food and water. The 6 traditional safari tents have all the creature comforts you need; crisp linen, spacious verandas and home cooked food enjoyed under the African stars but leave only the lightest footprint on the environment.
Guests can explore the area on daily game drives, enjoy sunrise breakfast picnics on top of Soit le Motonyi rock or
sundowners atop one of the area’s huge rock kopjes. Whilst exploring, guests will feel like they have the Serengeti to themselves, which they literally do as Namiri Plains’ closest neighbour is over 45 minutes away making other vehicles an unusual sighting.
Asilia was chosen by TANAPA and SENAPA as a concessioner largely due to their success in establishing tourism in pioneering areas such as the Northern Serengeti in 2005 and Rubondo Island in Lake Victoria in 2012. For more information on this award winning operation visit www.asiliaafrica.com
