Tanzania: Mount Kilimanjaro Wins Africa's Leading Tourist Attraction Award

MOUNT Kilimanjaro, the highest mountain in Africa, and the highest freestanding mountain in the world, has been declared Africa's leading tourist attraction in 2016 during the World Travel Awards Africa and Indian Ocean Gala Ceremony in Zanzibar.

A statement issued by the Tanzania Tourist Board (TTB), yesterday said the red carpet event attended by hundreds of tourism industry leaders was hosted by Diamonds La Gemma Dell'est, Nungwi the northern tip of Zanzibar, last Saturday.

"Tanzania Tourist Board is honored to see that Mt. Kilimanjaro has been voted as the leading tourist destination in Africa. This nomination will definitely contribute towards our efforts in promoting Destination Tanzania, especially in making the world know that Tanzania is home to Mt Kilimanjaro; the pinnacle wonder of Africa, “reads part of the statement.

Mount Kilimanjaro is the world's most accessible high snow-capped summit, a beacon for visitors from around the world and is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

In addition to Mt Kilimanjaro, Tanzanian tourism companies also won different awards in various categories. "TTB congratulates all companies nominated at the World Travel Awards Africa and Indian Ocean Gala Ceremony and is confident that their victory is a very strong tool in the marketing and promotion of destination Tanzania.

Likewise, Tanzania Tourist Board thanks all tourism stakeholders for voting for Mount Kilimanjaro and other Tanzania tourism facilities and making them become winners," further reads the statement.

World Travel Awards was established in 1993 to acknowledge, reward and celebrate excellence across all key sectors of the travel, tourism and hospitality industry. Today, the World Travel Awards brand is recognized globally as the ultimate hallmark of quality, with winners setting the benchmark to which all others aspire. Each year World Travel Awards covers the globe with a series of regional gala ceremonies staged to recognize and celebrate individual and collective successes within each geographical region.