The Balearica Awards
Celebrating Excellence, Inspiring Tomorrow
Africa's premier tourism recognition platform — honouring outstanding destinations, businesses, and leaders shaping the future of African travel.
Transparent & Trusted
A Credibility Model You Can Trust
Our weighted scoring system ensures balanced, independent, and transparent results.
40%
Judges Panel
Industry experts score nominees against structured criteria
40%
Balearica Awards College
Distinguished tourism professionals provide independent assessment
20%
Public Vote
Verified public votes ensure community recognition
70+ Categories
Award Categories
Recognising excellence across every sector of African tourism.
Luxury Hotel of the Year
Hospitality
Tourism Board of the Year
Destination
International Airline of the Year
Transport & Travel Services
Responsible Tourism Initiative of the Year
Destination
Cultural Destination of the Year
Destination
Tourism Personality of the Year
Industry Icons
The Process
How It Works
From nomination to the awards ceremony — a rigorous, transparent journey.
Nominations Open
Submit nominations across 70+ categories recognising tourism excellence across Africa.
Top 10 Shortlisting
The 10 most-supported nominees per category advance to the shortlist.
Verification & Assessment
Our team verifies eligibility, legitimacy, and operational standards of each shortlisted nominee.
Final Voting
Judges (40%), Balearica Awards College (40%), and Public (20%) cast weighted votes.
Awards Ceremony
Winners are announced at a prestigious ceremony celebrating African tourism excellence.
The Impact
Why Africa Tourism Awards Matters
- Global visibility for Africa's best tourism experiences
- Independent, transparent recognition that drives investment
- Year-round marketing platform for nominees and winners
- Connecting African tourism to international markets
- Raising standards across the continent's hospitality sector
54
African Countries
70+
Award Categories
500+
Nominations
50K+
Votes Cast
Supported By Leading Organisations
Save The Date
Africa Tourism Awards 2026
London • November 2026
242
Days
08
Hours
34
Minutes
Industry Voices
What Leaders Say
"Africa Tourism Awards brings the visibility and credibility our continent's tourism industry deserves on the world stage."
Ola Wright
CEO, West Africa Tourism Organisation
"It was a beautifully organised event attended by the movers and shakers of the industry from all across Africa."
Allan Njoroge
Acting CEO, Kenya Tourism Board
"The awards recognise excellence in the development of tours and hospitality and very importantly, investment in African tourism."
Paul Hoskins
Director, International Tourism Investment Corporation
Ready to Celebrate African Tourism Excellence?
Whether you're nominating, voting, sponsoring, or attending — be part of the movement recognising Africa's finest.