Cape Town wins World Travel ‘Best Beach’ award

The City of Cape Town has been named the Best Beach Destination in Africa in the prestigious 2012 World Travel Awards.

This comes after Lonely Planet awarded the City second place for the World’s Ten Best Beach Cities in 2011. Cape Town was then described as ‘good-looking, fun-loving, sporty and sociable’. 

“Achieving this type of international recognition demonstrates that Cape Town sets the gold standard for beaches throughout the country. As part of our drive to make this an Inclusive City, I am pleased that all of our residents and visitors can enjoy quality beaches and the recreational activities that are associated with them,” said the City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Community Services, Councillor Tandeka Gqada.

Cape Town also has the highest number of Blue Flag status beaches in South Africa. Blue Flag status is an internationally recognised standard of excellence awarded to approximately 3 450 beaches and marinas in over 41 countries, according to www.blueflag.org.

The status indicates that the beaches are clean, have adequate ablution facilities and parking, are environmentally sound, are safe and secure to visit, and adhere to international safety and tourism standards. The accreditation is awarded for one season at a time, and if conditions change at the beach, it can be withdrawn.