Sunday, 28th September 2025.
by inAfrika Newsroom.
Tanzania’s Ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism has set 19 December 2025 for the second edition of the Serengeti Awards, a national programme designed to recognise excellence across the tourism industry. The ministry said the scheme features 56 awards grouped into seven clusters that span the whole value chain—from public voting to guiding, hospitality, conservation and exhibitors—aimed at rewarding performance and lifting standards across destinations.
According to the ministry outline, categories include a People’s Choice award (public voting), recognition for owners of tourism enterprises, Tour Guide of the Year, accommodation and restaurant service accolades, conservation honours for institutions and rangers (including TANAPA and NCAA), Tourism Exhibitor Awards, and special appreciation awards. Officials positioned the programme as industry-wide rather than city-centric, signalling that excellence exists across Tanzania’s safari, coastal and cultural circuits.
Entry mechanics will go live on 10 October via a dedicated website, allowing companies and individuals to submit and the public to participate where applicable. The activation adds a firm timeline for stakeholders preparing dossiers ahead of judging and the December gala.
The awards land during a period of strong sector momentum. Bank of Tanzania data show services export earnings rose on the back of travel (tourism), with travel receipts accounting for 56 percent of all service receipts in the year to April 2025 as international arrivals climbed to about 2.16 million. The central bank describes travel as a major driver of the external sector’s improvement, reinforcing tourism’s status among Tanzania’s top foreign-exchange earners.
International recognition has also been conspicuous. Tanzania was named Africa’s Leading Destination 2025 at the World Travel Awards, while Serengeti National Park retained Africa’s Leading National Park. Other wins underscored depth across the product: Julius Nyerere International Airport took Africa’s Leading Airport, Nyerere National Park earned Africa’s Leading Scenic National Park, and Zanzibar was recognised as Africa’s Leading Festival & Event Destination. Sector leaders say the Serengeti Awards are intended to channel this momentum into measurable improvements in service quality, innovation and conservation practice nationwide.
What to watch next: the publication of detailed entry criteria, judging processes and voting windows following the 10 October site launch, plus how the scheme tracks outcomes—such as skills development for guides, guest-experience metrics for hotels and lodges, and conservation benchmarks for protected areas. With a headline date now fixed and categories covering the full chain from field to front desk, the Serengeti Awards set a year-end focal point for a sector that remains central to jobs, exports and Tanzania’s global brand.
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