A highlight of the congress was South Africa’s remarkable success in the Skål Sustainable Tourism Awards, with South African initiatives earning three first-place and one second-place award across various categories. Skål Garden Route members Vijver Jonck and Lara Mostert, representing the South African Animal Sanctuary Alliance, took home first place in the Land and Marine Biodiversity category for their project, “Buy a Square Meter of Forest for the Monkeys.” This project invites visitors to support monkey conservation by “buying” square meters of natural habitat, merging tourism with meaningful ecological preservation.
An inspiring moment came as Skål International South African presidents from various chapters united on stage to stand in solidarity with Salome Clack, President of Skål International Nelson Mandela Bay, as she presented a vision for the 85th Skål International World Congress, set to be hosted in Qeberha in 2026. This powerful display of unity highlighted the enthusiasm and commitment of South Africa’s Skål members to advancing the mission of sustainable tourism on an international stage.
The congress was a testament to Skål’s ethos of “doing business among friends,” as members left with renewed motivation to champion sustainable tourism in their own regions.
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