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Cape Town has been voted the Best City in Africa and the Middle East in the Condé Nast Traveler 2010 Readers Choice Awards. More than 25 916 readers worldwide voted in the awards, which encompassed some 10 000 destinations.

The award constitutes yet further evidence that, where the DA governs it delivers a better life, in this case: a world class tourist destination that is proudly South Africa and a shining example of what our country can achieve. Obviously the DA administration cannot take sole credit for the award, a great deal of credit goes to the thousands of entrepreneurs and proud Cape Town citizens who work hard to make their contribution.

This is the second time Cape Town has won this award, having received the highest number of votes in 2008 as well. This year, Cape Town scored 83.7 out of 100. Its closest rival was Jerusalem, at 74.1.

Cape Town's stature as an international tourist destination reaffirms that we are on the right track. Tourism's potential to contribute to economic growth, job creation and foreign exchange earnings is enormous, and Cape Town' success is in no small measure due to the DA's policies on tourism, which focus on:

• Encouraging greater involvement by private entrepreneurs
• Encouraging innovative product development
• Making service excellence a key objective
• Increasing funding to promote tourism
• Promoting Cape Town's unique brand
• Improving public transport
• Facilitating the provision of training to people working in the tourism sector

This award endorses Cape Town's status as the leading destination in South Africa for international travellers and comes after a number of other similar accolades received since the DA and a coalition of smaller parties came into power in 2006:

• Africa's Leading Destination - World Travel Awards 2010, 2009, 2008
• Best destination - Virgin Holidays Responsible Tourism Awards 2009
• World's Number Two City - Travel+Leisure magazine July 2009
• World's Best Incentive Destination - Conference & Incentive Travel magazine October 2009
• Best Tourism Investor City of the Year - AI Tourism Investor Awards 2009
• Best Destination, Africa - World Travel Awards May 2008
• Best City To Live In, Africa & Middle East - Mercer Quality Of Living Survey 2008
• One Of The World's Most Sustainable Cities - Ethisphere Institute, Sept 2008

The impact of a well-run city on tourism cannot be underestimated. Since taking over the management of Cape Town in 2007, the DA-led administration has worked tirelessly to turn the city around, root out corruption, improve service delivery and embody the vision of an open opportunity society for all.