In a competition that saw over 70 entries from across Africa, the audience at the recent the E-Tourism Africa Summit cast their vote for the four finalists in the last round of the Africa App Quest which was sponsored by Visa and South African Tourism. Africa Live received US$10,000 in prize money and the Africa App Quest trophy.
William Price, South African Tourism's Global E-Marketing Manager, said the Africa App Quest was a tough decision in selecting the top finalists.
"Originally there were only three slots but we had a tie for the third place, so it was ideal to see four very strong, dynamic apps showcased to our audience at the E-Tourism Africa Summit for the final judging. The audience made their decision and we congratulate the Africa Live team from South Africa for their app", said Price.
Africa Live is a live game sighting map, the other three finalists included Activity Bridge - a web based platform to sell tourism activities, Tourism Radio - a device that combines GPS and location based information for self-drive holidays, Pixshare Africa - a photo sharing social media platform for travel businesses.
Rob Maclean, the managing director from Satpack Travel, the company behind Africa Live, said they were proud to have won the Africa App Quest.
"We created Africa Live as we saw a strong need in the market place for a platform for people to share their wildlife sightings instantly. With over 70 apps being entered into the competition, we are thrilled to have received the title and this will certainly encourage us to continue seeking opportunities that can assist the growing travel population. However, special thanks must be given to Visa and South African Tourism for recognising the importance of technology in tourism."
"This year's Africa App Quest showcased the strength of talent in the technology and tourism sectors in Africa. The four finalist's apps showed a high degree of sophistication and creativity, knowledge of the local tourism market and an accessible solution provided. We believe the Africa App Quest has encouraged developers in Africa to look at the tourism market more closely and see where the gaps are in terms of content and seize this opportunity," said Jodie Schorn, head of Cross-Border Marketing for Visa Sub-Saharan Africa.
