Commenting on Cape Town Tourism’s role in the myriad activities linked to the 2010 FIFA World Cup event in Cape Town, Mariette Du-Toit Helmbold, CEO of Cape Town Tourism says with conviction, “The 2010 FIFA World Cup is an important catalyst for economic growth, but also for marketing our country and building civic pride.
As Cape Town Tourism, we are focusing on in-destination activations to ensure that visitors to the World Cup have unforgettable experiences, leaving our country as brand ambassadors and inspiring others to visit. The country will attract many visitors from markets that would otherwise not have visited South Africa and this is an opportunity to expand our foreign and African markets. At the same time, the investment in tourism infrastructure, training and technology will create a solid foundation for sustained development beyond 2010.”
Cape Town Tourism coordinates a variety of projects on behalf of the Host City Cape Town, which include destination marketing, visitor services, accommodation, responsible tourism, communication and e-marketing. They also work closely with other work streams like arts and culture, safety and security, transport and city beautification to ensure synergy and maximised opportunities.
Projects under the destination marketing category focus on profiling Cape Town and its offerings through a variety of channels; including major events, travel shows, and a comprehensive media mix. There is a strong focus on engaging with so called ‘new markets,’ which are not traditional markets for Cape Town, in the effort to expand Cape Town’s current visitor base.
Targeted 2010 Media hosting and PR are used creatively to compliment all efforts in a highly cost effective way resulting in excellent return on investment.
A series of citizen activation campaigns have been put in place to stimulate civic pride and a welcoming spirit amongst Capetonians in the run up to, during and beyond the event. The ‘Cape Town’s Weekend’ on 26 and 27 September 2009 is an initiative run in partnership with the tourism industry to ‘give something meaningful back’ to locals by offering reduced rates, exciting activities and lots of giveaways only available to residents of the Mother City. Launched on 27 September 2008 on World Tourism Day, the initiative proved a major success and resulted in hundreds of Capetonians enabled to explore parts of Cape Town they never thought they would be able to.
A key 2010 legacy programme is the Cape Town Sons and Daughters Programme, to be launched in conjunction with the City and the new Cape Town Station. It will celebrate both legendary and ordinary Capetonians and people who have played a major role in building Cape Town. A walk of fame has been designed as part of the new Cape Town Station that will celebrate these sons and daughters of the Mother City.
Other project highlights include the development of a highly interactive 2010 ‘mini-site,’ which will go live on the 25th of May 2009. The site is part of Cape Town Tourism’s “Extended Stay Programme” and will be an invaluable resource for soccer fans and anyone wanting to know what to do and see in Cape Town during the 2010 FIFA World Cup. Features include match schedules; scores; fan activities; video content; breaking news; blogging and links to twitter, Flickr, and Facebook.
“Our aim is to encourage visitors to events in the lead up to the 2010 FIFA World Cup, like the Confederations Cup and Final Draw, as well as the World Cup itself to extend their stay in Cape Town. At the same time we will showcase the richness and diversity of the regions around Cape Town, enticing visitors to make Cape Town their address of choice,” says du Toit-Helmbold. “It is imperative to convert soccer visitors and members of the media into Cape Town brand evangelists so that they will return and promote Cape Town as a remarkable leisure, business and events destination to friends, relatives and colleagues.”
Upgrading and expansion of Cape Town Tourism’s visitor services network has already begun; including the roll-out of both unmanned and mobile Visitor Information Centres at key points in and around Cape Town.
Training for both the Cape Town Tourism team and the industry has commenced with the focus on communication, service delivery and safety.
Du Toit-Helmbold is confident that the Cape Town tourism industry is ready to provide a seamless and remarkable service to all visitors coming to Cape Town before, during and after 2010.
source: travelwires
www.africatravelnetwork.net
The Easy Africa Site www.africatravelnetwork.net
Friday, May 29, 2009
Thursday, May 28, 2009
School holidays to fit in with 2010 FIFA World Cup
The Education Department has announced that next years South African school’s winter vacation period will be extended to ensure that schools are closed during the 2010 FIFA World Cup. This is to prevent pupil and teacher absenteeism during the matches, as well as lighten the load on the public transport system.
The 2010 FIFA World Cup will be held from the 11 June, with the final match and closing ceremony being on 11 July. The school term will end just two days before kick off and start again two days after the tournament final and closing ceremonies.
The Gauteng Education Department has provided a term calendar on its website that lists the following dates being applicable for the 2010 winter break: last day of the second term is 9 June, with the first day back for pupils to start the third term being 13 July. In terms of actual school days, this means a holiday of 22 days, as opposed to the usual 15. These dates apply to all nine provinces.
The Education Department has confirmed the approval and gazetting of the school calendar, thus making the aforementioned dates official. The Department has however insured that there will still be the usual 195 school days during the course of the academic year, as per prescribed policy.
Private schools that are members of ISASA (the Independent Schools Association of South Africa) have also amended their calendars: the schools that usually run a four-term year will follow the State Calendar as per the Education Department. The schools which normally follow a three-term year will next year follow a four term calendar, which is similar to the State calendar, except for differing dates regarding the end of the third term and the whole of the fourth term. They too will be closed on the same dates as all the other schools during the 2010 World Cup. The amended calendar is available for download on their website.
The 2010 Local Organising Committee, along with the Transport Department, had asked for schools to be closed, citing traffic congestion as one of the reasons.
The 2010 FIFA World Cup will be held from the 11 June, with the final match and closing ceremony being on 11 July. The school term will end just two days before kick off and start again two days after the tournament final and closing ceremonies.
The Gauteng Education Department has provided a term calendar on its website that lists the following dates being applicable for the 2010 winter break: last day of the second term is 9 June, with the first day back for pupils to start the third term being 13 July. In terms of actual school days, this means a holiday of 22 days, as opposed to the usual 15. These dates apply to all nine provinces.
The Education Department has confirmed the approval and gazetting of the school calendar, thus making the aforementioned dates official. The Department has however insured that there will still be the usual 195 school days during the course of the academic year, as per prescribed policy.
Private schools that are members of ISASA (the Independent Schools Association of South Africa) have also amended their calendars: the schools that usually run a four-term year will follow the State Calendar as per the Education Department. The schools which normally follow a three-term year will next year follow a four term calendar, which is similar to the State calendar, except for differing dates regarding the end of the third term and the whole of the fourth term. They too will be closed on the same dates as all the other schools during the 2010 World Cup. The amended calendar is available for download on their website.
The 2010 Local Organising Committee, along with the Transport Department, had asked for schools to be closed, citing traffic congestion as one of the reasons.
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
Make the 2010 FIFA Cup a Road Trip
With the 2010 FIFA World Cup road show about to kick off in nine South African cities, football fans are encouraged to discover the treasures of South Africa by following their chosen teams around.
Matches will take place in or near virtually all the tourist hotspots, so when you are not bellowing for Kaka, Torres, Messi or Diego, why not opt for car rental and take time out to appreciate the rich diversity of South Africa.
Premier wildlife conservation areas
The biggest show on earth will begin in Johannesburg, a city built on the incomparable riches of gold that is still mined extensively today. Johannesburg itself may not be packed with attractions, but only a couple of hour’s drive away is the world renowned Kruger National Park, one of the premier conservation areas of Africa.
A safe haven for the ‘Big 5’, the Kruger has a range of accommodation options, from luxurious bush lodges where your every need is taken care of to simple, self-catering rondavels. Earmark at least four days to unearth the delights of the African bushveld as this park is vast, covering 18,989km².
The centre of Zulu culture
The city of Durban on the KwaZulu Natal coastline is another hot favourite with visitors. It is slap bang in the centre of the traditional Zulu Kingdom, so guests will have the opportunity of steeping themselves in the exotic Zulu culture. Not far north of Durban, it’s possible to visit an authentic Zulu Kraal or homestead, where you can interact with the local community, witness them crafting their traditional weapons of war – the assegai and knobkerrie – as well as enjoying traditional Zulu dances.
Home to the great Nelson Mandela
Port Elizabeth, in the Eastern Cape, is the nearest large, urban hub to the traditional home of world statesman and the first democratically elected president of South Africa, the great Nelson Mandela. It is also the traditional home of the Xhosa nation, numbered at about 12 million people.
The Eastern Cape is another area that has promoted conservation and there are several excellent private and national game reserves, all within an easy day’s drive of PE. The Addo Elephant Park and the Shamwari Game Reserve are two premier wildlife destinations, but if the bush has begun to pall, make for the beautiful beach destinations of Cintsa, Morgan’s Bay or the famed Coffee Bay in the Transkei.
Wine, whales and the Waterfront
The iconic city of Cape Town is scheduled to host 9 FIFA World Cup matches, including a quarter-final and a semi-final. However, in between these exciting encounters there is a veritable feast of attractions to discover, from the beautiful Cape wine estates to the best land-based whale watching in the world to the opulent V&A Waterfront. Take time out and discover the wonders of the southern tip of Africa - you won’t regret it!
Matches will take place in or near virtually all the tourist hotspots, so when you are not bellowing for Kaka, Torres, Messi or Diego, why not opt for car rental and take time out to appreciate the rich diversity of South Africa.
Premier wildlife conservation areas
The biggest show on earth will begin in Johannesburg, a city built on the incomparable riches of gold that is still mined extensively today. Johannesburg itself may not be packed with attractions, but only a couple of hour’s drive away is the world renowned Kruger National Park, one of the premier conservation areas of Africa.
A safe haven for the ‘Big 5’, the Kruger has a range of accommodation options, from luxurious bush lodges where your every need is taken care of to simple, self-catering rondavels. Earmark at least four days to unearth the delights of the African bushveld as this park is vast, covering 18,989km².
The centre of Zulu culture
The city of Durban on the KwaZulu Natal coastline is another hot favourite with visitors. It is slap bang in the centre of the traditional Zulu Kingdom, so guests will have the opportunity of steeping themselves in the exotic Zulu culture. Not far north of Durban, it’s possible to visit an authentic Zulu Kraal or homestead, where you can interact with the local community, witness them crafting their traditional weapons of war – the assegai and knobkerrie – as well as enjoying traditional Zulu dances.
Home to the great Nelson Mandela
Port Elizabeth, in the Eastern Cape, is the nearest large, urban hub to the traditional home of world statesman and the first democratically elected president of South Africa, the great Nelson Mandela. It is also the traditional home of the Xhosa nation, numbered at about 12 million people.
The Eastern Cape is another area that has promoted conservation and there are several excellent private and national game reserves, all within an easy day’s drive of PE. The Addo Elephant Park and the Shamwari Game Reserve are two premier wildlife destinations, but if the bush has begun to pall, make for the beautiful beach destinations of Cintsa, Morgan’s Bay or the famed Coffee Bay in the Transkei.
Wine, whales and the Waterfront
The iconic city of Cape Town is scheduled to host 9 FIFA World Cup matches, including a quarter-final and a semi-final. However, in between these exciting encounters there is a veritable feast of attractions to discover, from the beautiful Cape wine estates to the best land-based whale watching in the world to the opulent V&A Waterfront. Take time out and discover the wonders of the southern tip of Africa - you won’t regret it!
Monday, May 25, 2009
World Cup Anthem
R ‘n’ B musician Akon has landed an incredibly lucrative deal, as he has been asked to make music for the forthcoming 2010 football world cup.
The ‘Birthmark’ hitmaker has been roped in to record a theme song for the football world cup event, which will take place in South Africa next year, and oversee performances throughout the tournament.
“I’ve been hired as musical director for the World Cup. I will be overseeing the World Cup anthem and music at the ceremonies and I’m off to South Africa this week for meetings. I love soccer, so it’s a great honour,” Contactmusic quoted him as saying. (ANI)
The ‘Birthmark’ hitmaker has been roped in to record a theme song for the football world cup event, which will take place in South Africa next year, and oversee performances throughout the tournament.
“I’ve been hired as musical director for the World Cup. I will be overseeing the World Cup anthem and music at the ceremonies and I’m off to South Africa this week for meetings. I love soccer, so it’s a great honour,” Contactmusic quoted him as saying. (ANI)
Friday, May 22, 2009
Cape Storm May 2009
These pictures were taken in the early hours of 19th May 2009
More pictures can be seen on our Africa Travel Network Facebook Page.
FIFA Prepares Africa’s Reporters for World Cup
Football’s world ruling body FIFA has endorsed an ambitious program that aims to fine-tune the skills of more than 300 African football reporters from 46 African countries in the run-up to the 2010 World Cup.
Part of FIFA’s “Win in Africa with Africa” development program, the initiative’s wider aims are to provide mid-career training to more than 300 reporters and photographers across the continent.
Launched after South Africa won the right to host the 2010 World Cup, the courses will be run by the AFP Foundation, the international training arm of Agence France-Presse news agency, and financed in cooperation with the European Union.
FIFA president Joseph S. Blatter said: “Media in Africa will play a key role to link all people of the continent with the 2010 FIFA World Cup. Consequently, FIFA is particularly proud to help by providing high quality journalism courses for African media in association with the AFP Foundation and the European Commission.”
The program will be run in four languages — English, French, Arabic and Portuguese — with the first courses held at Diambars Football Institute about 70 kilometers southwest of Dakar.
Facilities have been made available by eight national associations in Africa which have agreed to support the program, with French-speaking reporters from Senegal, Ivory Coast and Togo taking the first week-long course this week.
“This is the most ambitious project undertaken by the AFP Foundation since it was set up in July 2007 and it gives me great satisfaction,” AFP chief executive Pierre Louette said.
“We hope that our training courses will not only enhance their professional skills but also create lasting friendships,” he said.
“Training of journalists is an important first step towards the World Cup in 2010,” EU development commissioner Louis Michel said.
“This is part of the commission’s efforts to ensure the image of a modern Africa is more widely known. It is also a symbol of the strategic relationship being built between the two continents of Europe and Africa.”
Other sessions will take place this month and in June in Abuja, Cairo, Johannesburg, Libreville, Maputo, Nairobi and Rabat.
A total of 137 reporters and 15 photographers were selected for the first round of training. More courses will be held toward the end of the year and in 2010.
Part of FIFA’s “Win in Africa with Africa” development program, the initiative’s wider aims are to provide mid-career training to more than 300 reporters and photographers across the continent.
Launched after South Africa won the right to host the 2010 World Cup, the courses will be run by the AFP Foundation, the international training arm of Agence France-Presse news agency, and financed in cooperation with the European Union.
FIFA president Joseph S. Blatter said: “Media in Africa will play a key role to link all people of the continent with the 2010 FIFA World Cup. Consequently, FIFA is particularly proud to help by providing high quality journalism courses for African media in association with the AFP Foundation and the European Commission.”
The program will be run in four languages — English, French, Arabic and Portuguese — with the first courses held at Diambars Football Institute about 70 kilometers southwest of Dakar.
Facilities have been made available by eight national associations in Africa which have agreed to support the program, with French-speaking reporters from Senegal, Ivory Coast and Togo taking the first week-long course this week.
“This is the most ambitious project undertaken by the AFP Foundation since it was set up in July 2007 and it gives me great satisfaction,” AFP chief executive Pierre Louette said.
“We hope that our training courses will not only enhance their professional skills but also create lasting friendships,” he said.
“Training of journalists is an important first step towards the World Cup in 2010,” EU development commissioner Louis Michel said.
“This is part of the commission’s efforts to ensure the image of a modern Africa is more widely known. It is also a symbol of the strategic relationship being built between the two continents of Europe and Africa.”
Other sessions will take place this month and in June in Abuja, Cairo, Johannesburg, Libreville, Maputo, Nairobi and Rabat.
A total of 137 reporters and 15 photographers were selected for the first round of training. More courses will be held toward the end of the year and in 2010.
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