SA Tourism promotes 2010 FIFA World Cup at World Travel Market 2009

As the doors to World Travel Market opened in London on Monday 9th November, there were 214 days until the kick-off of the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa. South African Tourism, led by UK Country Manager Lebohang Mokhesi, has been out in force at the event which ran through to the 11th November, marketing the 2010 FIFA World Cup to the world, igniting a passion for the ‘beautiful game’ and destination South Africa.

Opening the event on the 9th with a Diski dance activation, visitors to the show were treated to the rhythmic, celebratory diski dance that has already become the definitive boogie of the 2010 FIFA World Cup.TM

Present to celebrate the opening of World Travel Market 2009, South African Tourism’s 2010 Ambassador, Lucas Radebe, known affectionately all over the world as Rhoo and The Chief, is working with South African Tourism to welcome football fans to next year’s FIFA World Cup.

Radebe has been introduced as South Africa’s 2010 football ambassador. He is a former Bafana Bafana (South Africa’s national football team) captain, star Leeds United player and a retired footballer who enjoys global fame and admiration not only for his skills as a player, but also for his down to earth, approachable, nice-guy qualities and image.

Radebe, accompanied by Chief Executive Officer of the 2010 FIFA World Cup Organising Committee South Africa, Dr Danny Jordaan, and Susan van der Merwe, Deputy Minister of International Relations & Cooperation of the Republic of South Africa, took part in a press conference to discuss the latest unpublished developments around three important global sports events – the 2010 FIFA World Cup™ (South Africa), the 2010 Winter Olympics (Canada) and 2012 Olympics (London).

Sports tourism is worth $600 billion a year to travel and tourism worldwide. Speaking at the press conference, Deputy Minister van der Merwe informed the delegates and media present of the infrastructure developments taking place in South Africa to enhance the destination’s position as a major player in the tourism industry.

Improvements in transport have been paramount, especially in the lead up to the FIFA 2010 World Cup™, including airport upgrades to the country’s two main airports: OR Tambo and Cape Town International Airport. KwaZulu-Natal province will also benefit from a new international airport in La Mercy North of Durban. It is expected to open on May 1, 2010 just over a month before the World Cup.

The Bus Rapid Transit system is another transport initiative adopted by government to improve access to Nasrec and Ellis Park Precincts and will be able to transport large volumes of fans for the World Cup on match or event days.
World class hotels have opened including the One and Only in Cape Town. The Southern Sun Hotel group is developing new hotels and refurbishing older properties over the next four years. This group opened a new hotel in Hyde Park, Johannesburg, in September. The Radisson Group is also making its mark in South Africa with hotels in Cape Town, Johannesburg and Port Elizabeth.

Upgrades to three existing convention centres in Durban, Cape Town and Johannesburg have taken place with new convention centres opening in Bloemfontein, Pretoria and Mpumalanga.

Lucas Radebe then took the stage to address the audience, welcoming all visitors to South Africa and the 2010 FIFA World Cup – an event that Radede states provides the perfect platform for South Africa from which to showcase the country’s culture and beauty.

This was emphasized by Dr Jordaan, who claimed that South Africa’s success in securing the 2010 World Cup is rooted in the country’s democracy, created in 1994 at the end of apartheid and marking the start of a new brand South Africa that has seen over 140 major sporting events take place to great acclaim and without incident.

“South Africans are naturally friendly, welcoming people,” says South African Tourism’s UK country manager, Lebo Mokhesi. “The nation is excited to be hosting the World Cup and delighted to show their country off to the 450 00 visitors we expect next year.

“South Africans understand, too, that the 2010 FIFA World Cup gives us an opportunity to shine… to treat the world to our open, friendly hospitality; and to invite people to come back time and time again to experience more of the friendliness, warm weather and unspoiled beauty of our destination.”