Speech by Senior Manager: Destination Marketing – Gauteng Tourism Authority
Tour Operators Workshop: 24-25 November 2008
Sandton Convention Centre
Honourable Guests
Colleagues & Friends
Ladies & Gentlemen
I am delighted to have this opportunity to meet not only our Gauteng Tour Operators but also our international visitors, and officially welcome you to Gauteng. Some of you are old friends of ours and I’m also glad to welcome new Tour Operators who have come to participate in this workshop. To our overseas guests, your visit is indeed the beginning of a new phase of development and growth not only for Tour Operating industry, but also for tourism intensification in Gauteng.
Ladies and Gentlemen, tourism is a highly competitive industry, and for us to maintain and exceed our tourist arrival growth rate, it is vital that we continue to enhance international awareness of South Africa as a world-class tourist destination. This workshop therefore, is a further step towards ensuring that the benefits of 2010 FIFA World Cup are felt by all sectors of the business community from multinational companies to family businesses.
This platform again, is an excellent example of how government and business are working with tourism industry and broader stakeholders, in ensuring that planning is aligned and targeted towards a common goal - not only an African World Cup that we all can be proud of, but also to benefit more of our SMME’s.
As you are all aware, Tour Operators have a vital role to play in the success of 2010 FIFA World Cup since you function as intermediaries in the tourism distribution system, linking producers and consumers. Your expertise therefore in packaging tourism products would grow global awareness of South African tourism attractions.
I am also particularly excited about the tourism marketing opportunities that FIFA’s Tour Operator programme provides. Even though this programme is largely focused on the allocation of tickets globally, the very fact that it will incorporate hundred’s of tour operators; provides South Africa with a truly amassing tourism marketing opportunity.
I would like to take the opportunity to thank the organisers, MATCH, for this initiative in ensuring that Tour Operating programme does indeed provide such tourism marketing opportunities.
I thank you for this occasion and wish you every success in implementing 2010 FIFA Tour Operator programme.
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
Thursday, November 6, 2008
GAUTENG - HOST OF 2010 FIFA WORLD CUP TM OPENING AND FINAL MATCHES
GAUTENG - HOST OF 2010 FIFA WORLD CUP TM OPENING AND FINAL MATCHES
Before FIFA was able to award South Africa the right to stage the 2010 FIFA World CupTM, the Government had to provide a number of guarantees including new legislation – assurances required of any country that wants to put in a bid to host the event. These guarantees, like, safety and security, transport, healthcare services, telecommunication, etc. are not intended to benefit FIFA alone, but rather also helps to improve infrastructure and accelerate development as well as enabling the global football community to be assured of a successful tournament.
Hosting the 2010 FIFA World CupTM is an opportunity of a lifetime for South Africa and African continent as a whole. This is the first African World Cup and South Africa will build alliances with African communities to advance solidarity, market the continent, develop the capacity of Africa to influence global news and information flows, and to tell our own stories of Africa. South Africa will make the most of this unique opportunity to express and further build unity and pride amongst themselves by inspiring youth, marketing the country to the world, create a communication climate and to use this change to speed up development and expand opportunities.
Gauteng is South Africa’s financial and commercial heartland. The city has many names, like ‘Egoli’, meaning “place of gold”. Indeed, gold and, of course, glamour are close companions in this place, which has grown from primitive mine camp to metropolis in little over a century. The city pulsates with entrepreneurial energy while, at the same time, retaining the spirit of a frontier.
Lately, Gauteng is undergoing considerable change, and interestingly, the province’s tourist profile shows that 60 per cent of foreign tourists visit Johannesburg and Pretoria, in particular, to shop; many of them are from the rest of the continent. One of the major infrastructural developments currently underway and to be ready for 2010 FIFA World Cup TM is the construction of the much awaited Gautrain.
This multi-billion rand fast rail system, not unlike the Docklands Light Rail in London, will form a circuitous link between O R Tambo Airport, Johannesburg and Pretoria. It is heralded as an economic booster and a source of job creation, the latter being one of the fundamental pillars of the government’s economic policy, and people are rubbing their hands with glee at the huge economic spin-offs, which will hopefully trickle down to benefit those who need it most.
Excellent all-round weather with world class stadiums, Gauteng’s two big cities, Johannesburg and Pretoria is not only the host of both the opening and closing matches of 2010 FIFA World Cup TM, but also the practice venues.
“Gauteng again the hub of 2009 Confederation Cup – to host 11 matches, is ahead of schedule using this platform as a dress rehearsal for the bigger 2010 FIFA World Cup TM opening and final showpiece. Renovations to the two stadiums, Loftus in Pretoria and Soccer City in Johannesburg, and the practicing stadiums would all be completed well at the forefront, said Barbara Creecy, MEC Sports, to the 2010 local Organising Committee (LOC).”
Also in its advanced stages in Gauteng, is the ‘Rea Vaya‘ (we are going) project in Johannesburg, with 325km of special public transport lanes and intersections, and 40 transport interchange nodes where commuters can switch from one form of transport to another. In addition, the Pretoria Bus Rapid Transport (BRT) System – development of 472 km of bus ways and 113km of mixed traffic lanes, with better access roads into the city, to airports, to the stadiums and the cherry on top, a new municipal bus fleet to service, are all underway. Alex van Niekerk, Sanral Traffic Manager stated,
“The South African National Roads Agency (Sanral) plans to install 76 electronic tollbooths along the Gauteng highway system, to generate cash to offset maintenance beyond 2010 FIFA World Cup TM.”
To activate this, the tollgates will use e-tags and video surveillance equipment coupled to processors running nameplate recognition software which would be placed on most highways and off-ramps. Gauteng motorists would be billed 50c per kilometer travelled and bills would be payable monthly.
Gauteng is also on top of its health and medical services – in that Gauteng takes a cue in the national Minister of Health commitment to FIFA that the infrastructure of the South African National Health System, specifically a comprehensive medical service (including 24-hour emergency medical treatment) and disaster management would be put at the disposal of all host cities, including Gauteng. In addition, free primary healthcare (PHC) will be provided for all spectators at official venues, including a script or referral to a health facility if necessary. However, costs of any investigations, procedures or admissions will be paid by affected patients.
Consequently, the Department of Health is involved in the planning of new stadiums and the refurbishments of existing ones to ensure they meet the health & medical services requirements. All stadiums have also been fully equipped with medical centres, medical PHC posts as well as roving health personnel within stadiums and stadium precincts. In addition to surveillance measures for local disease outbreaks, there is also an international surveillance system given the numerous origins of the many thousands of visitors that South Africa would be expecting.
Most cities are not safe to explore on foot and Gauteng is no exception. South Africa is working closely with international agencies in gathering intelligence. Plans are finalised to focus on border security at all ports of entry, land, sea and air borders, specifically those leading from airports into the host cities; state-of-the-art information and communication military technology will be used including a fleet of nearly 40 helicopters and a dedicated force of 41 000 officers would be deployed per match. Again a 24-hour multilingual hotline will be placed in all host stadiums to assist visitors requiring police service. South Africa in general will have dedicated 2010 Police Stations within close proximity to each of the stadiums, as well as dedicated crime-investigation teams and special courts to investigate and deal with all event-related crimes 24/7.
In addition to these preparations, four mobile command centres is under construction. These centres will feature high-tech monitoring equipment, which will be able to receive live footage from airplanes and other cameras. It should be noted that these investments would continue to assist police in their crime-fighting initiatives long after the final whistle of 2010 FIFA World Cup TM.
Gauteng as well boasts a variety of accommodation establishments, including hotels, guest-houses, bed and breakfast establishments, game lodges, national parks and self-catering units. In response to statement made by FIFA President, Sepp Blatter, regarding accommodation, Thembi Kunene, Chief Executive Officer at the Tourism Grading Council of South Africa stated:
“In fact, we have almost 100 000 graded hotel and non-hotel rooms and we grade in the region of 150 establishments a month. South Africa attracts between 500 000 and
600 000 visitors a month in the normal course of business, and there is ample accommodation for these people. There is no question at all that the industry will not be able to accommodate 2010 arrival easily and comfortably.”
Tourism is indeed everyone’s industry and Gauteng Tourism Authority (GTA) is an expert Gauteng Provincial Government’ tourism agency. As a destination marketing organisation, GTA has dual mandate of marketing and managing Gauteng’s six destinations, Tshwane, Johannesburg, Sedibeng, Ekurhuleni, West Rand and Metsweding; each offering different range of experiences, to be globally competitive in both business and leisure destination. Check us at www.visitgauteng.net
Before FIFA was able to award South Africa the right to stage the 2010 FIFA World CupTM, the Government had to provide a number of guarantees including new legislation – assurances required of any country that wants to put in a bid to host the event. These guarantees, like, safety and security, transport, healthcare services, telecommunication, etc. are not intended to benefit FIFA alone, but rather also helps to improve infrastructure and accelerate development as well as enabling the global football community to be assured of a successful tournament.
Hosting the 2010 FIFA World CupTM is an opportunity of a lifetime for South Africa and African continent as a whole. This is the first African World Cup and South Africa will build alliances with African communities to advance solidarity, market the continent, develop the capacity of Africa to influence global news and information flows, and to tell our own stories of Africa. South Africa will make the most of this unique opportunity to express and further build unity and pride amongst themselves by inspiring youth, marketing the country to the world, create a communication climate and to use this change to speed up development and expand opportunities.
Gauteng is South Africa’s financial and commercial heartland. The city has many names, like ‘Egoli’, meaning “place of gold”. Indeed, gold and, of course, glamour are close companions in this place, which has grown from primitive mine camp to metropolis in little over a century. The city pulsates with entrepreneurial energy while, at the same time, retaining the spirit of a frontier.
Lately, Gauteng is undergoing considerable change, and interestingly, the province’s tourist profile shows that 60 per cent of foreign tourists visit Johannesburg and Pretoria, in particular, to shop; many of them are from the rest of the continent. One of the major infrastructural developments currently underway and to be ready for 2010 FIFA World Cup TM is the construction of the much awaited Gautrain.
This multi-billion rand fast rail system, not unlike the Docklands Light Rail in London, will form a circuitous link between O R Tambo Airport, Johannesburg and Pretoria. It is heralded as an economic booster and a source of job creation, the latter being one of the fundamental pillars of the government’s economic policy, and people are rubbing their hands with glee at the huge economic spin-offs, which will hopefully trickle down to benefit those who need it most.
Excellent all-round weather with world class stadiums, Gauteng’s two big cities, Johannesburg and Pretoria is not only the host of both the opening and closing matches of 2010 FIFA World Cup TM, but also the practice venues.
“Gauteng again the hub of 2009 Confederation Cup – to host 11 matches, is ahead of schedule using this platform as a dress rehearsal for the bigger 2010 FIFA World Cup TM opening and final showpiece. Renovations to the two stadiums, Loftus in Pretoria and Soccer City in Johannesburg, and the practicing stadiums would all be completed well at the forefront, said Barbara Creecy, MEC Sports, to the 2010 local Organising Committee (LOC).”
Also in its advanced stages in Gauteng, is the ‘Rea Vaya‘ (we are going) project in Johannesburg, with 325km of special public transport lanes and intersections, and 40 transport interchange nodes where commuters can switch from one form of transport to another. In addition, the Pretoria Bus Rapid Transport (BRT) System – development of 472 km of bus ways and 113km of mixed traffic lanes, with better access roads into the city, to airports, to the stadiums and the cherry on top, a new municipal bus fleet to service, are all underway. Alex van Niekerk, Sanral Traffic Manager stated,
“The South African National Roads Agency (Sanral) plans to install 76 electronic tollbooths along the Gauteng highway system, to generate cash to offset maintenance beyond 2010 FIFA World Cup TM.”
To activate this, the tollgates will use e-tags and video surveillance equipment coupled to processors running nameplate recognition software which would be placed on most highways and off-ramps. Gauteng motorists would be billed 50c per kilometer travelled and bills would be payable monthly.
Gauteng is also on top of its health and medical services – in that Gauteng takes a cue in the national Minister of Health commitment to FIFA that the infrastructure of the South African National Health System, specifically a comprehensive medical service (including 24-hour emergency medical treatment) and disaster management would be put at the disposal of all host cities, including Gauteng. In addition, free primary healthcare (PHC) will be provided for all spectators at official venues, including a script or referral to a health facility if necessary. However, costs of any investigations, procedures or admissions will be paid by affected patients.
Consequently, the Department of Health is involved in the planning of new stadiums and the refurbishments of existing ones to ensure they meet the health & medical services requirements. All stadiums have also been fully equipped with medical centres, medical PHC posts as well as roving health personnel within stadiums and stadium precincts. In addition to surveillance measures for local disease outbreaks, there is also an international surveillance system given the numerous origins of the many thousands of visitors that South Africa would be expecting.
Most cities are not safe to explore on foot and Gauteng is no exception. South Africa is working closely with international agencies in gathering intelligence. Plans are finalised to focus on border security at all ports of entry, land, sea and air borders, specifically those leading from airports into the host cities; state-of-the-art information and communication military technology will be used including a fleet of nearly 40 helicopters and a dedicated force of 41 000 officers would be deployed per match. Again a 24-hour multilingual hotline will be placed in all host stadiums to assist visitors requiring police service. South Africa in general will have dedicated 2010 Police Stations within close proximity to each of the stadiums, as well as dedicated crime-investigation teams and special courts to investigate and deal with all event-related crimes 24/7.
In addition to these preparations, four mobile command centres is under construction. These centres will feature high-tech monitoring equipment, which will be able to receive live footage from airplanes and other cameras. It should be noted that these investments would continue to assist police in their crime-fighting initiatives long after the final whistle of 2010 FIFA World Cup TM.
Gauteng as well boasts a variety of accommodation establishments, including hotels, guest-houses, bed and breakfast establishments, game lodges, national parks and self-catering units. In response to statement made by FIFA President, Sepp Blatter, regarding accommodation, Thembi Kunene, Chief Executive Officer at the Tourism Grading Council of South Africa stated:
“In fact, we have almost 100 000 graded hotel and non-hotel rooms and we grade in the region of 150 establishments a month. South Africa attracts between 500 000 and
600 000 visitors a month in the normal course of business, and there is ample accommodation for these people. There is no question at all that the industry will not be able to accommodate 2010 arrival easily and comfortably.”
Tourism is indeed everyone’s industry and Gauteng Tourism Authority (GTA) is an expert Gauteng Provincial Government’ tourism agency. As a destination marketing organisation, GTA has dual mandate of marketing and managing Gauteng’s six destinations, Tshwane, Johannesburg, Sedibeng, Ekurhuleni, West Rand and Metsweding; each offering different range of experiences, to be globally competitive in both business and leisure destination. Check us at www.visitgauteng.net
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