1 December 2009
The final 2010 visitor information centre, which will ensure that tourists arriving in South Africa for the 2010 Fifa World Cup™ get the best advice and information, has been opened in Mpumalanga province.
Opening the centre in Nelspruit this week, Deputy Tourism Minister Tokozile Xasa said the centre concluded the department’s national project to launch such centres in five 2010 host cities located in provinces less visited by tourists.
Nelspruit’s Mbombela Stadium will host five first-round matches during next year’s World Cup.
One-stop information hub
Xasa urged tourism operators operators to take advantage of the rare opportunity to market their products at a “one-stop information hub”.
The 412 square-metre Nelspruit visitor information centre was built at a cost of R7-million and features a lobby area, information counter and display area, booking area, and area for tour operators and administration offices.
The centre also features a boardroom, a multi-purpose space, a training facility, internet stations with server room, a visitors’ lounge and ablution facilities.
Information and reservation system
The five visitor information centres, which together cost R34.3-million, feature a locally developed information and reservation system tailored to cater for the South African market.
The other centres are in Bloemfontein, Port Elizabeth, Polokwane and Rustenburg.
All the visitor information centres are intended to provide a one-stop information service to tourists on a wide range of aspects including information enquiries, reservations, accommodation, tours, vehicle hire, entertainment, dining, sports, adventure, shopping and travel tips.
Source: BuaNews
