Archive for the 'Tourism' Category

The Grammy award-winning Soweto Gospel Choir, Beninoise singer-songwriter Angélique Kidjo and one of South Africa’s greatest music exports Johnny Clegg will provide a star-studded line-up for the Final Draw for the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa™ in Cape Town on 4 December (19.00 local time/18.00 CET).

The 90-minute live show at the Cape Town International Convention Centre (CTICC) promises a whole host of stunning African-inspired visual and acoustic treats with international appeal. These will include guest appearances by some of the biggest names in sport as they descend on South Africa for the eagerly anticipated Final Draw to decide whom and where the 32 qualified teams will be playing.

With the Final Draw being broadcast to no fewer than 200 countries around the world, this will mark another unprecedented milestone in the history of the FIFA World Cup. The Final Draw in Germany, December 2005 attracted a cumulative television audience of 134.5 million and was shown live in 137 countries. “We are very proud to be a part of the Final Draw for the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa. It is an incredible opportunity,” said Beverly Bryer, founder and manager of the choir. The choir will perform alongside Johnny Clegg, a well-known campaigner against the injustice of apartheid in South Africa who has been instrumental in putting the new South Africa on the map.

“The FIFA World Cup Final Draw has developed into a major live show that is followed with great excitement by millions of people across the world. It will reignite the 2010 FIFA World Cup fever not just in the host country but also in the qualified countries, where excitement is mounting as we draw nearer to next year’s FIFA flagship event,” said FIFA Secretary General Jérôme Valcke, who will conduct the draw.

The South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) has once again been appointed by FIFA for the production of the Final Draw show, while HBS (Host Broadcasting Services) will deliver broadcast signals worldwide in its capacity as overall Host Broadcaster. After producing two successful world-class draw shows at the Preliminary Draw in November 2007 in Durban and the draw for the FIFA Confederations Cup in November 2008 in Johannesburg, the SABC has again commissioned the expertise of Combined Artists to enhance the show.

“This Final Draw has all the ingredients to capture the imagination of the watching world. We look forward to finally welcoming the 32 qualifying countries to Africa to share in the rhythm and energy of our continent, and are certain that this event will provide the perfect prelude to Africa’s first FIFA World Cup,” said Danny Jordaan, CEO of the FIFA World Cup Organising Committee.

Africa Adventure Consultants Launches New World Cup Africa Travel Programs

World Cup 2010 soccer news is heating up. With England, Spain and Paraguay all recently qualifying for the games this coming May, the thousands of North American soccer fans with tickets in hand are starting to get serious about travel planning to South Africa. Africa Adventure Consultants today announced two new World Cup Africa travel packages to South Africa, developed especially for the World Cup 2010.

“We’re thrilled that the African continent will be hosting the World Cup in 2010,” says Kent Redding, the company’s president. “World Cup soccer travelers will be among the massive numbers of people who will be descending on South Africa’s cities for the games, so we’re really working hard with our partners on the ground in South Africa to get our clients the best experience for the best value in June and July 2010. Of course no trip to Africa is complete without a big game safari experience and we’re excited to launch these fantastic programs created especially for these soccer fans.”

On Africa Adventure Consultant’s World Cup Guided Safari, travelers visit a game reserve in Zululand plus two private reserves near Kruger National Park. Understanding that most North American travelers have limited vacation time, and to optimize time on the ground, travelers will have private road transfers and easy internal flights between camps. Priced at $5,499 for a 10-day safari, this World Cup Africa travel program provides an outstanding opportunity to experience both the wildlife and culture of South Africa, along with soccer of course. See the full itinerary here: http://www.adventuresinafrica.com/adventures.trips.aspx?trip_id=167

For more adventurous travelers, Africa Adventure Consultants has launched the World Cup Self Drive Safari. Priced at the great value of $2,999 per person, before or after World Cup matches travelers can enjoy three unique regions of Southern Africa including Zululand, Swaziland and the Manyaletti Game Reserve near Kruger. Designed for those interested in both wildlife and culture, this tour utilizes self-drive rental cars, plus guided safari experiences. See the full itinerary here: http://www.adventuresinafrica.com/adventures.trips.aspx?trip_id=166

In addition to World Cup Africa travel, Denver-based African safari expert Africa Adventure Consultants organizes safari adventures throughout East and Southern Africa, with destinations including Tanzania, Kenya, South Africa, Uganda, Namibia, Botswana, Malawi, South Africa, Rwanda, Zambia, Victoria Falls and Ethiopia. The company sells destinations they know personally and offer guests assurance of strong on-the-ground partnerships with only the best local companies. Africa Adventure Consultants supports a variety of African conservation organizations, community-based tourism programs and humanitarian causes. And now, the company runs a completely carbon-neutral office in Denver and is further committed to carbon-neutral safaris by automatically offsetting 50% of each African trip they sell as well as offering clients the opportunity to offset the remaining 50%. With an eye on personal service, the principals create carbon-neutral safaris and customized trips for individuals and small groups. To learn more, please call 1.866.778.1089 or visit http://www.adventuresinafrica.com/index.aspx.

Source: Africa Adventure Consultants

In just one year, on June 11, 2010, the ball will drop on the 19th World Cup of Soccer. Thirty days and sixty four matches later a new World Champion will be crowned and it is every soccer fan’s dream to experience their team achieving this ultimate goal. More than half a million fans from around the world are expected to embark on a pilgrimage to South Africa to be a part of the festivities with wise travelers already snapping up premium positions and making plans to be a part of this first African World Cup.

Well known sports travel specialists, Roadtrips, has a variety of travel packages available for the World Cup including packages based out of Johannesburg, Cape Town, packages to Round Robin matches, Follow Your Team experiences and packages that feature the key Semi-Final and Final matches of the tournament.

“Roadtrips has been preparing for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa for three years; working with local destination management suppliers and acquiring premium accommodations at the best hotels and safari lodges in the country,” says Dave Guenther, Roadtrips President. “From our experience, South Africa is a wonderful place. It’s going to look amazing on television but that won’t remotely compare to how great it will be to be there.”

Roadtrips’ packages for World Cup 2010 feature tickets to your choice of match(es) and premium accommodations at some of South Africa’s top rated hotels including the award winning Grace in Rosebank, The Saxon in Sandton, Johannesburg and, The Cape Grace in Cape Town. Exclusive access to deluxe safari lodges, excursions to top sites like Victoria Falls and a variety of day tours and private guide services are also part of the Roadtrips World Cup program with each traveler having the option of customizing their African experience for their perfect balance between soccer, safaris and other sightseeing.

Packages start from $2,625 USD p.p. based on double occupancy. For more information on Roadtrips’ World Cup package options visit www.roadtrips.com.

A recognized leader in the sports travel industry, Roadtrips has been creating memorable experiences to exciting sporting events and games for over 17 years. Roadtrips offers a wide variety of sports travel packages to the biggest events in sports, including trips to the Super Bowl, World Series, Winter Games and 2010 World Cup of Soccer in South Africa.

Source: Roadtrips

Mauritius has teamed up with the 2010 FIFA World Cup^TM to join Botswana, Mozambique, Namibia, Swaziland and hosts South Africa in a top line-up of accommodation providers. The initiative, which was announced on the occasion of the 2009 Tourism INDABA in Durban by Honourable Xavier Luc Duval, Vice Prime Minister and Minister of Tourism, Leisure and External Communications, Dr. Danny Jordaan, CEO of the 2010 FIFA World Cup Organising Committee and Jaime Byrom, CEO of MATCH (FIFA’s servicing partner for accommodation), forms part of FIFA’s and the Organising Committee’s objective to host an African World Cup and make sure that the entire Southern African region benefits from the global football showpiece.

“We always said it is Africa’s World Cup. To be part of the 2010 accommodation programme is a great marketing opportunity for the tourism industry in the entire Southern African region to directly benefit from the 2010 FIFA World Cup. Mauritius and the other Southern African countries in the accommodation team have the unique chance to showcase fans from all over the world during the four weeks between 11 June and 11 July 2010 the splendid and diverse landscapes and the incredible hospitality the region has to offer,” explained FIFA Secretary General Jérôme Valcke.

The incorporation of the Southern African countries include the Official Tour Operator Programme as well as the Hospitality Programme managed exclusively through MATCH aiming to ensure that the visitors will be in for a real African treat, enjoying the numerous beautiful attractions the continent and Southern African countries have to offer while experiencing the 2010 FIFA World Cup.

“One of the principal objectives of our overall strategy has been to use the 2010 FIFA World Cup as a launching pad to brand and develop the entire region as a preferred tourism and investment destination. Mauritius signing up to the squad further underlines the strong commitment by the entire Southern African region for the 2010 FIFA World Cup. The geographic proximity and quality of its hotels is ideal to develop packages to allow fans to fully explore the unique diversity of the Southern African region,” said Danny Jordaan.

“The government and the people of Mauritius are very excited to become an integral part of the 2010 FIFA World Cup. The excellent quality of our accommodation, our picturesque environment and wonderful beaches, together with the warm and inviting hospitality of the Mauritian people, will give an added experience to the fans,” underlined Honourable Xavier Luc Duval.