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*Launching of this Visitor Information Centre (VIC) is a win-win
situation for both tourists and the local tourism industry. Tourists
who will be visiting our country for the 2010 Soccer World Cup will get
up-to-date information about facilities and services provided by local
tourism operators. Operators should take advantage of the rare
opportunity to market their products at a place we can call a one-stop
information hub,* said Deputy Minister of Tourism, Ms Tokozile Xasa,
during the launch of the Nelspruit VIC, today.

The 412 sqm Nelspruit VIC was built at a cost of R7 million and it
features a lobby area, information counter and display area, booking
area, area for tour operators, administration offices and boardroom,
interpretive / multi-purpose space, training facility, internet stations
with server room, visitors* lounge and ablution facilities.

The Nelspruit VIC concludes the Department*s national project to
launch such centres in five 2010 Host Cities located in provinces that
were less visited by tourists. The department has to date launched VICs
in Port Elizabeth in Eastern Cape, Polokwane in Limpopo, Rustenburg in
North-West and Bloemfontein in Free State. The five VICs were
constructed to the tune of R34,3 Million.

All the VICs also boast a locally developed information and reservation
system tailored to cater for the South African market. The
department*s decision to erect VICs came as a result of
recommendations arising from the Global Competitiveness Study, the
National Tourism Growth Strategy and as a contribution to the 2010 FIFA
World Cup legacy project.

The primary objective of the VIC project is to effectively address the
tourism needs of visitors expected to converge in these five host cities
in 2010 and beyond. All the VICs 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, travel tips, etc.

VICs play an important role in the tourism value chain and sales
channel because it assists and influences visitors* travel choices to
and whilst in a destination. South Africa is providing a global
standardized system geared towards the needs of the sophisticated well
traveled tourist.

The idea was to integrate and standardize the technology component
throughout South Africa to allow the visitor to have a seamless travel
experience before, during and after the 2010 FIFA World Cup. It will
also afford the visitor the ability to access information from any
location in one of the five host cities.