South African Tourism




SA wins big at World Travel Awards - 20 July 2010

South Africa cleaned up at the 2010 World Travel Awards for Africa earlier this month, winning 36 awards out of the total 49 categories. Despite the pyramids, Egypt, its nearest rival, managed to win only four.
For the sixth time in seven years the city of Cape Town was named Africa's leading destination, at an awards ceremony held in Sandton, Johannesburg. South African Airways was named Africa's leading airline, South African Tourism the continent's leading tourism board, and Durban harbour the leading port.
Of the 49 categories, six were awarded to multinational entities with a strong presence in South Africa. Kenya, Morocco and Namibia garnered one award each.
Cape Town, South Africa's most-visited destination, regularly receives international accolades for its attractions. This year it joined Paris, London, New York and Venice as one of Forbes magazine's 10 most beautiful cities in the world.
In 2009 the city was named best destination in the Holidays Responsible Tourism Awards, the world's second-best city by Travel+Leisure magazine, the world's best entertainment and lifestyle destination in the Luxury Travel Awards, and best tourism investor city in the AI Tourism Investor Awards. Cape Town was also named one of the "places of a lifetime" by National Geographic in 2008.
The World Travel Awards also nominated Cape Town as the leading destination in the world in 2002, 2005 and 2006.
"These awards are an incredible endorsement," said Cape Town Tourism CEO Mariette du-Toit Helmbold. "Being recognised by the industry makes all the hard work we put into hosting the Fifa World Cup in Cape Town so worthwhile.
"We do believe that Cape Town is one of the greatest cities to live, visit, study and invest in. It’s a place of a lifetime, and it just keeps on getting better."
The World Travel Awards, first held in 1994, is a tourism industry initiative, with travel agencies, tour and transport companies and tourism organisations across the globe voting for the winners.
The full list of the 2010 World Travel Awards for Africa winners:

First published by MediaClubSouthAfrica.com

Introduction by SATOUR Asia and Pacific Regional Manager

The whole world is watching South Africa as it gears up to host the 2010 FIFA Soccer world Cup. South African Tourism opened an office in Tokyo Japan to make it easier for the Japanese Traveler and Trade to get as much information on South Africa’s hospitality and experiences as possible. Every year South African Tourism Japan hosts Workshops for the Japanese Trade, Travel Agents, Tour Operators and Travel Media in June to support them marketing South Africa better. The Japanese numbers of visitors to South Africa has steadily grown year on year, I believe that this is because South Africa has so much unique and authentic African experiences to offer the Japanese traveller.

Places mostly visited by the Japanese are South African Icons like, The World Famous “Kruger National Park”, in Mpumalanga and the oldest Gold mine in the Southern Hemisphere “Pilgrim’s Rest”, “The Bourks Luck Potholes”, “The Mothlatse Canyon” formally known as “The Blyde River Canyon”  In Cape Town they visit the world renowned “Table Mountain”, “Robben Island”, “Wine Estates”,“Boulders Penguin Beach” and “Seal Island”, and in The North West Province they visit the Ultimate resort of Resorts “Sun City”which has 2 World Famous competition Golf Courses Namely the “Gary Player Golf Course” and “The Lost City Golf Course”with the “Palace of the Lost City” as a remarkable Hotel with all the luxuries you can imagine. In Gauteng they love to visit the Town Ship of “Soweto”, “Nelson Mandel’s Home”, The “Hector Petersen Museum” and travel through the vibrant city of “Sandton for a real shopping experience”. South Africa has 2 World Famous Luxury Trains which are used by the Japanese traveler 1 is “The Blue Train”  and 2 is the“Rovos Rail” There are many more beautiful places to visit in South Africa. There is a Trade Extranet developed to get you information on South Africa. Become an SA expert by entering the FUNIDI programme on the website.

The Japanese are lovers of Flowers and South Africa has so much Fauna and Flora to offer across the country. The Japanese traditionally only traveled to Cape Town and Gauteng, now we have added 2 New areas to visit the Provinces of  Mpumalanga and the North West and what they have to offer, these have taken off so well and are helping increase the numbers of visitors to South Africa.


I invite you to please visit our office in Tokyo, so we can help you make your trip as memorable as possible.

Bradley Brouwer (MBA) (FSACA)

Country Manager

South African Tourism Japan

www.south-africa.jp

SATOUR Japan website



South African Airways Japanese link