ECTB GOES TO ITALY

 

 

With the 2010 FIFA World Cup less than 300 days away, The Eastern Cape Tourism Board will be attending TTG Italy in a effort to expose and promote a broader and more diverse Eastern Cape offering to the Italian market and - thereby increasing awareness and knowledge of Eastern Cape products and offerings in the country.

 

The Eastern Cape is one of the nine provinces in South Africa and is situated on the southern eastern coast of Africa. It is the traditional home of the Xhosa people and offers the visitor a world of diversities.

 

Nelson Mandela Bay (Port Elizabeth) in the Eastern Cape is one of the nine 2010 host cities. It is a major seaport and commercial city with a sea-side town atmosphere. With over 1 million inhabitants it is situated on the east coast of South Africa. With its golden beaches, warm Indian Ocean and fantastic climate is also a popular holiday destination. Nelson Mandela Bay is also within a 1 hour radius of the best game reserves in the country.

 

Of the sixty-four World Cup matches that will be played over a period of twenty-five days from 11 June to 11 July 2010 in the nine South African 2010 Host Cities, eight of these will be played in the newly built state of the art stadium in Nelson Mandela Bay.

 

The Eastern Cape Tourism Board together with partners in the private sector and local municipalities are also in the process of lobbying targeted qualifying teams to use the Eastern Cape as a training base in preparation for the world cup games.

 

“Italy is one of the countries we are actually targeting to set up a base in the Eastern Cape. We are very excited to be here as this gives us an opportunity to gain insight into what it is that the Italian market is looking for in terms of a destination. While we are here, we are also looking forward to meeting the Italian tourism trade and educating them on what the Eastern Cape as a destination has to offer”, said Ms Zola Tshefu, Chief Executive Officer of the Eastern Cape

Tourism Board.

 

A recent repositioning exercise has seen the Eastern Cape us position the destination as the ‘Adventure Province’, which encapsulates our incredible 800kms of pristine coastlands, the Big 7, which includes the southern right whale and the great white shark, our rich culture and heritage and high exerting adrenaline experiences/high impact adventure – as well as a promise for discovery, exploration, adrenaline activities, leisure fun and low energy sport.

 

From jumping off the highest bungee jump in the world to taking a walk on our pristine hiking trails, to shopping for the latest fashions - the Adventure Province has something to offer for each an everyone.

 

Situated along the Garden Route, Tsitsikamma is the capital of adventure tourism in South Africa. Boasting the highest bungee jump at 216m, the famous tree-top canopy tours, white water rafting and hiking trails.

 

With a coastline that runs from rocky shores in the south to the sub-tropical beaches to the north and the west, there is a beach for every taste – from the highly developed urban playgrounds in the Cacadu area to the wild untamed beaches of the Wild Coast. The Eastern Cape is a great sand and sea destination with Jeffrey’s Bay offering one of the best surfs in the world.

 

The Adventure Province is one of South Africa's leading nature and conservation based tourism destinations, offering a wealth of game viewing, and diverse scenic beauty. Experience the Big 7 at the Greater Addo Elephant National Park, situated near the town of Addo, which is about an hour’s drive from Nelson Mandela Bay. There are a number of game reserves across the province – and best of all – you can experience diverse safaris.

 

Experience the Eastern Cape’s varied and interesting culture through the various tours and heritage routes to monuments and museums across the province. If you are culturally inclined, the towns of particular interest are Grahamstown, Graaff Reinet, and Mthatha.

 

The renowned Grahamstown Arts Festival – a showcase of the performing arts - is a 20-day annual event that takes place in early July in the Grahamstown, a university town affectionately known as the City of Saints. During the World Cup the Festival will stretch over twenty days so that we can share the magic with our visitors.

 

Neiu Bethesda, close to Graaff Reinet, is a well kept secret of the Eastern Cape. This little town is famous for being home to the Owl House which houses Helen Martin’s very special and unique art work made out of concrete and glass. It is also the birthplace of many of South Africa’s apartheid struggle icons including Robert Sobukwe, who was the founder of the Pan Africanist Congress. The Nelson Mandela Museum in Mthatha is a loving tribute to South Africa’s first black President, Tata Nelson Mandela.

 

The Eastern Cape Tourism Board will be attending the TTG Workshop in Italy from 12 to 16 October 2009.