Polokwane - Tourism Minister Marthinus van Schalkwyk will on Friday launch a 2010 Visitor Information Centre (VIC) in Polokwane that will ensure tourists arriving in the city for the 2010 FIFA World Cup get the best advice and information.
"The primary objective of the VIC project is to effectively address the tourism needs of visitors expected to converge in the five host cities in 2010 and beyond," said the department in statement.
In July this year, the first three VICs were launched in the Eastern Cape. The three centres are based at the Port Elizabeth Airport, the lighthouse facility at the Donkin Reserve and the Boardwalk Casino and Entertainment World.
The one-stop shops will supply tourists with information on a wide range of services, including reservations, accommodation, tours, vehicle hire, entertainment, adventure and travel tips.
Visitors to the centre will be able to make use of user-friendly touch screens linked to central database of tourism products on offer and the advertisements of local businesses. They can also access free internet and an online booking system at the centres.
More than 450 000 visitors were expected to arrive in the country and these centres would play a pivotal role in addressing tourism and information services.
The national 2010 VIC's project, funded by the department will see VIC's developed in five of the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa host cities. The five identified cities are Nelspruit in Mpumalanga, Polokwane in Limpopo, Port Elizabeth in the Eastern Cape, Rustenburg in the North West and Bloemfontein in the Free State.
These less visited provinces were earmarked for the VIC's in preparation for the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa, but also to grow tourism arrivals both locally and internationally.
Developed at a cost of R 6.7 million, the centres will form part of the legacy project for the 2010 FIFA World Cup and will benefit many visitors in the years to come.
