2010: Making the tourism connections

For over five years members of the South African tourism community have had one number on their minds: 2010. This number, marking a moment in future time, has become a campaign, a conviction, a commitment, a chorus and a cheer. And it has become a case for injection of unprecedented support into the nation’s Tourism industry – investment of people, time, funds and faith.

And now, at long last, this number has turned to a reality: the year 2010 is here. And the Games are less than 150 days away.

For all of us in Tourism, 2010 will prove to be a time and experience like we have never seen and felt before. It will also be one which many of us will never again have the blessing to be a part of. In a matter of months over 400,000 travelers will descent upon our nation, in the low season as it turns out, to celebrate the world’s greatest sports event taking place here in our own back yard. As this happened over two billion viewers around the world will watch their journey. All of our years of planning will be tested. Our ability to deliver a world-class sporting event and tourism experience will be centre stage. For thirty days, minimum, our nation will be running a 24/7 advertising campaign. Live, unedited, uninterrupted.

Most important for all of us in Tourism is our ability to make the critical connections across the tourism experience chain. One thing is clear – we cannot deliver the 2010 Games unless we work together to deliver the best South African tourism experience.

The above statements are promises and pledges we have been making from the very beginning of our road to 2010. Now, however, is when we must stop the talking and start the doing. But what exactly does this mean?

Simply this: across the traveler experience chain each and every tourism community member is interdependently connected.

When the world’s most enthusiastic football fans come to South Africa in 2010 each and every point of their travel experience is a connection. From the moment they depart their home country to the moment they leave South Africa after the Games, each moment of the experience is a moment of connection. The more tightly connected the moments of the visitor experience, the more engaging and enjoyable the experience delivery.

This means we need to ensure the critical connections happen. The following are but a few of the connections:

· International travel companies need to be connecting with official national and host city tourism authorities;

· Provincial tourism authorities need to be connecting with local and regional tourism operators;

· Tourism authorities need to be connecting with members of the local travel trade;

· Hoteliers need to be connecting with TBCSA and other appropriate tourism associations;

· Hotel concierges need to be connecting with attractions;

· Airports need to be connecting with Taxi Associations;

· The Department of Home Affairs needs to be connecting with SA Tourism;

· South African High Commissions around the globe need to be connecting with the IMC;

· The media needs to be connecting with the leaders of Host City communications and Tourism;

· The investment community needs to be connecting with the tourism community;

· The police need to be connecting with the Tourism associations;

· Tour operators need to be connecting with local artisans;

· Government officials need to be connecting with the business community.

The above connections are the top line of critical links in the tourism experience chain. And as obvious as they may appear as vital experience delivery enablers, each of us within the tourism community can identity a handful of hands which still need to connect.

The planning period is over. The connection period has begun. South Africa has not only opened its doors, airports and stadiums to the world to come and enjoy the 2010 Games, it has invited the world to experience Africa’s first ever FIFA World Cup, delivered to a level of world-class excellence, and with distinctly South African spirit and style.

As the clock counts down the days closer to kick-off, now is the time to come together, to connect, and in so doing to deliver a 2010 World Cup which we can all look to as one of the greatest moments of connection of the South African tourism community in the history of our reborn nation.

Impossible? It’s Possible. And it’s time.