By Irene !Hoaes
WINDHOEK
The Deputy Minister of Environment and Tourism, Leon Jooste, says the Government is doing its best to promote Namibia for the 2010 World Cup, contrary to what the public and media say.
“Government is doing a great deal on 2010, a wonderful document is set up and will be sent to Cabinet soon,” Jooste said yesterday at the media launch of the Namibia Tourism Expo.
The Namibia Tourism Expo aims to create local awareness about the importance of the tourism sector, by displaying various tourism products.
Jooste said the country aims to maximise benefits from the 2010 World Cup, by targeting especially ‘displaced tourists’.
“The world is looking to South Africa and the greater Southern African region due to 2010 World Cup taking place in South Africa. For the tourist who may be displaced during this time, Namibia makes the sensible option of becoming a travel destination for this tourist,” Jooste said.
The deputy minister said the Cape-Namibia Route will become of even greater interest as 2010 approaches, because Cape Town as one of the hosting cities could either be the starting point or the destination for travellers to the region.
As part of the development of the Cape-Namibia Route, signage will be put up along the route to identify it.
The Transfrontier Conservation Areas of !Ai !Ais – Richtersveld have been marked as a draw card to the region after 2010, while a major awareness campaign is planned for these areas.
Jooste informed the gathering that strategies are in place to draw tourists into the country during 2010 and that programmes have been launched to draw awareness through soccer and the vision on 2010 to Namibia.
This, he said, is done through the Namibia Tourism Board, tour operators and the Minsitry of Youth, National Service, Sport and Culture.
Jooste also launched the second edition of the Namibia Tourism Satellite Account at the occasion, which was attended by leading stakeholders in the tourism industry.