The Rainbow Nation has just hosted the largest event in the world with skill, care and safety.
From all accounts, South Africa is the destination for long-haul travel and Travel Motives Destination Management Company is a local partner of choice.
For years, South Africa has been successfully hosting visitors from all regions for business and pleasure; the country’s recent and all-round praiseworthy hosting of the 2010 FIFA World Cup™, however, has placed it in a different league as a destination of capacity, diversity and atmosphere.
The football body president, Sepp Blatter, awarded South Africa the highest possible mark for the spectacle - nine out of 10.
“Africa has proven that really they can organise this World Cup...they can be proud," he announced to a packed press conference.
Blatter noted that the successful hosting had changed world perceptions of both the country and the continent – and that the media would no longer only be able to report on crime and corruption, but instead would also need to focus on quality of delivery and infrastructure.
More than 3.1 million people attended the 64 games of the spectacle in ten centres spread out across a country roughly the size of Texas, all without incident.
Those in the travel, conference and events industry know that the land of Mandela and Tutu has been hosting huge numbers of visitors for years - the World Cup just proved the professionals right.
Eleanor Bloem, Managing Director of Travel Motives, one of South Africa’s leading Destination Management Companies (DMC), explains: “For years we’ve been on the list of top ten countries to visit but the one thing that has spurned people is safety. Thanks to the World Cup, we demonstrated that there is safety - the few instances of crime that occurred are no different from those in Germany in 2006. As a result, South Africa has moved away from that negative cloud.”
South Africa is such a draw card is due to a number of reasons, including climate, value for money, infrastructure, diversity, flexibility and that indefinable but all-important factor, spirit. The strength of foreign currencies to the Rand makes it a lucrative long-haul destination. South Africa also boasts incredible biodiversity – from hot, dry grasslands to subtropical forests to the Western Cape’s fynbos.
But it is the spirit of its people that keeps bringing visitors back to South Africa – a mix of hospitality, generosity and warmth. Bloem explains: “We have found that most of our groups come back and do exactly the same thing because they enjoy the spirit of the country – the people, the food and the wine. We have many repeat customers. They come back and say it was an astonishing experience – and above all, the people are amazing.”
In order to assist visitors to access the local spirit, Travel Motives DMC has designed programs aimed at facilitating meaningful interaction between visitors and locals. “We try and keep our programs away from commercial areas, rather concentrating on local interaction – be it a shebeen (local pub) or going into communities and working on projects so that our clients can experience the real South Africa.”
Established in 1996, Travel Motives DMC offers a holistic service, meeting the global demand for exciting, unique and personal programs. The company’s seasoned DMC team is renowned for conceptualising, planning and carrying out such creative projects, often tailor-made to fulfill client’s wishes, making the “impossible” itinerary realistic.
“We pride ourselves in not only being skilled and experienced, but also in being passionate about our clients and making your initiative a huge success. We live by the ethos ‘to render exceptional service and flawlessly execute all meetings, incentives, conferences and events in a manner that adds value to our clients’.”
With its spirit, diversity, flexibility, value for money and infrastructure, it’s no wonder that South Africa is, today, probably the world’s best destination, and with Travel Motives DMC as a partner, a synch to access.
