Cape Town is ready to welcome the world, was the message from Cape Town Tourism at the official opening of its R1m revamped central city visitor information centre last week.

In line with international trends, it has cutting-edge features including free WiFi and an interactive wall or kinetic screen with icons that, when approached, burst into information bubbles about the city. The same technology won Cape Town Aquarium a Loerie award last year. Other amenities include information desks, brochure displays, a coffee shop and a gift shop. The centre remained open throughout the three-month renovation process with most work having taken place after hours so as not to disrupt visitor services. Other CTT visitor information centres will be upgraded as well, although not as extensively.
CTT acting ceo, Belinda van Niekerk, said the aim was to provide guests with a gateway to the city, a place where they could feel at home, meet, rest, reflect and plan their travels.  It should also be a resource for Capetonians, she said. Western Cape Tourism MEC, Alan Winde, predicted the impending soccer World Cup would put Cape Town on the map for the next 20 years. However, he emphasised that tourism success depended on an effective partnership between national, provincial and local tourism authorities. He said “great strides forward” had been made at a recent workshop attended by representatives of all tourism tiers. “We’re getting to a space where tourism will benefit,” he added. The MEC has been working to unify tourism marketing efforts in the province following an impasse between the province and the city over regional marketing organisation, Cape Town Routes Unlimited (CTRU).