Latest Cape Town Press Releases

According to race organisers, the Cape Argus Pick n Pay Cycle Tour is set to contribute approximately R400-million to the Western Cape economy. Much of this spend will directly benefit tourism, with increased spending on air fares, accommodation, restaurants, shopping, entertainment and extended stays in the host city – Cape Town.

It is estimated that 35 000 cyclists will participate in the race this year, while 80 000 enthusiasts are expected to attend the Cape Argus Lifecycle Expo running at the Good Hope Centre from March 11 to 13, 2010. Of the 35 000 registered cyclists in this year’s race, an estimated 2 500 of these are from overseas, while 68% of expo visitors will be from out of town (national and international visitors).

A record field of close to 21 000 runners, including the men’s and women’s defending champions and more than 1 000 international runners, will line up in Newlands, Cape Town, on Easter Saturday, April 3, for the Old Mutual Two Oceans Marathon.

On March 2, 2010, as the country marked 100 days to the kick-off of the 2010 FIFA World Cup™, Cape Town Tourism organised a 650-strong group of Peninsula youths to perform the diski dance at the Cape Town Stadium.

Cape Town Tourism has partnered with three international public relations agencies to proactively represent the Mother City abroad. The appointments aim to meet the demand for accurate information in the run-up to the 2010 FIFA World Cup™ and will assist in shaping and managing realistic perceptions of destination Cape Town and Cape Town as a Host City in key European source markets.

Cape Town’s tourism industry stakeholders are united in their efforts to combat damaging international perceptions of South Africa as “an expensive destination”, ahead of the 2010 FIFA World Cup™.

In a bid to translate commitment into action, Cape Town Tourism formulated a Code of Responsible Pricing for Cape Town.  The Code is endorsed and will be implemented by the City of Cape Town, the Western Cape Provincial Department of Economic Development and Tourism, Cape Town Routes Unlimited, FEDHASA (the Federated Hospitality Association of South Africa), SATSA (the South African Tourism Services Association), The Portfolio Collection, Fair Trade in Tourism South Africa, Backpackers South Africa and SAACI (the South African Association for the Conference Industry).

Cape Town’s tourism industry stakeholders are unified in their efforts to combat damaging international perceptions of SA as “an expensive destination”, ahead of the 2010 FIFA World Cup™.

The results of an independent accommodation survey conducted by capeinfo.com and endorsed by Cape Town Tourism, show that reports on overpricing by accommodation establishments are based on perception rather than reality.  The survey was launched in January to establish accommodation booking and pricing trends for the 2010 FIFA World Cup™ and revealed that the majority of accommodation establishments are charging responsible rates for accommodation during the 2010 FIFA World Cup™. 

Following the success of the free city-to-stadium transport offered at the first test event in the Cape Town Stadium on 23 January, the City will be offering this service again for the second test event scheduled for this Saturday, but on a larger scale.