Cape Town Tourism (CTT) will require an extra R13 million over the coming three years to deliver upon its visitor strategy in its run-up to the 2010 Fifa World Cup. Mariette du Toit-Helmbold, CTT General Manager, said that this huge sum will be needed over the next three years in a state of the art data management system in order to compete globally. The system will host an integrated eBusiness platform linking their website with an on-line booking centre and customer contact centre. She also said that Cape Town needed to better its Visitor Information Centre (VIC) network besides empowering training and skills development. Mariette du Toit-Helmbold informed a portfolio committee for Economic, Social Development and Tourism on Thursday that the master plan caters to the expected increase in visitors to the city, tough international competition and the advent of new communications technology. It also looks at the need for a visitor services legacy that will support tourism in Cape Town way beyond 2010. The event would aid Cape Town in establishing itself as a top international destination, increase the economic benefits of tourism to all communities and individual tourism businesses as well. Simon Grindrod, Mayoral Committee Member, stated that the city has designed strategies that can propel Cape Town Tourism forward as a global model of visitor service excellence and contribute towards establishing Cape Town as the world’s best travel destination. Mr Grindrod, endorsing the request for additional funding, stressed that tourism remained a crucial element of the city’s job creation strategy. As football fans all over the world begin the countdown to one of the greatest events in sports, Cape town is busy making full preparations to ensure that the event is a success. In its aftermath, it will pave the way for the host nation to make the most of the plethora of opportunities it will open out to them. After all, as they say, no pains, no gains! Image Credit: 2010safwc