Two of Cape Town’s well-known tourist attractions have joined forces with City Sightseeing Open-Top Tours to launch a card aimed at giving World Cup visitors cheaper and easier access.
The “Go Cape Town” card will include a return trip on the Table Mountain Cableway, entrance to the Two Oceans Aquarium and a ride around the city on an open-top City Sightseeing Bus, at a cost of R360 per adult and R180 for children under 18 years.
The price of the card is not much cheaper than it would cost to pay for each attraction separately. However, Jillian Grindley-Ferris, brand manager and business manager of the Two Oceans Aquarium, says that the beauty of the card is that visitors will not have to queue at any of the three attractions. Grindley-Ferris added that the card is valid for three months, which allows for more flexibility in planning one’s itinerary.
The Two Oceans Aquarium at the V&A Waterfront is a showcase of the incredible diversity of marine life found in the Atlantic and Indian oceans. It is home to over 3000 living sea animals, including sharks, fishes, penguins and a loggerhead turtle named Yoshi.
Sabine Lehmann, CEO of Table Mountain Cableway, believes the Go Cape Town Card encourages visitors to experience all three attractions at a reduced rate, making it an affordable and stress-free outing.
Table Mountain Cableway was officially opened to the public on October 4, 1929. The first cable car, with a tin roof and wooden sides, carried 20 passengers. Today, the Cableway’s new revolving cars can carry a maximum of 65 passengers. Famous visitors have included Irish playwright George Bernard Shaw, King George VI, the Queen Mother and Sir Edmund Hillary.
Claus Tworeck, of the City Sightseeing Open-top Tour, says the open top bus is the perfect connection between the Aquarium and Table Mountain Cableway with regular departures leaving every 20 minutes.
The Go Cape Town Card is an initiative aimed at the tourists expected during the 2010 FIFA World Cup later this year. But Cape Town is also making strides to maintain the city’s position as an attractive tourist destination after the World Cup.
Cape Town was recently named one of the ‘World’s Most Beautiful Cities’ by Forbes.com, and Cape Town Tourism wants to ensure that the city’s appeal does not waver after the tournament.
Thanks to the World Cup, the city now boasts a revamped central station and a new point-to-point rapid bus system. Like most other airports in South Africa, Cape Town International airport has been upgraded to allow for swifter, hassle-free travel. The hotel sector has grown by 45% in the past five years and is likely to boast at least 70 000 beds by April 2010.
But Cape Town is striving to be more than just a favourite among international tourists. The city is also determined to be a responsible, eco-friendly travel destination. Cape Town Tourism assists visitors in making responsible choices while visiting the city with a pocket guide on Responsible Tourism and a Green Map of eco-friendly choices.
Cape Town Tourism spokesperson, Lianne Burton, says that travellers are becoming more aware of the ethical and environmental consequences of their visits. “We are mindful that we are in a new era for tourism … As custodian of one of the most beautiful places on earth, we hope to position ourselves as world leaders in responsible travel.”
