Of Mountains and Molehills

Mountains aren't enough. Mountains and springs won't be bringing Asian visitors to African shores according to a Japanese diplomat speaking at the fifth Africa-Asia business forum in Uganda. River deep and mountain high no more, if Africa wants to attract a more diverse tourism clientele.

25 000 Asian tourist visit sub-Saharan Africa compared to the 2,5 million tourists that frequent Europe each year. The numbers seem to speak for themselves and the "lax" attitude African countries for attracting visitors. Apparently, there is room for a clearly defined, marketing strategy based on detailed research and analysis of what potential tourists are looking for.

Perhaps we do rest on our laurels ever so slightly, there is no where else on the planet like Africa. And so, with our inherent uniqueness does come a small amount of complacency that we will always have visitors to African shores. Before our luck runs out and complacency is replaced with complaining, Africa needs to develop high-end destinations and target specific markets to really tap into our tourism potential.

Now, although the Japanese diplomat said a mouthful when she debunked our African-time/African-style attitude, there are tourists who still want to see rural villages, traditional dancing and experience the purest form of African culture that Google and Paramount Pictures will allow. But there is room for improvement, a 5/6 star room at that.

African countries were encouraged to capitalise on the upcoming 2010 FIFA World Cup held right here in South Africa. Now, I don't think there are many who don't see the opportunities that hosting the games will have on the country and the economy but there are those who are concerned about just how our soccer boys can carry the South African flag into the games.

My answer to that is "rest assured." Kiwi juice anyone? Cause there's plenty to go around. Bafana bafana beat the New Zealand team in a convincing 2-0 victory last night. That's sure to "improve the image of Africa." Not only can we host international games but we can be contenders in those self same games. All we need now is a radio station that talks directly to tourists and a lifestyle and travel website that keeps everyone in touch while they are here in our very mountainous and spring infested land. Luckily, Tourism Radio and hummba.com have the answer, if you're brave enough to ask the question.

Well done boys!

How Soccer Changed the World

Its time for the Confederations Cup to kick off in South Africa, exactly one year before the country will host the FIFA World Cup. Said to be something of a "dress rehearsal" for the big games, the Confederations Cup brings out the big national names in football and the host country of course.

Non believers hear this...Brazil, Italy and Spain. That's right, some of the best (looking) football teams will be right here to change the face of the 2010 FIFA World Cup and will hopefully have something to do with shaping the face of my yet un-conceived child. And that's just one of the ways that football has and is going to change the world.

The origins of football are ancient and aren't precise but there is plenty of evidence to suggest that most of the modern rules that we adhere to today started in England, a prime example of "soccer culture." Football was also originally believed to be a game played amongst peasants while the aristocrats where playing polo on their high horses. These days however, if you're playing football, you're filthy rich, even if you are still a peasant.

Here's a few other ways football changed the world...apparently King Henry VIII of England ordered his first pair of football boots in 1526. Now there's a player you want on your team, with his track record, he'd behead the opposing teams goalie.

Soccer has been so popular since its inception that it was banned in England and parts of Europe during the Middle Ages and early modern period. King Edward II was so bothered by the unruly behaviour of English soccer supporters. He was so bothered in fact that he banned the game in 1314 from being played in the city. In his declaration he had this to say..."Forasmuch as there is great noise in the city caused by hustling over large balls from which many evils may arise which God forbid; we command and forbid, on behalf of the King, on pain of imprisonment, such game to be used in the city in the future."

So there you have it, that's some of how soccer has changed the world. Thanks to football we can include terms like "unruly," "die-hard supporters" and "competition" to our human guide books. It also incidentally put Manchester on the map, a feat set to repeat itself right here in South Africa.