The Department of Tourism is set to open its R6.7 million Visitor Information Centre (VIC) in Bloemfontein. The VIC utilises features such as touch-screens and Web-based technology.
The centre, which will officially be opened by deputy tourism minister Tokozile Xasa on 20 November, was set up in preparation for the 2010 Fifa World Cup.
As part of the national VIC project, centres have been rolled out in three host cities: Port Elizabeth, Polokwane and Rustenburg. The final centre, located in Nelspruit, will be opened next year.
The department says the centre is intended to provide a one-stop service to tourists requiring information on a wide range of tourism aspects.
“The primary objective of the VIC project is to effectively address the tourism needs of visitors expected to converge in the five host cities in 2010 and beyond. All the VICs also boast a specially designed information and reservation system tailored to cater for the South African market,” says tourism minister Marthinus van Schalkwyk.
The centre will use a visitors' information system, the Visitor Information Centres Enterprise Network Systems, which was developed by the department. The system will allow users to plan and finalise a travel itinerary by means of touch-screens and Web-based technology. It also offers tourists their own unique itinerary, which is accessible from anywhere in the world.
The IT system will also integrate and standardise the technology component in all centres across the country, to allow the visitor to have a seamless travel experience. It will also afford the tourist the ability to access information from any location in one of the five host cities.
The department previously stated that smaller businesses will for the first time have access to a centralised, standardised and affordable reservation system. Small and medium enterprises will be able to update and control their reservation system, in turn providing up to the minute information to tourists.
The centre will make use of touch-screens linked to a central database, to cater for any tourist information requirements. In addition, plasma screens display the tourism products on offer and advertising for local businesses. The centres will also have information officers at the main desk, free Internet access and an online booking system.
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