Approximately 300 000 tourists are expected to visit SA over the duration of the Fifa 2010 Soccer World Cup. While the reason for their visit is mainly soccer-focused, gap days between soccer matches mean these tourists will be looking for things to do and sights to see in SA.
Looking to address this need, City.Mobi offers information ranging from accommodation and restaurants, to city attractions and local entertainment venues. The mobile travelling guide can be accessed via any mobile Internet-enabled cellphone.
“Gone are the days when foreigners travelled with maps and guide books. Today, equipped with cellphones, they are able to access information wherever they are,” explains City.Mobi site supervisor and editor David Walker.
“Overseas visitors are already very tech-savvy, and in SA - where the uptake of mobile phones has surprised even the experts - people are becoming used to accessing information via this kind of site,” he continues.
Walker explains there has been a drive to get SA onto the guide ahead of the Soccer World Cup, which began in 2008. “Getting the host cities online was our first priority and, while we haven't included information on the matches and stadium venues, we have focused on what tourists can do between matches.”
City.Mobi has also been focused on getting SA's smaller towns and cities into the guide, he notes. Even online, not a lot of information exists on SA's smaller destinations, he explains.
Seaside destination Mossel Bay is the most recent addition to the guide. Thirty-nine accommodation establishments, 27 local attractions, eight bars and pubs, 15 restaurants, and 13 shopping experiences are listed on the Mossel Bay City.Mobi site, which also offers translators, a currency converter, and feeds to news and sports stories.
Walker maintains the guide offers a boost for local businesses in these sleepy towns, adding that the mobile site provides a review option for the local destinations.
“More and more people are spending more and more time researching how other travellers have experienced their destinations of choice, which makes sites like City.Mobi invaluable when it comes to marketing Mossel Bay,” says Mossel Bay Tourism COO Marcia Holm.
“The Internet is our most powerful marketing tool, and we're very grateful that City.Mobi has decided to provide us with its services in Mossel Bay,” she concludes.
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