With soccer fans getting ready for the 10 + 10 and 20 – 10 (eeeek!) You Know What. They won’t only be watching soccer – they will also be exploring South African tourist sites. Google has released data on what key-words tourists are searching using its engine.
Most globally popular (or searched for?) tourist sites in South Africa in 2010
Ranking / Tourist Site
1. Kruger National Park
2. The Garden Route
3. Wild Coast
4. Robben Island
5. Cape Peninsula
6. Blyde River Canyon
7. Cape Winelands
8. Durban Beachfront
9. Mandela House
10. Apartheid Museum
Top countries searching for ‘South Africa tourism’ in the past year
Ranking / Searching Country
1. India
2. United Kingdom
3. United States
4. Germany
5. Zimbabwe
Top You Know What ticket buying countries (according to the Local Organising Committee)
Ranking / Country
1. United States
2. United Kingdom
3. Germany
4. Australia
5. Brazil
Source: Google
Same old, same old. No Karoo, no west coast, no Limpopo – sheep in woolie mitts. Or at least they should be. Apparently travel agents overseas are having a hard time convincing the masses that SA in winter is actually quite cold. Sounds like if you want to make money, invest in a line of fleecy earmuffs and Bafana Bafana gloves.
And no Grahamstown Arts Festival, which is happening at the same time (June 21 – July 4). Sounds like they need to up their marketing game.