2010 Soccer World Cup

SPECTACULAR 2010 DESTINATION
The spectacular coastal town of Plettenberg Bay is located in the heart of the world-renowned Garden Route of the Western Cape.  Plettenberg Bay and surrounds offer visitors unsurpassed natural beauty, pristine beaches, world-class infrastructure and perfect weather all-year round, which makes it a Spectacular 2010 Destination.  The town is easily accessible from five airports, namely the Plettenberg Bay Aerodome as well as airports in George, Port Elizabeth, Cape Town and Johannesburg, while also being centrally located between the two bid cities of Cape Town and Port Elizabeth.  The Bitou Tourism information offices offer a range of services to ensure that each visitor has a memorable and unforgettable holiday experience and can present guests with a wide-ranging list of attractions and activities, including world-class adrenaline and water sports, superb golf courses, top class shopping opportunities and gastronomic delights. A key focus area has been to ensure the security and wellbeing of our visitors.  With this in mind, the municipality has initiated the we welcome, we care campaign to ensure the ongoing security and well-being of all visitors.  This initiative is a collaboration between local communities, tourism stakeholders and various partners to ensure the safety of guests by encouraging safe practices, offering an advisory service to our guests and establishing a contingency plan to deal with any incidents.

SPECTACULAR STAY
The Bitou region is renowned for its great variety in accommodation offerings ranging from luxury 5-star hotels and elegant guest houses, cosy B&B establishments to backpackers lodges, township homestays and self-catering facilities.  Luxury accommodation offerings include exquisite, fully serviced villas connected to commercial hotels or private, self-catering duplexes. Plettenberg Bay and environs is undisputedly the largest accommodation provider on the Garden Route with more than 1600 rooms available in close proximity of the central business district.  Most of these facilities are within walking distance or within easy reach of the retail and gourmet mecca of Plettenberg Bay in the town centre and the natural beauty of national parks, indigenous forests and pristine beaches, while luxurious seclusion and privacy are also close at hand.  Indulge in ultimate pampering at several top spa and wellness centres around town.  For fitness fans and participating teams, the town offers the most contemporary training facilities, state-of-the-art gymnasiums and modern service facilities such as hi-tech communication and media technology that can be expected from a world-class destination.  Bitou presents convenient access to the national road and air transport network, which makes attendance of away games quick and easy.

SPECTACULAR TRAINING
As part of Bitou municipality’s ongoing commitment to its people and to ensure a lasting sporting legacy for all its residents, training facilities throughout the area are in the process of being upgraded to world-class standards.  These facilities are closely situated to the proposed bid hotels and are equipped with spectator pavilions, ample parking, fully equipped changing rooms and ablution facilities as well as training grounds.  The moderate weather conditions and superb array of outdoor activities ideally position Plettenberg Bay and surrounds as a training ground for teams and base camp for supporters.  The town has played host to several world-class sporting events including the Kurland International Polo Tournament, which sees top teams from across the globe enjoying traditional and unsurpassed Plett hospitality with 5-star accommodation, champagne bar, elegant spa and state-of-the-art business centre in one location.  A multitude of hikes in marine and nature reserves and indigenous forests, exceptional adventure activities as well as sea kayaking and kloofing will offer ideal time for training and relaxation.  Outdoor activities such as mountain bike trails, paragliding, treetop gliding tours, skydiving, equestrian encounters as well as a wide variety of water sports including surfing, sailing, canoe river trips and excellent fresh and salt water fishing provide exhilarating team-building opportunities.  Some of the country’s top golfing venues are also located within a 20km radius of Plettenberg Bay.