Chair, the country's heritage could, in part, be described as the conservation of the creativity of people past, which enriches the lives of people present. Today that creativity has expanded to include not only historic buildings, ancient bridges, etc, but all aspects of life, with sport, recreational activities and tourism holding their own.
Tourists from around the world and residents alike have come to expect and increasingly demand a more responsible tourism that supports the conservation of the natural as well as the cultural environment. This, in turn, has had the effect of creating a favourable development climate for new heritage products, driven by market needs for innovation and diversification. Today our culture can be experienced in many ways including Robben Island pilgrimages, underground mine visiting, bungy jumping, township dancing, cuisine, etc.
While conserving and promoting our cultural heritage, it is equally important for us to have regard for expanding urbanisation, and the establishment of rural growth points to promote a higher standard of living and heritage for rural and marginalised people. South Africa was singled out, before the granting of the venue of the 2010 World Cup, in the "Tourism 2020 Vision" as one of six countries predicted to make great strides in the tourism industry in the years leading up to 2020. As the preparations for the Soccer World Cup escalate, capacity and infrastructure are expanding to meet exacting international standards, moving us closer each day to this vision. While 2010 offers South Africa the opportunity of showcasing our country to people who might never otherwise have visited our land, Madiba sees another advantage. The World cup, he says, will help unify our nation.
Sport, recreational activities and tourism could be said to have deepened democracy in their own way. They create and foster identity and, through interaction between cultures, promote the social cohesion necessary to move South Africa closer to being a peace-loving and prosperous nation, a heritage worth the effort. Thank you.