Moosa welcomes Cricket World Cup fans to SA

THE Minister of Environmental Affairs and Tourism, Mohammed Valli Moosa, has extended a warm welcome to all overseas cricket fans who have arrived in South Africa for the Cricket World Cup. Speaking from Nairobi, Kenya, where he is attending the 22nd Governing Council of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), Moosa said the Cricket World Cup will, once again, place South Africa firmly on the International map as a preferred tourist destination. The minister said the World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD), which South Africa successfully hosted last year, had offered the country an opportunity to showcase its tourism assets and had injected millions of rands into the local economy through tourist spend. The same is expected from the World Cup. He commended South African Tourism for the many exciting events it has planned for the duration of the World Cup, adding that he has no doubt that the body will ensure that international cricket fans receive a quality, value-for-money service. "During your stay in our warm, beautiful country you will not only enjoy the game, but will be exposed to the most enriching experience of your life, exploring the rich culture that South Africa has to offer. "I have no doubt that you will, indeed, agree at the end of your stay that South Africa is among the world's "must-see" destinations," said Moosa. (Miguel de Sousa)