Welcome mat ready.

Byline: Erica Webster

Welcome mat ready TOURISM'S OSCARS Sought-after awards recognise top quality and are also a useful marketing tool, writes TOURISM is not just the business of industry players it is the business of 45-million South Africans, says Pieter de Bruin, First National Bank Commercial Banking's head of tourism.

It's all about the welcome. It's about being great hosts and understanding that when you make people feel safe, that's what they sell back home. Leveraging on the 2010 Soccer World Cup, the past year has seen the revival of SA Tourism's Welcome campaign. Launched in 2004, its primary goal is to persuade South Africans to be good hosts and equip them with the knowledge and skills to make visitors feel welcome.

It's not enough just to enjoy the World Cup, says Thandiwe January-McLean, SA Tourism CEO. The tourism and travel industry needs to use this period to position SA as the very best place, …