Kampala, Uganda (PressExposure) May 25, 2010 -- The city of Johannesburg is has started training service station attendants to act as tourist guides during the World Cup, and will reward them with diplomas in tourism awareness.
Johannesburg or Jo'burg as locally known is South Africa's main commercial city and the biggest metropolis in the country. With its 3.2 million residents, the city on the Witwatersrand is prominent with numerous violent crimes a negative reputation it's struggling to defeat before the nearing World Cup.
One of the strategies the city has taken on is to aside from enforcing rule of law of its residents; it has embarked on a campaign where the city authorities are training residents to act as tourist guide to the 2010 World Cup visitors.
The city has a lot to offer to the visitors. Most times Johannesburg is said to be the first address for international tourism. Most of the major airlines call at Johannesburg International Airport in the southeast of the city and most travel agencies and South Africa tour operators choose Johannesburg as the starting point for journeys through the country.
It is on this account that they have seen it valid to engage city residents in marketing the city by acting as tourist guides. Employees at Sasol garages are to be sent on a training course to equip them with skills that they will employ to provide helpful information on places of interest like Nelson Mandela's former home in Soweto, or Constitution Hill in downtown Johannesburg, which celebrates South Africa's new democracy.
Johannesburg is the only World Cup host city with two official venues, and will host 15 of the 64 matches, more than any other location, including the opener on June 11 and the July 11 final.