Whether you are stuck home, overseas, or able to head out and looking for travel inspiration, this Heritage Day, you can see the best of what SA has to offer.
South Africa (20 September 2021) – With official Spring but two days away, hello Spring Equinox!; it is time for us all to start venturing outdoors and visiting all the beautiful places our country has to offer. In February, Google Arts & Culture and South African Tourism partnered to promote our beautiful home and travel for all.
They created a curated profile called South Africa: An Explorer’s Paradise, which is an online exhibition where visitors from all over the world can explore South Africa through a collection of 500 images and videos, 55 Street Views and 20 exhibits.
Many global travellers have had to miss out on the beauty of our nation due to severe travel restrictions. COVID-19 has put pressure on the tourism industry in South Africa and globally, and the project offers audiences the opportunity to discover the best of the country virtually.
“South Africa has been aptly described as a microcosm of the world, a place where civilisations meet,” says Google South Africa country director Alistair Mokoena. “With its spectacular views, stunning wildlife and unbeatable biodiversity, bustling modern cities, and vibrant economy, South Africa is often described as “A world in one country”.
“In 2019 more than 10 million people visited. In 2020, on average, arrivals were substantially lower – October 2020 saw 91% fewer arrivals than October 2019, for example. We wanted to promote South Africa’s heritage and destinations in a way that hasn’t been done before to tempt them to visit in person as soon as they can,” says Mokoena.
With Heritage Day this coming week, we decided it was the prefect time to look at the Explorer’s Paradise profile once again to inspire travel, participation and hopefully, to celebrate our stunning diversity and heritage.
What are you and your family getting up to this Heritage Day? Take a look at all the beautiful outdoor adventures you could have here; there are over 60 places you can also view using Google Maps if you cannot leave your home this year.
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