FCO’s advice for England fans post World Cup draw

December 5, 2009

Following the excitement of this evening’s World Cup draw, the Foreign Office (FCO) expects many travelling England fans to start planning and booking their trips to South Africa this weekend.

Amid the frantic rush to get the best flights and accommodation, FCO is urging England fans to familiarise themselves with South Africa – from its culture to its weather - by researching their destination and visiting the newly launched website www.fco.gov.uk/worldcup.

Loaded with information including the number of blank passport pages you need on arrival in South Africa, or how to avoid local scams, www.fco.gov.uk/worldcup will provide many more top tips for fans wanting to get the most out of their trips to South Africa.

FCO’s Top Ten Fan Checklist

1. Book your accommodation before travelling
2. Get travel insurance
3. Check out the transport options in South Africa before you travel
4. Get to know the different rules of the road
5. Visit your GP and get necessary vaccinations and medications before flying
6. Ensure your passport is valid for at least 30 days from your return travel date, and that it has at least two blank pages
7. Don’t get caught out by buying a fake or invalid ticket
8. Be aware of South Africa’s law and customs
9. Register your travel plans online with LOCATE before travelling www.fco.gov.uk/locate
10. Make arrangements to arrive early at the stadium on match days

If you would like to speak to an FCO spokesperson in the coming weeks please get in touch. As a disclaimer my company, Weber Shandwick, has been employed to promote this advice to the media and online community.