Table Mountain competes for one of Seven Wonders

A campaign is gaining momentum to make Cape Town's Table Mountain onto the list of one of the New Seven Wonders of Nature, organizers said recently.

If the bid succeeds, South Africa's Cape Town will see a surge of tourism by 20 percent, according to Western Cape Tourism (WCT).

"If Table Mountain becomes one of the New Seven Wonders of Nature, tourism to our destination could increase by 20 percent," Alan Winde of WCT said in remarks published by the South African Press Association (SAPA).

"This would generate an additional 1.4 billion rand (about 180 million US dollars) in revenue every year and support employment opportunities for around 11,000 people. We must show our support for Table Mountain by voting via every means possible every day."

"We need the full support of the people of South Africa to make the final list."

Ivan Meyer from the Western Cape Cultural Affairs and Sport Department said if the mountain was voted one of the New Seven Wonders of Nature it would become part of school curriculums around the world.

"Table Mountain is home to more than 2, 200 plant species, and houses the highest concentration of threatened species in any comparable geographic area. This is our chance to put Table Mountain front and centre on the global stage."

Xinhua