South Africa gets Facebook profile

Travellers can now experience a taste of Cape Town, South Africa, before they even get off the plane with a new travel app available on Facebook.

The new app has been created by Cape Town Tourism to let more people know about South Africa's world-class reputation as a holiday destination. The country has won prestigious awards over the past 12 months, including being named a Top Beach Destination at the 2012 World Travel Awards.

Among the app's features is the opportunity for would-be travellers to send their Facebook profile on a virtual holiday to South Africa, while entering into a competition to win a real-life trip away.

Cape Town Tourism CEO, Mariette du Toit-Helmbold, said Facebook has been having an important influence over how people make their holiday plans.

She added: "The Facebook app is a creative user experience that utilises the latest technology and Facebook's immense global reach to raise awareness of one of Africa's most beautiful and inspiring cities."

Facebook users can enter the holiday competition until 31 December.