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 on Tuesday.
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 U.S. 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 center on the global stage."
Table Mountain failed to make it onto the campaign's latest top 10 list for the New Seven Wonders of Nature.
The list comprises the Dead Sea, the Grand Canyon in the USA, Australia's Great Barrier Reef, Vietnam's Halong Bay, Jeita Grotto in Lebanon, Jeju Island in South Korea, the Indonesian island of Komodo, Puerto Princesa underground river in the Philippines, Sundarbans delta at the mouth of the Ganges river, and Italy's Mount Vesuvius.
A panel of experts chose the finalists among the 77 nominees that gained the most votes in an early round of polling. People had suggested 261 landmarks in countries all over the world.
The panel picked the finalists depending on geographical balance, diversity and the importance to human life.
Table Mountain Aerial Cableway Company spokesperson Sabine Lehman said it was disappointing that the mountain was not among the top contenders.
Campaign spokesperson Eamonn Fitzgerald said in a statement that people should not take the list as the final result.
"In our first campaign for the man-made wonders of the world, many changes took place in the final week and days, so the top 10 we have announced will certainly change," Fitzgerald said.
"With millions of votes still set to come in, finalists who are not in today's top 10 could yet make it into the chosen seven."
People have until Friday to vote in the competition.
The New Open World Corporation (NOWC).in Switzerland is the organizer of New 7 Wonders of Nature contest.
People can vote by Internet or phone. The winners will be announced later this year.Over one billion people are expected to join in the voting, according to organizers
The panel picked the finalists depending on geographical balance, diversity and the importance to human life.
Orignal From: Table Mountain competes for one of New Seven Wonders of Nature
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