Tourism from World Cup to rake in R27 billion

23 Jun 2010 2205 | World Travel News

Tourism from the 2010 World Cup is expected to rake in an estimated R27 billion, SA Tourism said on Wednesday. "We believe that we couldn't do better," said Roshene Singh from SA Tourism.

She was speaking at a daily media briefing hosted by Fifa and the Local Organising Committee at Soccer City.

SA Tourism conducted a R100 million marketing campaign in the four years leading up to the World Cup to ensure that international tourists came to the tournament.

Singh said the figures were "looking good", with Johannesburg sitting at 85 percent occupancy, and Durban and Cape Town occupancy of between 60 and 70 percent.

SA Tourism chief executive officer Thandiwe January-Mclean said the World Cup had been a fabulous opportunity to showcase the country in totality.

"It's given the country the opportunity to do away with the stereotypes," he said. Feedback from international guests had largely been surprise at the county's world class infrastructure.

Singh said SA Tourism was waiting to reap the benefits of the World Cup after the tournament when guests returned.

LOC spokesman Jermaine Craig was confident that South Africans would continue to support the tournament even though Bafana Bafana had been knocked out in the first stage.

"The home team is out, but South Africa is not down," he said.

Urging South Africans to back the remaining African teams, Craig said that because of South Africa's large immigrant community, there would sill be massive interest in the tournament.

Sourced=busrep