SA eyes World Cup tourism boost; slow ticket sales; New Zealand meet Bahrain

(WFI) South Africa World Cup organizers hope the host nation can attract a significant portion of the $600 billion per year global sports tourism spend in 2010 and beyond the month-long competition.

Danny Jordaan, CEO of the organizing committee, was among South Africa’s representatives at the annual World Travel Market conference in London this week. Government minister Sue van der Merwe and South African football legend Lucas Radebe also attended.

Jordaan said the first African FIFA World Cup in more than 100 years of football history would be the best yet.

“I know you know the one South African who is very warm and hospitable in the person of Nelson Mandela,” Jordaan told delegates. “But come and discover the other 47 million South Africans who are also warm and hospitable.

“We have more than enough accommodation for all the fans and tourists that will visit our country next year. As well as the hotels [including more than 30 new world-class facilities], there will also be low-cost bed-and-breakfast as well as student accommodation options available.”

Jordaan said that during the 2006 Germany World Cup British fans camped in every available open space, from train stations to camp sites.

“We are more than ready to host all the fans during the 2010 World Cup and hopefully thereafter they will return as tourists without their teams,” he said.

“Our stadiums are ready and they comprise some of the best world-class stadiums anywhere in the world.”

According to Jordaan, only a handful of other countries could match South Africa’s track record of hosting major sporting events. He noted that his country had hosted over 140 major sporting events in the 15 years since it became a democracy. “South Africa’s capability to host this World Cup successfully is beyond doubt,” he added.

Jordaan concluded by urging the travel industry to seize the opportunity – while the spotlight was on the African continent – to enhance and grow travel and tourism.

Ticket sales slow for World Cup
World Cup organizers admit local ticket sales are slow for next year’s tournament, insisting marketing efforts will intensify after FIFA’s finals draw in December.

Organising committee chair Irvin Khoza said this week that more than 358,000 World Cup tickets had already been sold to South Africans but a significant number of tickets were still available.

“We want more South Africans to buy tickets and therefore need to accelerate our marketing campaign after the final draw," he said.

Addressing MPs at a meeting in Parliament, Jordaan said there was a perception that all category 4 ($19) tickets were sold out and there were no more for locals.

“This is not the case at all,” Jordaan said. “People should go out there and buy tickets."

He said sales in neighboring countries were also very low and had not met expectations. “We are not getting the response we expected. We are getting very few ticket sales from neighboring countries but we will see what we can do to improve that after the draw," he said.

Jordaan said the country was ready to host the 2010 World Cup draw in Cape Town on Dec. 4 and the tournament next summer.

"We are now going into the operational phase," he said. “After the final draw all planning will be fine-tuned for the big event.”

All Whites seek World Cup spot
New Zealand could compete at a World Cup finals tournament alongside trans-Tasman rival Australia for the first time ever, if they can overcome Bahrain in a crucial second-leg qualifier in Wellington this weekend.

New Zealand are aiming to reach the finals for the first time in 28 years.

Australia has already qualified as one of the top performers in the Asian Football Confederation, which theybecame a member of after departing the Oceania Football Confederation following the last World Cup.

Because the OFC only commands half a qualification spot and its representative must always play off against a team from another – often stronger confederation – the scenario of both Australia and New Zealand in a World Cup finals tournament has until now not been possible.

On Saturday, a crucial second leg qualifier against the AFC’s fifth-placed nation, Bahrain, will be the All-Whites only remaining obstacle in ensuring double representation from the South Pacific in South Africa next year.

The Westpac Stadium in Wellington will be filled to its 35,000 capacity, breaking the record for a football match in New Zealand. The first leg last month remained scoreless, so the All Whites need a win to progress. For Bahrain a score draw will be enough to progress and debut as the smallest nation to qualify for the World Cup.

Big weekend for Africa’s finals qualifiers
Africa’s three remaining World Cup places alongside Côte d'Ivoire and Ghana, will also be decided this weekend. One will go to Cameroon or Gabon; Tunisia or Nigeria will clinch another.

But the biggest attraction will unfold in Cairo on Saturday, where fierce rivals Egypt and Algeria play off for a spot.

Traditional rivalry between the two nations and tensions involving both fans and inflammatory media reports in both countries have prompted a warning from FIFA that it will be sending a delegation ahead of the match. FIFA plans to keep a close eye on match-related incidents and behavior.

Written by Anthony Stavrinos  

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